Skye
A poor day on the tops in Skye, with strong, gusty winds and cloud coming and going on the summits.
Sunshine and sky
Limited sunny breaks. Any sunshine is likely to come through limited breaks.
These are direct modelled sunshine hours during daylight, not the probability of sunshine. Cloud cover and summit cloud are assessed separately in the forecast above. The regional median prevents one unusually bright or dull summit cell defining the whole area.
Overnight forecast: 17:00–08:00 (UK local time), in Wild camping below.
High-ground wind (900 m)
At around 900 m, expect a south-westerly wind of 30–40 mph, gusting 40–50 mph. Gusts like that are strong enough to knock you off balance, so take care near edges and on narrow ridges.
Walking impact
Gusts of 40–50 mph are strong enough to knock you off balance, so take care near edges and on narrow ridges.
Thunderstorms
There is a small chance of a thunderstorm from the morning into the evening. If you hear thunder, head down off the tops and away from ridges. If a thunderstorm develops, sudden gusts and heavy rain can change conditions quickly.
Ground conditions
The ground is likely to be saturated after recent rain. Expect boggy paths and rapid runoff if more rain arrives.
Rain and showers
Drizzle sets in around midday.
Cloud-free summits
Clear-summit estimate: about 15% early, about 45% around midday and about 55% later.
Cloud and visibility
The tops are likely to drift in and out of cloud. The cloud base could be as low as 500–800 m mid-morning. In cloud you'll be finding your way without landmarks, so carry navigation you trust and know how to use, with a backup such as a spare battery or a map and compass.
Temperature and wind chill
At around 900 m it will be 2 to 6°C, feeling like -4 to 0°C in the wind. Take a hat, gloves, a windproof and a spare warm layer. Pack waterproofs too, and keep a warm layer dry in your pack.
Freezing level
The freezing level is above the summits.
Daylight
Sunrise 07:57, Sunset 18:22, about 10.4 hours daylight.
Overnight · 17:00–08:00Wild campingBetaToo windy for an exposed pitch up around 900 m on some hills (gusts of about 40 mph and about 4 mm of rain). Lower down, a mixed night to camp, mainly because of the wind. 23Poor · 600 m View detailsHide details
Full regional overnight outlook
Too windy for an exposed pitch up around 900 m on some hills. Lower down, a mixed night to camp, mainly because of the wind. Gusts reach about 40 mph around 900 m and nearer 30 mph around 300 m, which makes for a noisy, testing night even in a good tent. Check the forecast for the hill and height you have in mind, and don't assume lower ground will be sheltered. A thunderstorm is possible in parts of the area. The timing of any storms is uncertain, so don't pitch on a ridge or summit, and have a lower fallback. About 4 mm of rain is forecast overnight. A cold night, down to about 2°C around 900 m. The ground will be sodden after recent rain, so pick a firm, well-drained pitch.
Moon overnight
Waxing crescent moon
- Illuminated disc
- 26%
- Moonrise
- Outside this window
- Moonset
- 19:25 BST
Cloud and terrain vary across the area. Illumination describes the sunlit part of the Moon, not brightness at your pitch.
Overnight window: 15 Oct, 17:00 BST to 16 Oct, 08:00 BST. Approximate open-horizon times; hills can hide the Moon. Still take a headtorch.
Representative location: 57.207, -6.224. Times vary across the area.
Elevation reference (open ground)
- Wind / gust
- 16 mph / 29 mph
- Coldest
- 4.2°C
- In cloud
- 0% of modelled night
- Condensation
- Moderate
- Wind / gust
- 19 mph / 35 mph
- Coldest
- 4.0°C
- In cloud
- 7% of modelled night
- Condensation
- Moderate
- Wind / gust
- 23 mph / 41 mph
- Coldest
- 2.0°C
- In cloud
- 20% of modelled night
- Condensation
- High
The ground is likely to be very wet after recent rain. Expect boggy approaches and choose a durable pitch carefully.
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 & scramblingBetaWet rock is likely. Gusts near 45 mph may affect balance on exposed rock. A small chance of a thunderstorm in parts of the area. Avoid exposed scrambling if storms develop. 0Poor · Very poor View detailsHide details
Regional climbing & scrambling outlook
A broad guide to dampness and exposed rock across the area, not a forecast for every crag. Lower, sheltered crags and individual rock types may behave differently.
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. Gusts may reach about 45 mph on exposed ground, making crosswinds an important route consideration. Mapped summit-point geology across the representative hills includes granite, gneiss or gabbro. Rock can therefore respond differently to moisture between crags and routes. A small chance of a thunderstorm in parts of the area. Storm timing is uncertain, so avoid committing to exposed rock if storms may develop.
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.
Recommended kit for this dayWeather-aware packing prompts, plus your core hillwalking kitView kit
For a day hillwalk, not a complete route-specific checklist. Carry navigation and backup you can use, warm and waterproof layers, suitable footwear, food and water, a headtorch, emergency shelter, first aid and a way to call for help. Snow, ice, technical terrain and overnight trips need additional equipment and skills.
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Weather data: Open-Meteo (CC BY 4.0). Adapted by Mountain Weather.
Updated 15 October 2026 at 15:29 UTC. See typical weekly and monthly conditions for Skye.