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
Windy, walking impeded
Blustery conditions enough to give buffeting on higher terrain or affect balance on exposed ridges. 25 to 40mph.
Heavy showers, snow and hail
Showery precipitation, often heavy, may merge to become constant for periods. A mix of snow and hail on higher terrain, rain or hail lower down. Risk of a rumble of thunder and isolated lightning.
Poor visibility
Murky conditions with areas of fog shrouding the hills, making navigation challenging. Map and compass essential.
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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Windy, walking impeded
Blustery conditions enough to give buffeting on higher terrain or affect balance on exposed ridges. 25 to 40mph.
Heavy showers, snow and hail
Showery precipitation, often heavy, may merge to become constant for periods. A mix of snow and hail on higher terrain, rain or hail lower down. Risk of a rumble of thunder and isolated lightning.
Poor visibility
Murky conditions with areas of fog shrouding the hills, making navigation challenging. Map and compass essential.
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
Thursday 5th June 2025
Last updated
Thu 5th Jun 25 at
8:02AM
Summary for all mountain areas
Still cold, particularly Scottish Highlands where in morning higher summits below freezing point. Here showery, particularly NW - hail, and snow higher tops. Further south rain on and off morning before improving to sunshine and scattered showers. Much less windy - still strongest N Scotland.
Headline for The Northwest Highlands
Upland gales slowly easing. Showery rain; hail and sleet higher up.
How windy? (On the Munros)
Between west and southwest dropping from 30 to 40mph (least wind near Skye) until mid morning progressively dropping to 15 to 20mph mid afternoon.
Effect of the wind on you?
Walking widely arduous at first; become small through afternoon. Considerable wind chill. morning.
How Wet?
Showers sometimes very frequent all day
Continuing showery. Toward the west coast, the rain persistent for periods of an hour or so. Hail, and sleet above 800m at first, in afternoon 1100m.
Cloud on the hills?
Persistent most higher areas; lowest cloud base near west coast.
Cloud base will tend to rise morning, particularly away from west coast. From midday, near the west coast cloud base ranging between 450 and 700m, lowest near showers, whilst on eastern summits between 650 and 950m.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
10%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Rare sunshine and hazy within a few miles of the west coast to patches of sun (mainly lower slopes) and very good visibility easternmost slopes. Poor visibility in precipitation.
How Cold? (at 900m)
3C. Will feel closer to minus 8C in the wind.
Freezing Level
1150m at first; but rising to 1300m
Viewing Forecast For
The Northwest Highlands
Friday 6th June 2025
Last updated
Thu 5th Jun 25 at
8:02AM
How windy? (On the Munros)
West backing southwesterly 10 to 15mph
Effect of the wind on you?
Small or negligible
How Wet?
Continuing showery. Hail, snow.
Widespread showers - relatively few more eastern hills morning, then through afternoon and evening showers become isolated western hills, initially the improvement near the coast. Hail, and snow above about 1050m.
Cloud on the hills?
Clearing most, perhaps nearly all summits by afternoon
Skye and nearby mainly coastal slopes, mostly cloud covered above 600 to 800m, although even on Skye may break above 900m north Cuillin. Otherwise cloud base rising; by late morning most cloud above or well above 1000m.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
80% by midday
Sunshine and air clarity?
Patches of sunshine, although particularly morning mostly cloudy near Skye. Excellent visibility - temporarily poor in precipitation.
How Cold? (at 900m)
3C near the coast, rising to 7C well inland.
Freezing Level
Above the summits.
Viewing Forecast For
The Northwest Highlands
Saturday 7th June 2025
Last updated
Thu 5th Jun 25 at
8:02AM
How windy? (On the Munros)
Direction varied, 10mph or less morning. From the west becoming northwesterly 10 to perhaps in evening 20mph.
Effect of the wind on you?
Small or negligible.
How Wet?
Heavy slow moving showers; thunder
Scattered showers confined within a few miles of the coast until late morning. Then dry coastal areas, whilst elsewhere heavy showers forming and drifting about only slowly. Hail and on highest tops sleet. Small risk thunder.
Cloud on the hills?
Summits cloud free for periods, but forming widely in heavy rain.
Most or all mountains clearing for periods as in morning cloud base rises. But in rain, very varied as patches form from lower slopes up, particularly above forest canopies - whilst in other areas breaks persist to higher slopes.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
60%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Sunshine coming through from time to time. Excellent or superb visibility in very clear air, but expect areas of very poor visibility in and after rain.
How Cold? (at 900m)
3C rising to 5 to 7C away from coastal areas.
Freezing Level
Just above highest tops.
Planning Outlook
Remaining chilly until Sunday night (intermittently near freezing point highest Scottish summits). Rainfall and low cloud will remain frequent across particularly western mountains until well into next week. Intermittently windy.