The Northwest Highlands
Areas north from Knoydart in the west, and the Great Glen towards the east (NB. Does not include Mull and areas west of Loch Linnhe, these are found in the West Highlands forecast.)
Tuesday's Forecast
Gale force, walking arduous
Considerable buffeting, walking into the wind will be strenuous on exposed terrain, stronger gusts may knock you off your feet. 40 to 55mph.
Sunshine and showers
A good amount of dry and bright weather, but scattered bursts of rain, some may be locally heavy.
Cool to mild
Air temperature 5 to 10C on higher terrain. Comfortable temperatures on lower terrain, but feeling chilly if exposed to wind higher up, especially if stationary. Pack extra layers.
Click an icon for more information or click here for a key to all icons.
Gale force, walking arduous
Considerable buffeting, walking into the wind will be strenuous on exposed terrain, stronger gusts may knock you off your feet. 40 to 55mph.
Sunshine and showers
A good amount of dry and bright weather, but scattered bursts of rain, some may be locally heavy.
Cool to mild
Air temperature 5 to 10C on higher terrain. Comfortable temperatures on lower terrain, but feeling chilly if exposed to wind higher up, especially if stationary. Pack extra layers.
Viewing Forecast For
The Northwest Highlands
Tuesday 1st September 2026
Last updated
Mon 31st Aug 26 at
4:27PM
Summary for all mountain areas
A swathe of rain and gales sweeps across the Scottish Highlands, moving over the Southern Uplands with time; bright sun breaks and scattered showers follow from the northwest. Patchy rain for western hills of England and Wales, sunny breaks east. Blustery with rain increasing later in north England.
Headline for The Northwest Highlands
Morning rain and gales; rain breaks to showers, wind lessening
How windy? (On the Munros)
West-southwesterly 35-50mph through morning, stronger gusts briefly approaching 60mph over tops; lessening slightly afternoon though staying above 30mph and later restrengthening north.
Effect of the wind on you?
Arduous walking, buffeting affecting balance in exposure and more difficult conditions for several hours. Significant wind chill.
How Wet?
Morning rain, afternoon scattered showers
Frequent showery rain from dawn, setting in for a few hours of persistent rain with heavy bursts, a remote risk of a flash of lightning. Breaking into scattered showers afternoon, mostly west Munros with dry windows. A cluster of showers returns late in the day too.
Cloud on the hills?
Extensive through morning, lifting and breaking afternoon
Extensive above 600-800m at first, bases lower towards west coast and more widely to lower slopes during heaviest rain. Cloud will lift and break up somewhat afternoon, best chance of clear summits Easter Ross/Ben Wyvis; west fells only briefly clearing, and returning more widely for a time north.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
10%, rising to 60% east Munros
Sunshine and air clarity?
Overcast and dull with poor visibility through morning. Patchy sun breaking out afternoon, best in the west, with cloudier periods returning north and west. Very good visibility where cloud breaks, but some haze around Skye.
How Cold? (at 900m)
5 to 7C, coolest in the far north and will slightly rise, then lower again afternoon, as chilly at 4C in the north. Feeling like -5C in the wind, to as cold as -10C in strongest gusts.
Freezing Level
Above the summits.
Viewing Forecast For
The Northwest Highlands
Wednesday 2nd September 2026
Last updated
Mon 31st Aug 26 at
4:27PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
South-southeasterly, some variability, 15-20mph, later southwesterly, strengthening from south towards 35-40mph.
Effect of the wind on you?
Fairly small during daylight, deteriorating later to strenuous conditions as night falls.
How Wet?
Mostly little until later
Some patchy rain around southern hill groups, dry windows, and substantially dry further north. Later in the day, patches spread more widely, may set in for a few hours.
Cloud on the hills?
Mostly southern high terrain
Cloud banks at varied heights, mostly south and east hills, will tend to lift and break up. Little expected north of Ullapool, though caps tending to increase over high terrain later, and may become quite extensive south.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
50% south to 80% north, later deteriorating
Sunshine and air clarity?
Frequent sun in the north, and perhaps briefly south, but clouding over through afternoon. Excellent visibility.
How Cold? (at 900m)
3 to 5C, coolest north, rising to 7 to 9C and staying elevated into night; feeling just above freezing in direct late wind.
Freezing Level
Above the summits.
Viewing Forecast For
The Northwest Highlands
Thursday 3rd September 2026
Last updated
Mon 31st Aug 26 at
4:27PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
Southwesterly between 35 to 50mph, will vary somewhat, tops speeds approach 55mph.
Effect of the wind on you?
Arduous walking in exposure most of the day, some more challenging moments with significant wind chill.
How Wet?
Patchy rain, showery for a time
Patchy rain drifts from the west much of the day, generally light and eastern hills often dry. Rain will become more frequent with heavy falls for a few hours.
Cloud on the hills?
Bases rise towards summits, breaks east
Fairly extensive along the coast to start, varied banks inland, mostly high terrain; bases rising, increasingly above 800m, high tops from Ben Wyvis northward may become substantially clear. Skye stays in cloud above 700-800m, and more widely lowering for a few hours.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
Rising to 40% west coast, to 70% east
Sunshine and air clarity?
Patchy sunshine, sometimes more cloud around. Good visibility under cloud, but hazy particularly along the coast.
How Cold? (at 900m)
8 or 9C. Feeling below freezing in strongest wind.
Freezing Level
Above the summits.
Planning Outlook
Strong wind (often gale force on high mountains), patchy rain, and some broader swathes of rain and wind will affect the country from mid-week into the weekend; most notable areas of rain on Wednesday and late Thursday overnight into Friday. A few bright glimpses here and there, but many high summits stay shrouded, particularly western hill groups where cloud will often reach lower slopes. A brief bright window for some on Saturday, but staying windy with scattered showers in northwest areas, rain returning later and into Sunday. The next week remains generally unsettled, and may well bring a deep low pressure systems with widespread gales and swathes of heavy rain. Beyond next week, indications of a more settled regime for a time.