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.)
Today'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.
Frequent or persistent rain
Steady rain fairly persistent, occasionally heavy, rather wet underfoot.
Poor visibility
Murky conditions with areas of fog shrouding the hills, making navigation challenging. Map and compass essential.
Warm
Comfortable temperatures on the hills, 12 to 16C on tops, feeling pleasantly warm especially on lower ground. Beware of feeling cooler if exposed to wind on higher terrain.
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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.
Frequent or persistent rain
Steady rain fairly persistent, occasionally heavy, rather wet underfoot.
Poor visibility
Murky conditions with areas of fog shrouding the hills, making navigation challenging. Map and compass essential.
Warm
Comfortable temperatures on the hills, 12 to 16C 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
Monday 30th June 2025
Last updated
Sun 29th Jun 25 at
4:00PM
Summary for all mountain areas
Very warm and humid. Gale force southerly winds for NW Scotland at first will ease, but gusty winds strengthen elsewhere. As a front encroaches from the west across the Highlands, bursts of rain will merge into a swathe of more extensive heavy rain, possible thunder. Dry with sunshine for England and Wales, small risk local showers.
Headline for The Northwest Highlands
Gales at first notably easing. Heaviest rain on/near Skye.
How windy? (On the Munros)
South to southwesterly 40 to 55mph in morning; powerful gusts briefly 60mph+ tops and some high passes; strongest an hour or two after dawn. Lessening considerably to 15-25mph, lowest speeds near Skye afternoon.
Effect of the wind on you?
Difficult walking conditions in morning, frequent buffeting, mobility challenging on exposed ridges; gusts may knock you over. Marked improvement into afternoon to become fairly small widely.
How Wet?
Heavy rain increasingly widespread
Spots of rain from high cloud initially, heavy bursts of rain forming. More persistent heavy rain soon on/near Skye. More widespread heavy rain developing with time, possible thundery bursts mixed in. Becoming very wet underfoot in west.
Cloud on the hills?
Lowest and most persistent Skye
Persistent very low cloud Skye, particularly southern Cuillin. Elsewhere, varied cloud banks, mostly western mountains, highest breaks north, but widely filling in and lowering across mountains as rain develops.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
10% Skye, 50% elsewhere, but 20% as rain sets in.
Sunshine and air clarity?
An array of high cloud largely obscuring the sun, mostly overcast. Visibility good, but hazier near coast, Skye may remain murky, especially south; reducing to be widely poor in rain.
How Cold? (at 900m)
11C where in cloud in west, up to local 16C Easter Ross; humid. Lowering from west, to 7C by evening, toward 4C into night.
Freezing Level
Above the summits
Viewing Forecast For
The Northwest Highlands
Tuesday 1st July 2025
Last updated
Sun 29th Jun 25 at
4:00PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
West to southwesterly 15 to 25mph.
Effect of the wind on you?
Fairly small, but feeling cool and rather blustery on some exposed western ridges.
How Wet?
Local brief showers
One or two showers, mostly light. Chance of an odd heavier shower forming inland across Sutherland.
Cloud on the hills?
Lifting and mostly clearing
Variable cloud banks covering hills, most extensive western areas. Lifting to upper slopes during morning, leaving patches confined to high tops, clearing many summits afternoon.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
30% rising to 90%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Fairly cloudy, glimpses of sun; becoming sunnier toward the west coast afternoon. Visibility excellent.
How Cold? (at 900m)
5 to 8C.
Freezing Level
Above the summits
Viewing Forecast For
The Northwest Highlands
Wednesday 2nd July 2025
Last updated
Sun 29th Jun 25 at
4:00PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
Southwesterly 10 to 20mph, strongest coastal areas toward the north.
Effect of the wind on you?
Mostly small
How Wet?
Rare showers
One or two brief showers. Chance of a local heavier shower toward the east coast later in day.
Cloud on the hills?
Patches clearing
Patches of cloud briefly on western mountains in the morning, lifting to upper slopes then largely clearing above tops.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
80%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Patchwork of sun and cloud. Visibility excellent.
How Cold? (at 900m)
7 to 9C.
Freezing Level
Above the summits
Planning Outlook
Cooler across Scotland by Monday night as a cold front advances eastwards. Risk of scattered thundery showers Tuesday-Wednesday, mostly eastern areas. High pressure then builds to the south, whilst a humid southwesterly returns to bring spells of rain and low cloud to western Scotland. The second week of July looks cooler for all with sunshine and showers.