Northwest Highlands
Monday 31 August 2026 · Wester Ross, Assynt and the far northwest
Why: A low thunderstorm risk remains difficult to time precisely.
Poor visibility is the main concern. Expect showers or rain at times and summit clag likely.
High-ground wind (900 m)
Westerly 15-20 mph at 900 m. Gusts reaching around 25 mph at 900 m, with locally higher values possible on the most exposed tops. Starting nearer 5 mph, then strengthening toward 15 mph later.
Walking impact
Noticeable on exposed ground, but unlikely to impede most walking.
Thunderstorms
Thunderstorms are possible from early morning into the afternoon. Keep an escape route from exposed ridges and descend if thunder develops.
Ground conditions
The ground is likely to be wet after recent rain.
Rain and showers
Showers or spells of rain at times. The heaviest rain is expected around the middle of the day.
Cloud-free summits
Around 25%.
Cloud and visibility
Cloud bases mostly around 900-1200 m. Many higher summits may stay in cloud, although local or temporary breaks are possible.
Temperature and wind chill
Around 5°C at 900 m, then falling toward 6°C later, feeling like 1°C in the wind.
Freezing level
Above the summits.
Daylight
Sunrise 06:18 — Sunset 20:21 — about 14.1 hours daylight.
Overnight · 6 p.m.–9 a.m.Wild campingBetaThunder risk is around 29% in parts of the area; avoid exposed pitches if storms develop. 54/100Mixed · 600 m View detailsHide details
Full regional overnight outlook
Across representative hills, open-hillside camping looks mixed around 600 m (54/100). A wet night is likely, with around 6 mm indicated between pitching and packing up.
Elevation reference (open ground)
- Wind / gust
- 9 / 16 mph
- Coldest
- 8.2°C
- In cloud
- Unlikely
- Condensation
- Moderate
- Wind / gust
- 11 / 22 mph
- Coldest
- 7.6°C
- In cloud
- 50% of night
- Condensation
- High
- Wind / gust
- 12 / 24 mph
- Coldest
- 5.1°C
- In cloud
- 64% of night
- Condensation
- High
Open-hillside guidance across representative hills. Local shelter, ridges, tent design and the exact pitch can change conditions substantially. Read about sleeping-bag comfort ratings, pitching in strong winds or using the wild-camping forecast.
Daytime · exposed rockClimbing & scramblingBetaThunder risk is around 29% in parts of the area; exposed scrambling may be a poor choice. 0/100Poor · Very poor View detailsHide details
Full regional climbing & scrambling outlook
Conditions for exposed scrambling across the area look very poor (0/100). Rain is likely to leave rock wet; polished slabs, vegetation and drainage lines may be notably worse. Mapped summit-point geology across the representative hills includes psammite, pelite or semipelite and sandstone or gritstone; moisture response can therefore vary substantially between crags and routes.
Representative summit-point samples across the region; individual crags and routes may differ.
Generic exposed hands-on-rock terrain across representative summits; mapped summit-point geology is a broad regional sample, not a named-route survey. Contains British Geological Survey materials © UKRI 2026. How to use the climbing and scrambling forecast.
Updated 30 August 2026 at 04:40 UTC. See typical weekly and monthly conditions for Northwest Highlands.