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.
Heavy snow and hail showers, isolated lightning
Showery precipitation, often heavy, may merge to become constant for periods. A mix of snow and hail often falling to lower slopes. Risk of very localised thunder and lightning.
Cold
Air temperature below 0C all day on higher mountains. Significant chill factor if exposed to strong winds. Suitable protective clothing required.
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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.
Heavy snow and hail showers, isolated lightning
Showery precipitation, often heavy, may merge to become constant for periods. A mix of snow and hail often falling to lower slopes. Risk of very localised thunder and lightning.
Cold
Air temperature below 0C all day on higher mountains. Significant chill factor if exposed to strong winds. Suitable protective clothing required.
Viewing Forecast For
The Northwest Highlands
Tuesday 12th May 2026
Last updated
Mon 11th May 26 at
4:30PM
Summary for all mountain areas
Scotland: Feeling cold in the gusty westerly winds. Early band of rain will clear to brighter skies and scattered showers. Showers more frequent later in day with risk of hail and thunder. England and Wales: Chilly with gusty westerly winds. Showery rain for a time, then brighter with a few passing showers.
Headline for The Northwest Highlands
Cold for May, strong west winds. Showers becoming frequent, hail and hill snow.
How windy? (On the Munros)
Westerly 30 to 45mph, squally gusts around showers.
Effect of the wind on you?
Frequent buffeting across the hills, challenging walking at times in exposure. Significant wind chill.
How Wet?
Showery, hail and snow on tops
Showers, mostly toward west early in day, but will become more frequent from northwest in afternoon; some heavy bursts, snow falling at times to 700m, also hail to lower slopes. Risk of isolated thunder and lightning.
Cloud on the hills?
Varied on tops, lifting higher with breaks
Cloud frequently changing, covering tops above 800m for periods, but tending to rise higher in afternoon, with time only occasionally capping tops.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
40%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Brief bursts of sun. Visibility often very good, but intermittently very poor during showers.
How Cold? (at 900m)
0 to 2C. Feeling like -10 to -15C directly in the wind on tops..
Freezing Level
900 to 1100m, highest toward Great Glen afternoon.
Viewing Forecast For
The Northwest Highlands
Wednesday 13th May 2026
Last updated
Mon 11th May 26 at
4:30PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
North to northwesterly 25 to 30mph, strongest toward Skye, risk increasing all western hills later toward 40mph.
Effect of the wind on you?
Significant wind chill, very blustery, may become more challenging in exposure over west coastal mountains.
How Wet?
Showery, hail and hill snow
Showers mostly coastal mountains in north and west early morning, but becoming widespread, heavy bursts with hail, risk isolated thunder; snow often falling on the Munros, at times down to 600-700m.
Cloud on the hills?
Varying quickly over high terrain
Cloud frequently changing over the tops, often capping windward higher slopes in the west and north above 800-900m, ragged patches to 600m in showers; occasionally breaking above higher slopes.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
30%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Brief bursts of sun and intermittently excellent visibility, but suddenly appalling where in cloud, snow or hail.
How Cold? (at 900m)
0C rising to 2C. Wind chill feeling like -10C, nearer -15C as speeds increase.
Freezing Level
900m early morning, rising toward or just above highest summits into afternoon, but lowering slightly in showers.
Viewing Forecast For
The Northwest Highlands
Thursday 14th May 2026
Last updated
Mon 11th May 26 at
4:30PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
North-westerly 15 to 25mph
Effect of the wind on you?
Feeling cold for mid May, with considerable chill in the north-westerly wind.
How Wet?
Showers, increasingly widespread.
Scattered showers from dawn, clustering around coastal areas. Will develop more widely through day, containing hail with snow above 700-900m. Risk, persistent precipitation edging into west coast.
Cloud on the hills?
Bases varied, often banked across tops.
Cloud bases varying through day, but frequently banks will cover the tops above 800-1000m; lowest bases in morning from Ben Hope to Skye, when perhaps 600m.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
40%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Skies often filled in with cloud limiting the sun to glimpses. Visibility very good, but lowering to become poor or very poor in showers.
How Cold? (at 900m)
Around freezing, lowering to -1C Skye to Ben Hope later in the afternoon.
Freezing Level
900-1000m, highest in the south. Lowering to 800m, Skye to Ben Hope toward evening.
Planning Outlook
Notably chilly for mid-May across the hills this week as air from the north-northwest prevails. Frequently near or below freezing over Scottish Munros, and at times dropping to freezing on high tops in England and Wales. Wind speed will vary, but increasing at times to gale force on hills, giving significant chill factor. Broadly showery, heavy bursts with hail and thunder in places, also often falling as snow on higher mountains, at least in Scotland, intermittently elsewhere. Some more persistent precipitation especially northwest Scotland. Also some drier windows - varying locally day-to-day - away from showers cloud will lift above hills and visibility will be very good. Less windy and fewer showers suggested by next weekend into early next week.