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.)
Thursday's Forecast
Windy, walking impeded
Blustery conditions enough to give buffeting on higher terrain or affect balance on exposed ridges. 25 to 40mph.
Frequent or persistent rain
Steady rain fairly persistent, occasionally heavy, rather wet underfoot.
Warm
Comfortable temperatures on the hills, 10 to 15C on tops, feeling pleasantly warm especially on lower ground. Beware of feeling cooler if exposed to wind on higher terrain.
Click an icon for more information or click here for a key to all icons.
Windy, walking impeded
Blustery conditions enough to give buffeting on higher terrain or affect balance on exposed ridges. 25 to 40mph.
Frequent or persistent rain
Steady rain fairly persistent, occasionally heavy, rather wet underfoot.
Warm
Comfortable temperatures on the hills, 10 to 15C on tops, feeling pleasantly warm especially on lower ground. Beware of feeling cooler if exposed to wind on higher terrain.
Viewing Forecast For
The Northwest Highlands
Thursday 13th August 2026
Last updated
Wed 12th Aug 26 at
4:17PM
Summary for all mountain areas
Exceptionally hot in England and Wales, fire risk remains high. Despite haze and high cloud, beware sunburn and dehydration. Warm too in Scotland. Hill cloud and showery rain affects west Scotland from morning, patches spreading east; rain becomes frequent west Scotland later with heavy bursts.
Headline for The Northwest Highlands
Blustery west coast; rainy bursts, setting in later
How windy? (On the Munros)
South to southwesterly between 20 or 25mph Ben Wyvis and near Great Glen to 30 or 35mph coastal summits. Later in the day, speeds becoming more widely near 30mph with notable gusts where heaviest showers occur.
Effect of the wind on you?
Mostly fairly small more eastern hills, but increasingly strenuous toward the coast, and later more widely with buffeting gusts.
How Wet?
Bursts of rain, frequent and heavy with time
Pulses of rain drift from the southwest through morning, some dry windows north and east for a time. From midday, rain setting in Skye, and progressively more widely, heavy bursts increasingly common with risk of thunder.
Cloud on the hills?
Extensive west coast, later more widely
Conditions will vary, with breaks above 900m toward and north of Ullapool and well inland further south. In and after rain, cloud filling in to below 500m, or below 300m coastal slopes open to the southwest near Skye. Through afternoon, cloud more widely extensive as rain sets in to lower slopes.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
30% east, lowering to 10%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Bursts of sunshine in the east through morning, overcast along the coast and more widely overcast as afternoon goes. Visibility poor in cloud and rain, starting better to the east.
How Cold? (at 900m)
13C, rising a degree on eastern hills.
Freezing Level
Above the summits.
Viewing Forecast For
The Northwest Highlands
Friday 14th August 2026
Last updated
Wed 12th Aug 26 at
4:17PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
West-southwesterly 15-25mph, tending to strengthen, notably north where reaching 35mph over tops.
Effect of the wind on you?
Fairly small, but some notable breezes over high tops at times, particularly north where becoming quite blustery.
How Wet?
Patchy rain and drizzle
Rain on and off for most Munros throughout the day, generally light in nature with drier windows well inland. Drizzly on western high terrain too.
Cloud on the hills?
Extensive
Cloud shrouds western mountains from at least middle slopes up much of the day, often lower. Inland, bases approach 700m during dry windows, but lowering again in rain with patches to low slopes. A modest improving trend later in the day.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
10%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Overcast and dull. Poor visibility.
How Cold? (at 900m)
10C, lowering a degree, cooling further overnight.
Freezing Level
Above the summits.
Viewing Forecast For
The Northwest Highlands
Saturday 15th August 2026
Last updated
Wed 12th Aug 26 at
4:17PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
Westerly 25-35mph, strong gusts over tops to 45mph. Trending northwesterly and easing somewhat.
Effect of the wind on you?
Strenuous walking with buffeting and wind chill over high terrain in the morning, effects easing.
How Wet?
Often raining
Showery rain drifts onto western Munros much of the day. Best chance of drier windows inland, but clusters of heavier rain will pass eastward as well.
Cloud on the hills?
Extensive
West coast hills shrouded from middle slopes up all day with varied lower bases towards the coast. Inland, generally higher, may occasionally break towards 800m during drier windows but returning lower again in rain.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
20%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Mostly cloudy, often dull. Generally poor visibility.
How Cold? (at 900m)
7C. Feeling near freezing in early strongest wind.
Freezing Level
Above the summits.
Planning Outlook
Some rain and a fresh northwesterly breeze slips into England and Wales on Friday. Though weekend, high pressure is never far away to the southwest, keeping conditions generally drier and brighter across England and Wales, though a northwesterly flow will bring some cloud to western hills. Scotland is more often cloudy with patchy rain, mostly north and west. Mixed conditions early next week with periods of rain and sunny bursts. High pressure remains present to the southwest of the British Isles, maintaining the possibility of drier brighter days; detail remains uncertain regarding risk of more unsettled weather. Temperatures likely nearer average.