Highlands & Eilean Siar weather

Headline:

Persistent rain and hill snow Friday. Very strong winds developing.

Today:

Spells of rain or hill snow, becoming persistent through the afternoon. Strong to gale southeasterly winds, easing for a time in north, then severe westerly gales spreading to Lochaber and Badenoch with storm force winds reaching the west later. Maximum temperature 6 °C.

Tonight:

Stormy conditions extending to most areas this evening then slowly easing from the south overnight. Further showers, prolonged in west and turning to snow to lower levels. Minimum temperature 0 °C.

Saturday:

Cold and windy on Saturday with frequent hail, sleet and snow showers, but drier in the east. Maximum temperature 5 °C.

Outlook for Sunday to Tuesday:

Mainly dry Sunday, patchy rain and hill snow later. Rain or showers on Monday. Sunny spells on Tuesday, some showers later.

Updated: 04:00 (UTC) on Fri 24 Jan 2025

This looks like being and unsettled period across much of the country, but especially for northern and western parts. On Tuesday another widely unsettled day is expected with showers or some longer spells of rain, but also some drier and brighter interludes. Still windy but less so than over the previous few days. Through the rest of the period the strongest winds and heaviest rain will tend to move to the northwestern UK while the south may see more in the way of drier weather. Temperatures overall are likely to end up being around or slightly above average, though wind and rain will make it feel chilly, and brief cool spells with some overnight frost are likely between weather systems.

Updated: 14:00 (UTC) on Thu 23 Jan 2025

Generally mild at first, with periods of rain, showers and strong winds alternating with short-lived brighter and cooler interludes. These may become increasingly confined to northern parts during this period though, with pressure possibly building across southern areas in particular. This would result in longer drier and more-settled spells here, albeit with an increased chance of overnight fog and frost and temperatures falling a little correspondingly.

Updated: 15:00 (UTC) on Thu 23 Jan 2025