Scottish Highlands Weather Forecast
Scottish Highlands weather: 53°F, overcast. Hourly forecast, 14-day outlook, UV, air quality and the best time to visit.
Climate in Scottish Highlands month by month
Average high, average low and total rainfall, based on three years of reanalysis data.
| Month | Avg high | Avg low | Rainfall | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 40° | 33° | 3,1 in | ★★☆☆☆ |
| February | 45° | 35° | 2,6 in | ★★★☆☆ |
| March | 50° | 37° | 3,0 in | ★★★☆☆ |
| April | 54° | 39° | 2,5 in | ★★★☆☆ |
| May | 60° | 46° | 2,5 in | ★★★★☆ |
| June | 62° | 50° | 3,3 in | ★★★★☆ |
| July | 66° | 53° | 3,4 in | ★★★★☆ |
| August | 65° | 53° | 3,0 in | ★★★★☆ |
| September | 61° | 49° | 3,3 in | ★★★★☆ |
| October | 54° | 45° | 4,2 in | ★★★☆☆ |
| November | 46° | 37° | 3,3 in | ★★★☆☆ |
| December | 44° | 37° | 5,7 in | ★★☆☆☆ |
Climate type: Temperate. Source: Open-Meteo archive (ERA5).
Best time to visit Scottish Highlands
Go in May, June, July and August. These months score highest on comfortable temperatures, low rainfall and useful daylight.
Hardest months: January, February and December - expect the least comfortable mix of heat, cold or rain.
Recent extremes in Scottish Highlands
Highest and lowest readings observed in the last 3 years of reanalysis data - not all-time records.
How Scottish Highlands compares with nearby places
Annual averages, and the difference against Scottish Highlands.
| Place | Distance | Avg temp | vs here | Annual rain |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Inner Hebrides | 75 mi | 47°F | 34°F cooler | 94 in |
| Greater Glasgow | 111 mi | 49°F | +33°F warmer | 49 in |
| Glasgow | 111 mi | 49°F | +33°F warmer | 49 in |
| Lothian | 112 mi | 50°F | +34°F warmer | 39 in |
| Edinburgh | 112 mi | 50°F | +34°F warmer | 39 in |
What to pack, what to skip
- Layers - the daily swing is 57°F, so mornings feel nothing like afternoons
- A packable rain shell - 3 of the next 7 days carry a real chance of rain
- If your dates are flexible, avoid January, February and December - historically the least comfortable months here.
See the Scottish Highlands forecast by time range
Scottish Highlands weather - more answers
Explore Scottish Highlands
Every topic we hold for this place, and the same topic for the places around it.
Weather for related places
Frequently asked questions
Where is Scottish Highlands?
Scottish Highlands is a county in Scotland. Its coordinates are 57.4778, -4.2247. It lies in Europe.
What is the weather like in Scottish Highlands right now?
It is currently 53°F (12°C) with overcast. Humidity is 76% and wind is 5 mph.
When is the best time to visit Scottish Highlands?
May, June, July and August offer the most comfortable conditions in Scottish Highlands, which has a temperate climate. January, February and December are usually the hardest months for outdoor plans.
What time zone is Scottish Highlands in?
Scottish Highlands observes Europe/London (UTC+01:00). The local time is 9:29 AM.
How many people live in Scottish Highlands?
Scottish Highlands has a population of approximately 235.000.
What is the nearest airport to Scottish Highlands?
The closest airports are Dublin Airport (DUB), 291 mi away.
What are the top things to do in Scottish Highlands?
Popular options include Isle of Skye, Loch Ness, Edinburgh Castle, Old and New Towns of Edinburgh and Lake District National Park.
What places are in Scottish Highlands?
Scottish Highlands covers 3 places in this atlas, including Inverness, Isle of Skye and Loch Ness.
Related articles
Data sources and methodology
| Place data | USPOTUS Atlas dataset (uk-regions) - coordinates, hierarchy and facts. |
|---|---|
| Forecast and observations | Open-Meteo (ECMWF and national models). |
| Air quality and pollen | Copernicus CAMS via Open-Meteo. US AQI scale. |
| Climate averages | ERA5 reanalysis via the Open-Meteo archive, aggregated over 3 years. |
| Method | Scores, comparisons and advice on this page are computed from the inputs above. Distances are straight-line. Nothing is estimated where data is missing - the block is simply not shown. |
Last updated August 21, 2026 at 9:29 AM local time. Live blocks refresh every 15 minutes; climate averages monthly.
