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.)
Monday'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.
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.
Poor visibility
Murky conditions with areas of fog shrouding the hills, making navigation challenging. Map and compass essential.
Cool to mild
Air temperature 8 to 12C 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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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.
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.
Poor visibility
Murky conditions with areas of fog shrouding the hills, making navigation challenging. Map and compass essential.
Cool to mild
Air temperature 8 to 12C 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
Monday 16th June 2025
Last updated
Sun 15th Jun 25 at
4:00PM
Summary for all mountain areas
A front draped over the Highlands brings low cloud and drizzly rain to western areas, heavier rain pushing northwards in the afternoon. Southwesterly winds will strengthen later in Scotland, becoming gales on higher mountains by evening. Dry with sunny spells and cloud clearing the tops in England & Wales.
Headline for The Northwest Highlands
Upland gales developing, drizzle turning to rain western hills
How windy? (On the Munros)
Southwesterly 30mph, locally 40mph at first in far north, then more widely strengthening through afternoon to reach 50mph, risk up to dusk nearing 60mph at least in gusts west coastal mountains.
Effect of the wind on you?
Strenuous conditions, affecting balance where exposed, but deteriorating further to become widely difficult over the mountains later in the daytime. Considerable wind chill.
How Wet?
Drizzly west, becoming rain afternoon
Patchy drizzle on western hills in the morning, most frequent on/near Skye. During afternoon, more persistent steady rain moves in from southwest, becoming fairly extensive for a few hours into evening, easing for a time, then further rain likely into night, turning heavy western mountains around Skye.
Cloud on the hills?
Low cloud most persistent around Skye
Shrouding the hills most likely all day above 500 to 700m, lower at times in more persistent rain from Skye to coastal Wester Ross. Higher bases north/eastwards, some breaks above 800m during middle of day.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
10% on/near Skye, 30% far north/east.
Sunshine and air clarity?
Fairly cloudy, a little sun through high cloud mainly Sutherland in morning, then more widely cloudy, misty with poor visibility in rain.
How Cold? (at 900m)
7C rising to 9C or slightly higher eastern areas afternoon. Will feel close to freezing point directly in the wind, sub-zero by evening.
Freezing Level
Above the summits.
Viewing Forecast For
The Northwest Highlands
Tuesday 17th June 2025
Last updated
Sun 15th Jun 25 at
4:00PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
Southwesterly 25 to 35mph, strongest northern areas, risk 50mph up to dawn; may increase a little again by dusk.
Effect of the wind on you?
Blustery on hills, affecting balance on exposed ridges, more challenging early and late. Marked wind chill.
How Wet?
Showers becoming drizzly, fading
Overnight rain breaking up into showers from dawn, on and off for a few hours, fading to become light and patchy, then more often dry by middle of day onward.
Cloud on the hills?
Lifting, may linger west coast tops
Fairly extensive above 600 to 800m from dawn, lowest toward west coast. Bases rising mostly above 800m, with breaks forming to higher slopes inland and east, but patches may persist near west coast.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
40%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Glimpses of sun coming through. Visibility becoming very good.
How Cold? (at 900m)
5C, rising slightly into afternoon. Feeling like -5C directly in the wind.
Freezing Level
Above the summits
Viewing Forecast For
The Northwest Highlands
Wednesday 18th June 2025
Last updated
Sun 15th Jun 25 at
4:00PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
West to southwesterly 25mph, but for periods 30-35mph, mainly northern tops.
Effect of the wind on you?
Affecting comfortable walking and balance where exposed on some higher tops and ridges. Feeling noticeably chilly.
How Wet?
Drizzly rain west
Amounts fairly small, but risk often damp with light rain or drizzle on western mountains, particularly around Skye, may become more persistent steady rain.
Cloud on the hills?
Low cloud likely to persist west
Shrouding western hills most or all day, cloud bases 500 to 700m, may rise a little with time. Some breaks higher up for periods across Sutherland. Cloud lowering widely if rain turns heavier.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
30%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Largely cloudy, hazy or misty west coastal hills around Skye. Some glimpses of sun further north and east, visibility good inland below cloud.
How Cold? (at 900m)
4 or 5C, marginal rise inland and east into afternoon. Feeling like -5C in exposure to stronger wind.
Freezing Level
Above the summits
Planning Outlook
Humid southwesterly winds early this week brings low cloud and spells of drizzly rain to western hills. High pressure to the south will tend to expand northwards during midweek, with dry conditions and warm air for all regions, sunshine and fair-weather cloud. Winds becoming light south to southeasterlies later in the week. Uncertainty by next weekend into early the following week, a risk of some rain or showers returning as pressure tends to fall.