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.)
Saturday's Forecast
Windy, walking impeded
Blustery conditions enough to give buffeting on higher terrain or affect balance on exposed ridges. 25 to 40mph.
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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Windy, walking impeded
Blustery conditions enough to give buffeting on higher terrain or affect balance on exposed ridges. 25 to 40mph.
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
Saturday 27th September 2025
Last updated
Fri 26th Sep 25 at
4:03PM
Summary for all mountain areas
A dry dawn, rain soon arriving on Scotland's west coast and slowly spreading east, reaching England and east Scotland through afternoon. Dry most of the day over the central and south Pennines though hazy. Light patchy rain for Wales, then substantial rain later afternoon. Blustery, morning gales over high Scotland summits.
Headline for The Northwest Highlands
Rain and cloud slowly build from the west; morning gales
How windy? (On the Munros)
Southerly 40-50mph from dawn, risk up to 60mph Skye. Gradually easing to 20-30mph, some chance of a sharper drop on Skye and Wester Ross later to 15mph or lower.
Effect of the wind on you?
Gales likely start the day with significant buffeting. Easing down through day and feeling chilly, some chance of a lull on Skye later, but still blustery inland.
How Wet?
Dry for many early except Skye, slowly becoming widespread
A band of rain touches the west of Skye from dawn and slowly moves west, reaching Wester Ross by midday and continues to spread east and north into afternoon, staying wet overnight. Rain could be heavy at times on Skye.
Cloud on the hills?
Well broken mainland early, becoming extensive
Skye shrouded above 900m at dawn, only patchy cloud on high mainland slopes with cloud-free tops. Cloud slowly lowers on Skye as rain sets in and drifts inland and north, most mountains shrouded above 800-900m by later afternoon with local lower bases.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
80% mainland at dawn, lowering to 10%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Overcast from dawn on Skye, bright to the north and east for a few hours before widely overcast. Good visibility, turning poor as rain sets in.
How Cold? (at 900m)
6C, locally 7C north of Ullapool. Feeling like -8C in direct wind.
Freezing Level
Above the summits
Viewing Forecast For
The Northwest Highlands
Sunday 28th September 2025
Last updated
Fri 26th Sep 25 at
4:03PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
Low confidence - westerly 20-30mph, though could be lighter or even a lull.
Effect of the wind on you?
Risk of uncomfortable winds much of the day with strenuous conditions in exposure - could be mostly small.
How Wet?
Rain, likely most of the day
Frequently raining, quite persistent onto the west coast. Tending to break into showers from the south later, though perhaps fading sooner - low confidence.
Cloud on the hills?
Likely extensive much of the day
Extensive through most of morning, down to lowest slopes on the west coast. Bases lift somewhat with odd breaks here and there, but high tops unlikely to clear except in the south later.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
20%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Mostly cloudy, sunny bursts starting to form around Skye later in the day. Poor visibility in cloud and rain.
How Cold? (at 900m)
5C
Freezing Level
Above the summits
Viewing Forecast For
The Northwest Highlands
Monday 29th September 2025
Last updated
Fri 26th Sep 25 at
4:03PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
From dawn, southwesterly 15mph; 25mph Skye. Speeds rising afternoon, up to a gusty 25-35mph, 40mph gusts Skye.
Effect of the wind on you?
Ease of walking gradually affected, becoming strenuous over many tops with considerable buffeting.
How Wet?
Drizzly Skye, otherwise largely dry
Some fine drizzle over high tops of the Cuillin. Light rain arrives onto Skye afternoon with patches increasingly drifting east and north into evening.
Cloud on the hills?
Mostly over the Cuillin, filling in late in the day
Some local mist in northern glens with ragged patches drifting over tops; high tops of the Cuillin likely more extensively covered. Later afternoon, becoming extensive on Skye and spreading inland and northward into night.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
70%, lowering to 30% later
Sunshine and air clarity?
Mostly sunny in the morning, high cloud drifting in from the west gradually shrouds sun. Very good visibility.
How Cold? (at 900m)
5C rising to 6C, up to 7C Skye later.
Freezing Level
Above the summits
Planning Outlook
A footprint of moisture remains on Sunday with morning valley mist and areas of patchy low cloud and rain, mostly affecting western areas. Into the following week, the UK is situated under a boundary between high and low pressure with a trend towards more settled conditions south, unsettled north. Northwest England and west Scotland could be rather wet with persistent cloud covering tops and drifting down western slopes. Heavier spells of rain can pass into northeastern areas too. Generally dry for the Pennines and Wales, though cloud and occasionally drizzly rain will impact western areas. The position of the pressure pattern is crucial, as a slight northward shift could bring settled weather to southern Scotland; a southern shift could bring unsettled weather more widely.