May stays on Skye
Taigh Mhairi
Portree · Sleeps 4
Indicative catalogue price £373 for 7 nightsExact May prices and availability are checked after you choose a week.What is Skye mountain weather like in May?
Typical mountain and low-level wind, temperature, rainfall and sunshine for May.
40-year mountain climate
Typical high-ground conditions in May.
Historically, May has been one of the more promising parts of the year for high-ground days. Of 1,240 representative high-ground days, 52% were settled for rain and wind, 39% were mixed, and 9% were poor or severe for rain and wind.
Dry days accounted for 53% of the sample. Across the whole year, the settled-day share is 36%, with around 230 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 Skye: Prabost is 196 hours of bright sunshine during May. 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 992 metres, so coastal and low-level conditions can be milder.
Settled rain and wind52%Historically dry53%High-ground temperature3.4°CTypical maximum gust23 mphStronger days around 31 mphMet Office sunshine context196 hrsAverage bright sunshine in May, 1991–2020 · Skye: Prabost
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 19 · 8 May
What this week is typically like on Skye high ground.
Across 280 comparable historical hill days, 56% were settled for rain and wind and 6% were poor or severe for rain and wind.
Check the live Skye forecast →Settled rain and wind56%280 comparable days
Dry and light wind38%Dry, manageable wind18%Mixed38%Poor6%Severe0%
Historically dry56% of daysTypical daily max gust22 mphStronger days around 30 mphTypical high ground2.9°C24-hour mean near 992 mPoor or severe rain/wind6% of daysViews are checked separately in the live forecast
May context: 52% of days across the month were settled for rain and wind; 9% were poor or severe for rain and wind. Read the full May guide.
Valley and low level for this week
Around Portree.
Representative base · 25 mTypical daily high12.3°CWarmer days 15.6°CHistorically dry53%52% dry with lighter windMaximum wind13 mphStronger days 17 mphTypical overnight low7.6°CCooler nights 5.7°C
Planning a different time of year?Compare Skye month by month
Valleys and trip bases
Low-level weather around Portree in May.
Portree, at roughly 25 metres, provides a practical low-level reference for Skye. Across 1,240 historical days, the typical daytime high was 12.8°C, with warmer days around 15.6°C.
About 51% of days were dry and 49% 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 high12.8°CWarmer days around 15.6°CTypical overnight low8.4°CCooler nights around 6.2°CHistorically dry51%9% had 10 mm+ rainTypical maximum wind13 mphStronger days around 18 mph
January to December
Skye 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.
January25% settled rain/wind
High ground: 38% mixed · 37% poor or severe for rain/windPortree: 32% dry · 7.9°C daily high
February29% settled rain/wind
High ground: 38% mixed · 33% poor or severe for rain/windPortree: 34% dry · 7.9°C daily high
March33% settled rain/wind
High ground: 43% mixed · 24% poor or severe for rain/windPortree: 37% dry · 8.9°C daily high
April48% settled rain/wind
High ground: 41% mixed · 11% poor or severe for rain/windPortree: 49% dry · 10.5°C daily high
May52% settled rain/wind
High ground: 39% mixed · 9% poor or severe for rain/windPortree: 51% dry · 12.8°C daily high
June47% settled rain/wind
High ground: 46% mixed · 7% poor or severe for rain/windPortree: 47% dry · 14.6°C daily high
July42% settled rain/wind
High ground: 51% mixed · 7% poor or severe for rain/windPortree: 40% dry · 16.0°C daily high
August38% settled rain/wind
High ground: 50% mixed · 12% poor or severe for rain/windPortree: 38% dry · 16.0°C daily high
September37% settled rain/wind
High ground: 44% mixed · 19% poor or severe for rain/windPortree: 40% dry · 14.9°C daily high
October29% settled rain/wind
High ground: 42% mixed · 29% poor or severe for rain/windPortree: 34% dry · 12.7°C daily high
November27% settled rain/wind
High ground: 43% mixed · 30% poor or severe for rain/windPortree: 34% dry · 10.1°C daily high
December28% settled rain/wind
High ground: 37% mixed · 35% poor or severe for rain/windPortree: 34% dry · 8.2°C daily high
Strongest historical signals
Best weeks of the year for Skye 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 8 May56% settled rain/wind · 6% poor or severePlan this week →
- 02Week around 5 June54% settled rain/wind · 5% poor or severePlan this week →
- 03Week around 24 April52% settled rain/wind · 11% poor or severePlan this week →
- 04Week around 22 May51% settled rain/wind · 9% poor or severePlan this week →
- 05Week around 1 May51% settled rain/wind · 10% poor or severePlan this week →
- 06Week around 12 June50% settled rain/wind · 6% 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