Scottish Highlands records about 1500mm of rain across roughly 200 wet days a year, which is a 55% chance on an average day. December is the wettest month at 160mm (11% of the annual total) and May the driest at 85mm. Local rain type: steady rain. The Highlands are among Europe's wettest regions. Full waterproofs are essential — expect rain on any day regardless of forecast.
Chance of rain on an average day: 55%
Rainfall climatology for Scottish Highlands. The live hour-by-hour answer for today loads at the top of this page from Open-Meteo and refreshes through the day — the figures below describe a typical year, not today.
Last updated: · Live forecast data refreshes hourly.
| Annual rainfall | 1500mm |
| Rain days per year | 200 |
| Odds on an average day | 55% |
| Wettest month | December — 160mm over 22 days |
| Driest month | May — 85mm over 12 days |
| Rain type | steady rain |
| Best dry window | May and early June offer the driest conditions and the best chance of clear mountain views. |
| Worst rain window | November through January combines maximum rainfall with minimum daylight — challenging but atmospheric. |
December delivers 88% more rain than May (160mm vs 85mm). That gap is the difference between planning around showers and ignoring them.
No single month holds more than 11% of the annual total, so rain in Scottish Highlands is spread through the year — there is no season you can rely on being dry.
Scottish Highlands rain typically comes as discrete showers, so a compact umbrella and a flexible plan are usually enough.
Rain falls on about 22 days in December against 12 in May — the frequency swing matters more for planning than the millimetre totals.
Climate normals. Use them to judge whether today's live forecast at the top of the page is typical or unusual for the season.
| Month | Rainfall | Rain days | Chance on a given day | Highs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 150mm | 21 | 70% | 5°C |
| February | 110mm | 15 | 50% | 5°C |
| March | 120mm | 17 | 57% | 7°C |
| April | 90mm | 13 | 43% | 9°C |
| May | 85mm | 12 | 40% | 13°C |
| June | 90mm | 13 | 43% | 15°C |
| July | 100mm | 14 | 47% | 17°C |
| August | 110mm | 15 | 50% | 17°C |
| September | 130mm | 18 | 60% | 15°C |
| October | 150mm | 21 | 70% | 13°C |
| November | 145mm | 20 | 67% | 9°C |
| December | 160mm | 22 | 73% | 7°C |
Rain probability is the chance that at least 0.2mm falls at your location — not how long it rains. For Scottish Highlands we combine the hourly probability curve, expected volume in millimetres, and the city's own rainfall record into a single umbrella verdict.
| Factor | Weight | What it measures |
|---|---|---|
| Hourly probability | 40% | Peak and sustained chance of measurable rain across the next 24 hours. |
| Expected volume | 30% | Total millimetres, which separates a passing shower from a genuine soaking. |
| Timing & duration | 20% | When rain starts, when it eases, and the longest continuous dry window. |
| Local rain type | 10% | Drizzle, brief showers, thunderstorms or monsoon — each needs different gear. |
Live hourly values come from Open-Meteo and refresh through the day. Monthly rainfall figures are climate normals, so they describe a typical year rather than a forecast.
Scottish Highlands records rain on roughly 200 days a year — about a 55% chance on any given day — totalling around 1500mm.
December, with about 160mm over 22 rain days. That is 11% of the entire year's rainfall in a single month.
May is the driest month at 85mm across roughly 12 days. May and early June offer the driest conditions and the best chance of clear mountain views.
The Highlands are among Europe's wettest regions. Full waterproofs are essential — expect rain on any day regardless of forecast.
No. Probability is the chance that at least 0.2mm of rain falls at your location at some point in the period. Check the expected millimetres alongside it: 40% with 0.4mm is a passing shower, 40% with 12mm is a soaking.