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.)
Monday'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.
Patchy rain or drizzle
Rain on and off, or generally drizzly - total amounts small, but may be persistently damp, especially where hills are shrouded in cloud.
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.
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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.
Patchy rain or drizzle
Rain on and off, or generally drizzly - total amounts small, but may be persistently damp, especially where hills are shrouded in cloud.
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
Monday 26th October 2026
Last updated
Sun 25th Oct 26 at
4:02PM
Summary for all mountain areas
A warm front pushes into Wales around dawn, spreading north and east bringing at least several hours of rain to all mountains, heavy for a time. Becoming unseasonably mild and humid in rain, though feeling cool in widespread gales. North and east Scotland drier and chilly for a few early hours.
Headline for The Northwest Highlands
Rain sets in from the south with time; wind strengthens to gales
How windy? (On the Munros)
Westerly 25-40mph just at dawn, strongest north, soon shifting southerly, briefly lessening but soon restrengthening, to south-southeasterly 50-55mph afternoon with strong gusts over tops and downslope to the north.
Effect of the wind on you?
May be briefly fairly small in the morning, but conditions rapidly deteriorate, arduous walking in the afternoon with powerful gusts at many heights challenging balance; feeling chilly despite mild temperature.
How Wet?
Spotty rain/snow early, then rain sets in afternoon
A little spotty rain/snow around in the morning on west slopes, many eastern hills dry for a few hours, or longer far north. Rain arrives to Skye, spreading widely and setting in afternoon, risk a swathe of heavier rain.
Cloud on the hills?
Patches on high terrain, becoming extensive
Varied patches mostly above 700-800m in the morning, some breaks to summits to the north and east. Cloud will lower onto Skye as rain arrives, increasingly spreading north through afternoon, becoming extensive to middle slopes, or lower during heaviest rain; west coast slopes near and north of Ullapool stay clearer for longer.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
60% north and east, lowering to 10% widely through afternoon
Sunshine and air clarity?
Patchy sun, brighter to the north and east, a little haze but good visibility to start. High cloud building from the south, thickening to become overcast and dull afternoon.
How Cold? (at 900m)
1C, only slow rise at first, then sharply rising afternoon to 9C, to a degree or two warmer Skye and west coast hills; little change with height and turning humid as temperatures warm. Feeling below 0C in strongest wind.
Freezing Level
Just touching high summits at dawn, lifting well above the summits.
Viewing Forecast For
The Northwest Highlands
Tuesday 27th October 2026
Last updated
Sun 25th Oct 26 at
4:02PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
Southwesterly 65-85mph, trending westerly, strongest gusts over tops may reach 100mph.
Effect of the wind on you?
Severe conditions across mountains including smaller hills; any mobility difficult and severe wind chill.
How Wet?
Often raining
Rain fairly persistent Skye and Torridon, frequent showers further north and east. Best of dry windows Caithness, though a swathe of steady heavy rain likely affects all areas for a few hours. Later showery, snow above 600-700m.
Cloud on the hills?
Fairly extensive
May be fairly extensive from middle slopes up well into the day on and around Skye, some variability. Further north and east, more varied, breaks up towards 900m, but more widely extensive during steady rain.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
20%, 40% Ben Wyvis/Easter Ross
Sunshine and air clarity?
Mostly overcast, a few glimpses of sun north and east. Often poor visibility, very poor in snow, and hazy to the west.
How Cold? (at 900m)
3 or 4C, or milder just at dawn; lowering to finish at 0C. Feeling like -15 to -20C in direct wind.
Freezing Level
Just above summits in the morning, lowering to 900m later before rising again overnight.
Viewing Forecast For
The Northwest Highlands
Wednesday 28th October 2026
Last updated
Sun 25th Oct 26 at
4:02PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
West-southwesterly 35-45mph, will vary in this range. May trend towards lower speeds late in the day.
Effect of the wind on you?
Strenuous walking, strongest gusts beginning to challenge balance in exposure with significant wind chill.
How Wet?
Rain on and off
Several areas of rain will sweep in from the west, some steady falls passing broadly with heavy bursts. Some drizzle on high terrain as well. Rainfall totals generally smallest towards Ben Wyvis.
Cloud on the hills?
Fairly extensive, best chance breaks east
West coast slopes often in cloud above 600-700m, bases generally higher with breaks eastward, occasionally to high tops, but also broad decks of cloud spreading widely during rain, covering high terrain, locally towards 500m west.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
30%
Sunshine and air clarity?
A few glimpses of sun here and there. Hazy at best, and visibility often poor in cloud and rain.
How Cold? (at 900m)
2 or 3C, rising to 5C. Feeling like -5 to -10C in direct wind.
Freezing Level
Above the summits.
Planning Outlook
Low pressure north of Scotland on Tuesday brings showers with widespread gales, severe over Scottish Highlands with steady, heavy rain, turning to snow on high tops. Pressure builds from the south Wednesday but staying blustery with rain on and off for many, hill cloud clinging to high terrain, and haze towards the west coast. Wind will lessen and shift southerly on Thursday, more bright breaks, milder temperature, and little or no rain remaining. A frontal system brings rain and wind into western areas on Friday, pushing east into evening and perhaps a very unsettled start to Saturday, but then a trend towards high pressure is indicated as the weekend goes. Northwest areas stay cloudier and blustery into Sunday, then more widely settled early next week and possibly longer, cool to mild temperatures.