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
Moderate breeze, locally gusty
A noticeable breeze, feeling cool where exposed on tops. Locally may be gusty, but unlikely to affect walking progress. 15-25mph.
Dry and sunny
Extensive strong warm sunshine. The mountains free of cloud once any early mist patches disperse.
Clear
Excellent or superb visibility, no navigation issues.
Warm
Comfortable temperatures on the hills, feeling pleasantly warm especially on lower ground. Beware of feeling cooler if exposed to wind on higher terrain.
Strong sunshine
High UV levels, beware of sunburn. Warm temperatures, rising above 20C in the valleys, beware of dehydration.
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Moderate breeze, locally gusty
A noticeable breeze, feeling cool where exposed on tops. Locally may be gusty, but unlikely to affect walking progress. 15-25mph.
Dry and sunny
Extensive strong warm sunshine. The mountains free of cloud once any early mist patches disperse.
Clear
Excellent or superb visibility, no navigation issues.
Warm
Comfortable temperatures on the hills, feeling pleasantly warm especially on lower ground. Beware of feeling cooler if exposed to wind on higher terrain.
Strong sunshine
High UV levels, beware of sunburn. Warm temperatures, rising above 20C in the valleys, beware of dehydration.
Viewing Forecast For
The Northwest Highlands
Tuesday 21st May 2024
Last updated
Tue 21st May 24 at
7:25AM
Summary for all mountain areas
Extensively dry with light wind. However, as cloud builds sunshine will tend to give way from southeast and here and there bursts of rain are likely. It will be warm, particularly on summits near the west coast, where scattered thunderstorms giving localised torrential rain.
Headline for The Northwest Highlands
Extensive sunshine. Low risk thunderstorm afternoon or evening.
How windy? (On the Munros)
Morning: Southeasterly 15 to temporarily 20mph. Afternoon onwards: Progressively becoming very light and direction varied.
Effect of the wind on you?
Small
How Wet?
Risk isolated thunderstorm
Dry all day almost everywhere but later in the afternoon onwards, isolated bursts of rain and within a few miles of the west coast small risk of a thunderstorm giving heavy or torrential rain.
Cloud on the hills?
Not expected
Summits all or almost all constantly cloud free. Nevertheless, fog likely to form on both lower and higher slopes in and after rain.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
Almost certain
Sunshine and air clarity?
Extensive sunshine, but cloud bubbling up through the afternoon. Visibility excellent or superb.
How Cold? (at 900m)
7C at dawn, rising to 14C by mid afternoon.
Freezing Level
Above the summits
Viewing Forecast For
The Northwest Highlands
Wednesday 22nd May 2024
Last updated
Tue 21st May 24 at
7:25AM
How windy? (On the Munros)
Morning: direction varied, widely less than 10mph. Afternoon onwards: Northerly, gradually strengthening to 20 or 25mph.
Effect of the wind on you?
Negligible morning, by evening, impeding ease of walking on some higher areas.
How Wet?
Increasingly wet: Risk thunderstorms.
Morning: Bursts of heavy rain and thunderstorms developing, mainly western mountains. Afternoon onwards: Generally deteriorating as thundery rain becomes increasingly widespread.
Cloud on the hills?
Increasingly extensive on higher areas
Considerable variation both through the day and sometimes between adjacent summits. Generally deteriorating as cloud fills in following onset of rain, quite widely cloud forming on lower slopes. However, even in morning, patches of fog from some lower slopes up.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
30%
Sunshine and air clarity?
A little sun, mainly morning; overall increasingly dull. Excellent visibility but deteriorating markedly as rain develops.
How Cold? (at 900m)
8C
Freezing Level
Above the summits
Viewing Forecast For
The Northwest Highlands
Thursday 23rd May 2024
Last updated
Tue 21st May 24 at
7:25AM
How windy? (On the Munros)
Low confidence in whole forecast: Northerly between 20 and 40mph.
Effect of the wind on you?
Threat of significant wind chill and difficult walking where exposed on higher areas, particularly near Ben Wyvis.
How Wet?
Rain tending to clear
A broad swath of rain (possibly locally snow highest tops) will tend to clear, initially near west coast - but could persist most, possibly all day elsewhere (greatest rainfall likely to be near Ben Wyvis, least western hills south of Torridon).
Cloud on the hills?
Very extensive, although cloud base rising from west
Cloud blanketing the mountains very widely from dawn. As rain eases, so cloud base will tend to rise, perhaps clearing western mountains south of about Torridon. However, toward Sutherland and Ben Wyvis, the improvement may be very late in the day.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
20%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Sunshine will tend to extend off the sea at least onto western mountains, possibly not until late in day. Otherwise, cloudy or dull. Poor visibility in rain but becoming very good from west.
How Cold? (at 900m)
Between 2 and 5C
Freezing Level
Generally above the summits, but may drop to 1050m occasionally.
Planning Outlook
Low confidence on Wednesday and particularly Thursday. On Wednesday areas of thundery rain become increasingly widespread, although most or perhaps all of Wales will escape. By Thursday, there is uncertainty in positioning a north to south band of rain. It is most likely to be centred over eastern Britain, but edge away east only slowly. Beyond, after dry weather into the weekend, southerly winds will strengthen ahead of rain coming in off the Atlantic (again timing of this uncertain).