January stays on Lewis and Harris
Healair
Isle of Harris and Isle of Lewis · Sleeps 4
Indicative catalogue price £587 for 7 nightsExact January prices and availability are checked after you choose a week.What is Lewis and Harris mountain weather like in January?
Typical mountain and low-level wind, temperature, rainfall and sunshine for January.
40-year mountain climate
Typical high-ground conditions in January.
Historically, January has been a variable month with a useful share of better high-ground days. Of 1,240 representative high-ground days, 32% were settled for rain and wind, 31% were mixed, and 37% were poor or severe for rain and wind.
Dry days accounted for 43% of the sample. Across the whole year, the settled-day share is 37%, with around 206 wet days, so a region's strongest month should not be mistaken for its usual climate. As a separate check, the Met Office 1991–2020 average at Stornoway Airport is 33 hours of bright sunshine during January. Cloud and views are deliberately kept out of the settled-day score because they vary sharply between individual summits; check the live forecast nearer the trip. These figures describe representative high ground around 799 metres, so coastal and low-level conditions can be milder.
Settled rain and wind32%Historically dry43%High-ground temperature1.1°CTypical maximum gust38 mphStronger days around 53 mphMet Office sunshine context33 hrsAverage bright sunshine in January, 1991–2020 · Stornoway Airport
Plan beyond the forecast
Choose an area and week.
Saturday dates are highlighted because they usually unlock the widest choice of seven-night cottage stays. Other arrival days still work.
Typical conditions, not a forecastThis describes representative high ground. A difficult hill day can still be suitable for a lower-level plan.
Week 2 · 9 January
What this week is typically like on Lewis and Harris high ground.
Across 280 comparable historical hill days, 30% were settled for rain and wind and 43% were poor or severe for rain and wind.
Check the live Lewis and Harris forecast →Settled rain and wind30%280 comparable days
Dry and light wind15%Dry, manageable wind15%Mixed27%Poor24%Severe19%
Historically dry40% of daysTypical daily max gust40 mphStronger days around 57 mphTypical high ground1.1°C24-hour mean near 799 mPoor or severe rain/wind43% of daysViews are checked separately in the live forecast
January context: 32% of days across the month were settled for rain and wind; 37% were poor or severe for rain and wind. Read the full January guide.
Valley and low level for this week
Around Tarbert, Harris.
Representative base · 15 mTypical daily high8.0°CWarmer days 10.7°CHistorically dry40%28% dry with lighter windMaximum wind20 mphStronger days 30 mphTypical overnight low4.1°CCooler nights 1.8°C
Planning a different time of year?Compare Lewis and Harris month by month
Valleys and trip bases
Low-level weather around Tarbert, Harris in January.
Tarbert, Harris, at roughly 15 metres, provides a practical low-level reference for Lewis and Harris. Across 1,240 historical days, the typical daytime high was 8.0°C, with warmer days around 10.4°C.
About 43% of days were dry and 29% combined dry weather with lighter winds. Conditions vary across glens, coasts and villages, so this should be used as regional trip-planning guidance rather than a forecast for every location.
Typical daily high8.0°CWarmer days around 10.4°CTypical overnight low4.2°CCooler nights around 2.0°CHistorically dry43%12% had 10 mm+ rainTypical maximum wind20 mphStronger days around 28 mph
January to December
Lewis and Harris weather by month.
Each month has a detailed guide comparing high-ground hill days with typical conditions at a representative valley or low-level trip base.
January32% settled rain/wind
High ground: 31% mixed · 37% poor or severe for rain/windTarbert, Harris: 43% dry · 8.0°C daily high
February32% settled rain/wind
High ground: 32% mixed · 36% poor or severe for rain/windTarbert, Harris: 46% dry · 8.1°C daily high
March34% settled rain/wind
High ground: 37% mixed · 29% poor or severe for rain/windTarbert, Harris: 44% dry · 9.1°C daily high
April39% settled rain/wind
High ground: 48% mixed · 13% poor or severe for rain/windTarbert, Harris: 49% dry · 10.7°C daily high
May44% settled rain/wind
High ground: 46% mixed · 10% poor or severe for rain/windTarbert, Harris: 49% dry · 12.9°C daily high
June43% settled rain/wind
High ground: 51% mixed · 6% poor or severe for rain/windTarbert, Harris: 47% dry · 14.8°C daily high
July41% settled rain/wind
High ground: 55% mixed · 4% poor or severe for rain/windTarbert, Harris: 44% dry · 16.2°C daily high
August39% settled rain/wind
High ground: 51% mixed · 10% poor or severe for rain/windTarbert, Harris: 43% dry · 16.3°C daily high
September39% settled rain/wind
High ground: 42% mixed · 19% poor or severe for rain/windTarbert, Harris: 46% dry · 15.0°C daily high
October32% settled rain/wind
High ground: 42% mixed · 26% poor or severe for rain/windTarbert, Harris: 41% dry · 12.7°C daily high
November33% settled rain/wind
High ground: 39% mixed · 28% poor or severe for rain/windTarbert, Harris: 44% dry · 10.2°C daily high
December36% settled rain/wind
High ground: 31% mixed · 33% poor or severe for rain/windTarbert, Harris: 46% dry · 8.2°C daily high
Strongest historical signals
Best weeks of the year for Lewis and Harris mountain weather.
These are the six week bands with the largest historical share of settled rain-and-wind days. Views are not included; use the live forecast nearer the trip.
- 01Week around 5 June49% settled rain/wind · 5% poor or severePlan this week →
- 02Week around 8 May47% settled rain/wind · 7% poor or severePlan this week →
- 03Week around 10 July46% settled rain/wind · 2% poor or severePlan this week →
- 04Week around 29 May46% settled rain/wind · 8% poor or severePlan this week →
- 05Week around 22 May45% settled rain/wind · 12% poor or severePlan this week →
- 06Week around 17 April44% settled rain/wind · 11% poor or severePlan this week →
20 mountain areas
Compare another part of the UK.
The comparison uses the whole year, rather than putting each region's single best month beside another's typical conditions.
Angus GlensScotland · about 184 wet days · 1,047 mm rain · 1,411 sunshine hrs41% settled annually Argyll and Loch LomondScotland · about 213 wet days · 1,933 mm rain · 1,179 sunshine hrs39% settled annually Bannau Brycheiniog (Brecon Beacons)Wales · about 170 wet days · 1,161 mm rain · 1,422 sunshine hrs50% settled annually CairngormsScotland · about 197 wet days · 1,135 mm rain · 1,209 sunshine hrs42% settled annually Clwydian Range and BerwynsWales · about 175 wet days · 1,054 mm rain · 1,573 sunshine hrs48% settled annually DartmoorEngland · about 154 wet days · 942 mm rain · 1,494 sunshine hrs54% settled annually Eryri (Snowdonia)Wales · about 195 wet days · 1,355 mm rain · 1,458 sunshine hrs43% settled annually Lake DistrictEngland · about 194 wet days · 1,447 mm rain · 1,225 sunshine hrs43% settled annually Lewis and HarrisScotland · about 206 wet days · 1,204 mm rain · 1,256 sunshine hrs37% settled annually LochaberScotland · about 218 wet days · 1,931 mm rain · 1,005 sunshine hrs38% settled annually Mid Wales and Cambrian MountainsWales · about 180 wet days · 1,159 mm rain · 1,279 sunshine hrs48% settled annually Monadhliath and Creag MeagaidhScotland · about 202 wet days · 1,307 mm rain · 1,091 sunshine hrs41% settled annually North PenninesEngland · about 178 wet days · 1,037 mm rain · 1,421 sunshine hrs47% settled annually Northumberland and CheviotsEngland · about 152 wet days · 761 mm rain · 1,535 sunshine hrs50% settled annually Northwest HighlandsScotland · about 231 wet days · 1,860 mm rain · 1,044 sunshine hrs33% settled annually Peak DistrictEngland · about 164 wet days · 916 mm rain · 1,383 sunshine hrs49% settled annually Perthshire HighlandsScotland · about 198 wet days · 1,483 mm rain · 1,142 sunshine hrs43% settled annually SkyeScotland · about 230 wet days · 2,031 mm rain · 1,200 sunshine hrs36% settled annually Southern ScotlandScotland · about 203 wet days · 1,368 mm rain · 1,215 sunshine hrs42% settled annually Yorkshire DalesEngland · about 183 wet days · 1,219 mm rain · 1,154 sunshine hrs46% settled annually