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.)
Sunday'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.
Sunshine and showers
A good amount of dry and bright weather, but scattered bursts of rain, some may be locally heavy.
Chilly
Air temperature typically 4 to 8C on higher summits. Feeling distinctly chilly on tops when stationary or where exposed to wind. Take appropriate 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.
Sunshine and showers
A good amount of dry and bright weather, but scattered bursts of rain, some may be locally heavy.
Chilly
Air temperature typically 4 to 8C on higher summits. Feeling distinctly chilly on tops when stationary or where exposed to wind. Take appropriate layers.
Viewing Forecast For
The Northwest Highlands
Sunday 31st August 2025
Last updated
Sat 30th Aug 25 at
4:26PM
Summary for all mountain areas
Low pressure southwest of the Hebrides, brings strong to gale force southerly winds; marked chill. Showery rain frequent on western hills from west Highlands to Snowdonia, with showers increasingly developing elsewhere. Hill fog varied, but extensive west/southern Highlands. Highest cloud bases in northern Scotland.
Headline for The Northwest Highlands
Southerly gales, significant chill. Rain and hill fog west and south. Best in the north.
How windy? (On the Munros)
Southerly, 35 to 50mph, strongest west; on Skye and nearby coastal mountains often 50-60mph, local stronger gusts.
Effect of the wind on you?
Arduous walking conditions widely, often difficult mobility on western mountains, gusts could knock you over. Significant wind chill.
How Wet?
Showery rain in south/west, drier in north.
Frequent showery rain all day on Skye, a scattering of showers developing elsewhere, heavy bursts mixed in mainly afternoon. Areas toward Ben Hope and Wyvis, will escape dry well into the day.
Cloud on the hills?
Persistent around Skye. Good breaks north and east.
Cloud base varying, but extensively shrouding western mountains above 600-800 during rain, some patches to lower slopes at times. Higher, more well broken, cloud bases further north and eastwards, toward Ben Hope and Wyvis, clearing for periods.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
20% Skye, to 70% north/east.
Sunshine and air clarity?
Brief glimpses of sun mostly north/east. General haze west, poor in rain; better visibility east.
How Cold? (at 900m)
7 or 8C, little change all day. Wind chill feeling like -5C in exposure.
Freezing Level
Above the summits
Viewing Forecast For
The Northwest Highlands
Monday 1st September 2025
Last updated
Sat 30th Aug 25 at
4:26PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
Southerly, 30 to 50mph, speed likely to vary, but strongest west coast and Skye, becoming west-southwesterly by dusk.
Effect of the wind on you?
Frequent buffeting, strenuous walking over exposed high terrain, affecting balance on ridges. Difficult conditions west coast/Skye. Considerable wind chill.
How Wet?
Heavy showers, hail and thunder
Frequent or more constant heavy rain much of the day around Skye. Elsewhere, driest in morning, but increasingly widely showery. Heavy bursts with hail, risk of lightning.
Cloud on the hills?
Most persistent around Skye, varied inland
Often covering higher slopes of the Cuillin and nearby coastal mountains on the mainland above 600 to 800m. Further north and east, cloud more broken above 800m, sometimes clearing higher tops.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
10% Skye, to 30% elsewhere.
Sunshine and air clarity?
Glimpses of sun mostly toward northern areas. General haze near Skye, but visibility very good below cloud inland.
How Cold? (at 900m)
7 to 9C. Feeling sub-zero directly in the wind, near -5C high tops.
Freezing Level
Above the summits
Viewing Forecast For
The Northwest Highlands
Tuesday 2nd September 2025
Last updated
Sat 30th Aug 25 at
4:26PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
Southwesterly 25 to 30mph, strongest across northern hills in the morning when perhaps 35mph.
Effect of the wind on you?
Blustery with a marked chill in the wind. Some buffeting, perhaps frequent for a time in the north.
How Wet?
Frequent showery rain in the west
Areas of showery rain will be frequent across hills on and near Skye. Increasingly a scattering of showers into the north and east too, after dry start.
Cloud on the hills?
Extensive on and near Skye.
Hill fog extensive across higher slopes, and at times to mid slopes in rain, on and near Skye. Occasionally capping tops in the north and east.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
30% on and near Skye. 60% elsewhere.
Sunshine and air clarity?
Sunny glimpses will mostly be limited to northern and eastern hills. Visibility poor in rain in west, very good often in the north and east.
How Cold? (at 900m)
8 to 10C
Freezing Level
Above the summits
Planning Outlook
Low pressure continues to dominate early in the new week, maintaining unsettled conditions widely. Areas of rain and heavy showers, risk of hail and thunder. Windy, gales over mountains early in the week, tending to ease for periods at least in the Highlands mid-late week, whilst southwesterlies often remain strong over England and Wales. Some improvement possible toward next weekend, though the extended outlook into the second week of September remains changeable. Mid-September shows signs of a better improvement as pressure tends to rise more widely.