August stays on Lewis and Harris
A cottage near Lewis and Harris
A practical base for the hills
Check dates for an indicative priceExact August prices and availability are checked after you choose a week.What is Lewis and Harris mountain weather like in August?
Typical mountain and low-level wind, temperature, rainfall and sunshine for August.
40-year mountain climate
Typical high-ground conditions in August.
Historically, August has been one of the more promising parts of the year for high-ground days. Of 1,240 representative high-ground days, 39% were settled for rain and wind, 51% were mixed, and 10% were poor or severe for rain and wind.
Dry days accounted for 43% of the sample. Across the whole year, the settled-day share is 37%, with around 206 wet days, so a region's strongest month should not be mistaken for its usual climate. As a separate check, the Met Office 1991–2020 average at Stornoway Airport is 133 hours of bright sunshine during August. Cloud and views are deliberately kept out of the settled-day score because they vary sharply between individual summits; check the live forecast nearer the trip. These figures describe representative high ground around 799 metres, so coastal and low-level conditions can be milder.
Settled rain and wind39%Historically dry43%High-ground temperature9.0°CTypical maximum gust28 mphStronger days around 37 mphMet Office sunshine context133 hrsAverage bright sunshine in August, 1991–2020 · Stornoway Airport
Plan beyond the forecast
Choose an area and week.
Choose the week you are planning to visit and compare the typical mountain weather, then explore the month-by-month picture below.
Typical conditions, not a forecastThis describes representative high ground. A difficult hill day can still be suitable for a lower-level plan.
Week 33 · 14 August
What this week is typically like on Lewis and Harris high ground.
Across 280 comparable historical hill days, 38% were settled for rain and wind and 9% were poor or severe for rain and wind.
Check the live Lewis and Harris forecast →Settled rain and wind38%280 comparable days
Dry and light wind15%Dry, manageable wind23%Mixed53%Poor9%Severe0%
Historically dry41% of daysTypical daily max gust28 mphStronger days around 37 mphTypical high ground9.2°C24-hour mean near 799 mPoor or severe rain/wind9% of daysViews are checked separately in the live forecast
August context: 39% of days across the month were settled for rain and wind; 10% were poor or severe for rain and wind. Read the full August guide.
Valley and low level for this week
Around Tarbert, Harris.
Representative base · 15 mTypical daily high16.4°CWarmer days 18.1°CHistorically dry41%37% dry with lighter windMaximum wind14 mphStronger days 20 mphTypical overnight low12.2°CCooler nights 10.9°C
Planning a different time of year?Compare Lewis and Harris month by month
Valleys and trip bases
Low-level weather around Tarbert, Harris in August.
Tarbert, Harris, at roughly 15 metres, provides a practical low-level reference for Lewis and Harris. Across 1,240 historical days, the typical daytime high was 16.3°C, with warmer days around 17.7°C.
About 43% of days were dry and 38% combined dry weather with lighter winds. Conditions vary across glens, coasts and villages, so this should be used as regional trip-planning guidance rather than a forecast for every location.
Typical daily high16.3°CWarmer days around 17.7°CTypical overnight low12.0°CCooler nights around 10.6°CHistorically dry43%9% had 10 mm+ rainTypical maximum wind14 mphStronger days around 20 mph
January to December
Lewis and Harris weather by month.
Each month has a detailed guide comparing high-ground hill days with typical conditions at a representative valley or low-level trip base.
January32% settled rain/wind
High ground: 31% mixed · 37% poor or severe for rain/windTarbert, Harris: 43% dry · 8.0°C daily high
February32% settled rain/wind
High ground: 32% mixed · 36% poor or severe for rain/windTarbert, Harris: 46% dry · 8.1°C daily high
March34% settled rain/wind
High ground: 37% mixed · 29% poor or severe for rain/windTarbert, Harris: 44% dry · 9.1°C daily high
April39% settled rain/wind
High ground: 48% mixed · 13% poor or severe for rain/windTarbert, Harris: 49% dry · 10.7°C daily high
May44% settled rain/wind
High ground: 46% mixed · 10% poor or severe for rain/windTarbert, Harris: 49% dry · 12.9°C daily high
June43% settled rain/wind
High ground: 51% mixed · 6% poor or severe for rain/windTarbert, Harris: 47% dry · 14.8°C daily high
July41% settled rain/wind
High ground: 55% mixed · 4% poor or severe for rain/windTarbert, Harris: 44% dry · 16.2°C daily high
August39% settled rain/wind
High ground: 51% mixed · 10% poor or severe for rain/windTarbert, Harris: 43% dry · 16.3°C daily high
September39% settled rain/wind
High ground: 42% mixed · 19% poor or severe for rain/windTarbert, Harris: 46% dry · 15.0°C daily high
October32% settled rain/wind
High ground: 42% mixed · 26% poor or severe for rain/windTarbert, Harris: 41% dry · 12.7°C daily high
November33% settled rain/wind
High ground: 39% mixed · 28% poor or severe for rain/windTarbert, Harris: 44% dry · 10.2°C daily high
December36% settled rain/wind
High ground: 31% mixed · 33% poor or severe for rain/windTarbert, Harris: 46% dry · 8.2°C daily high
Strongest historical signals
Best weeks of the year for Lewis and Harris mountain weather.
These are the six week bands with the largest historical share of settled rain-and-wind days. Views are not included; use the live forecast nearer the trip.
Based on ERA5 reanalysis from the Copernicus Climate Change Service for 1986–2025, summarised for representative high-ground and valley locations. These are reconstructed historical conditions, not a continuous summit weather-station record. Sunshine uses separate Met Office 1991–2020 averages.
Weather data: Open-Meteo (CC BY 4.0). Adapted by Mountain Weather.
20 mountain areas
Compare another part of the UK.
The comparison uses the whole year, rather than putting each region's single best month beside another's typical conditions.
Angus GlensScotland · about 184 wet days · 1,047 mm rain · 1,411 sunshine hrs41% settled annually Argyll and Loch LomondScotland · about 213 wet days · 1,933 mm rain · 1,179 sunshine hrs39% settled annually Bannau Brycheiniog (Brecon Beacons)Wales · about 170 wet days · 1,161 mm rain · 1,422 sunshine hrs50% settled annually CairngormsScotland · about 197 wet days · 1,135 mm rain · 1,209 sunshine hrs42% settled annually Clwydian Range and BerwynsWales · about 175 wet days · 1,054 mm rain · 1,573 sunshine hrs48% settled annually DartmoorEngland · about 154 wet days · 942 mm rain · 1,494 sunshine hrs54% settled annually Eryri (Snowdonia)Wales · about 195 wet days · 1,355 mm rain · 1,458 sunshine hrs43% settled annually Lake DistrictEngland · about 194 wet days · 1,447 mm rain · 1,225 sunshine hrs43% settled annually Lewis and HarrisScotland · about 206 wet days · 1,204 mm rain · 1,256 sunshine hrs37% settled annually LochaberScotland · about 218 wet days · 1,931 mm rain · 1,005 sunshine hrs38% settled annually Mid Wales and Cambrian MountainsWales · about 180 wet days · 1,159 mm rain · 1,279 sunshine hrs48% settled annually Monadhliath and Creag MeagaidhScotland · about 202 wet days · 1,307 mm rain · 1,091 sunshine hrs41% settled annually North PenninesEngland · about 178 wet days · 1,037 mm rain · 1,421 sunshine hrs47% settled annually Northumberland and CheviotsEngland · about 152 wet days · 761 mm rain · 1,535 sunshine hrs50% settled annually Northwest HighlandsScotland · about 231 wet days · 1,860 mm rain · 1,044 sunshine hrs33% settled annually Peak DistrictEngland · about 164 wet days · 916 mm rain · 1,383 sunshine hrs49% settled annually Perthshire HighlandsScotland · about 198 wet days · 1,483 mm rain · 1,142 sunshine hrs43% settled annually SkyeScotland · about 230 wet days · 2,031 mm rain · 1,200 sunshine hrs36% settled annually Southern ScotlandScotland · about 203 wet days · 1,368 mm rain · 1,215 sunshine hrs42% settled annually Yorkshire DalesEngland · about 183 wet days · 1,219 mm rain · 1,154 sunshine hrs46% settled annually