Weather & Seasons

Weather on Skye

At a latitude of 57 degrees, Skye’s location in the northern hemisphere makes for long summer days, with the sun barely setting during the June solstice, and short winter nights with long spells of darkness. Rain, whether heavy or light, tends to dominate the skies year-round. Mist caused by high levels of precipitation and sometimes coastal fog (called haar) is a hallmark of the Isle of Skye and gives it the reputation for being The Misty Isle.

The topography of Skye has a marked effect on temperature and the mountains are on average 2℃ - 3℃ colder than sea level. This is particularly important to note when setting out on a walk or hike. Also important is the effect of wind on the land and sea. Prevailing winds tend to be south-westerly in summer and Skye can get very breezy, even on a beautiful warm day. Wind causes weather fronts to move fast on Skye and it is not uncommon to experience clear skies and sun one minute and dark clouds with heavy rain the next.

Seasons

In the summer, temperatures rarely reach above 17℃ and may fall to as low as 7℃ in the evenings. Though rare it is possible to get a few days of consecutive warm weather and it is possible to reach 25℃ mid-summer. The warmest months tend to be July and August; the driest in April and May, but this also tends to vary year on year as the impact of global warming makes for unpredictability in forecasting.

Although the weather may be warm, the water temperature around the Island remains relatively cold all year round with an annual average temperature of 12.5℃ in the summer months, so the swimming experience will be bracing.

Summer is also the best time to see large marine creatures in the seas around the Island and some good viewing spots for Minke whales and basking sharks are at Neist Point, Rubha Hunish and Waternish Point. Pods of dolphins and killer whales have also been regularly spotted at various locations around the Skye coastline, including Portree Bay; while Kylerhea is a favourite spot for sea otters.

Winter on Skye sees relatively mild temperatures with around 6 days of snow on average and is normally dominated by heavy rain and low temperatures, which can drop into minus numbers. On average, however, temperatures sit between 0℃ and 9℃. January is the coldest month with a mean temperature of 7℃.

Morning frost may tend to hang around until noon and ice and snow are not uncommon between November and February, making road conditions hazardous. There is a lot of water during this time of year which makes for some spectacular landscape features but also causes the ground to become sodden and boggy. The “lambing snow” tends to arrive for a few days during lambing time (hence its name) between March and April. This marks the last snows of the year and heralds the Spring season.

Outdoors advice

As a general rule, owing to the unpredictability of Skye’s weather, always be prepared. Hiking or climbing in winter obviously requires a certain amount of experience and expertise, especially on the higher slopes and ridges.

Trails can get boggy and wet; burns and rivers may flood paths; and the mountains can be cold and unforgiving. The temperature can drop dramatically, especially on higher ground, and mist and rain can come on very suddenly out of apparently clear skies.

Make sure to pack a rucksack or bag with suitable warm clothing; carry a set of waterproofs; and wear comfortable, sensible shoes or boots for walking or hiking. A compass or GPS navigation equipment is also strongly advised for anyone venturing out in the hills. Always remember to let someone know where you are going if venturing out for the day.

Aurora Borealis

The spectacle of the Northern Lights (Aurora Borealis) is a truly amazing sight to behold. After witnessing this awe-inspiring natural phenomenon of green and purple ribbons of light dancing across the night sky, it is easy to understand how the Vikings believed them to be the flames of the Bivröst, the bridge between the world of men and gods.

Rather than being a magical path for the Valkyrie, the Aurora Borealis is created by electrically charged particles thrown out from the sun during a solar storm, slamming into the Earth’s magnetic field and causing an atmospheric reaction.

The aurora is a common sight in Skye’s night skies throughout most of the year, apart from the summer months with their longer hours of daylight. This beautiful natural light show can be quite difficult to spot with the naked eye but a camera with the right setting will reveal the lights in all their colour and splendour.

Midges

Anyone who has visited or lived in the Highlands will be familiar with a certain tiny summer resident and his trillions of flying friends.

Meanbh-chuileag, the biting midge, or Culcoides impunctatus, has earned its name as Guardian of the Highlands as anyone bitten by one will know. Often congregating in giant swarms and thick dark clouds, especially after a spell of rain, the midge is a stealthy and indiscriminate assailant and, although a victim may well have no knowledge of the attack, it is evident from the reaction to the bite that it has sunk its sharp mouthpart into the skin and drawn blood.

Irrespective of whether large quantities of ketone in the blood, garlic, citronella, bog myrtle or any of the popular off-the-shelf insect repellents will keep the midge off a person’s skin, anyone visiting the areas of Scotland where the midge rules is bound to get bitten at some point.

It is only the female midge that bites as she is the one who needs nutrients from blood to produce eggs.

Midge bites appear as small red spots, normally with a tiny central hole where the midge has bitten. The bite itself is not the cause of discomfort, it is an allergen in the midge’s saliva that is injected during the bite that is the main reason for the intense irritation and swelling at the site of the bite. Some people may experience one or two bites and some of the unlucky ones may have multiple bites which manifest in large clusters of raised red dots on the exposed skin.

The effect of the bite will vary on a person’s sensitivity to insect bites and it is possible that multiple bites may cause a severe allergic reaction. Normally, an ice pack on the affected area, cool salted water, an anti-inflammatory cream, calamine lotion, tea-tree oil, a mild antihistamine or an electrical insect bite healer will all help relieve much of the irritation. If swelling persists and the area has become infected, use an antiseptic cream. If the allergy is severe, it is best to seek out professional medical help.

How to prevent midges

With its tiny size (no more than 2mm across), the midge is extremely light and cannot fly against a summer breeze blowing at more than 5 miles an hour. Exposure to direct sunlight will dehydrate them, so midges tend to remain in the shade while the sun shines. The busiest time for the midge is early morning, especially after a spot of dew, or at dusk. Midges tend to hide during heavy rain showers.

Midges cannot be avoided but there are a number of ways to reduce the chances of getting bitten:

• There is one proven ‘bug treatment’ called Smidge. The skin cream can be applied to any exposed skin and works well at preventing bites. Midges still crawl on your skin but don’t bite.
  Smidge is sold in many local shops on Skye.
• Cover up. Especially during dusk and dawn. Wear clothes that cover your arms and legs.
• If midges are numerous, wear a head net.
• Avoid marshy or wet areas, these are where they breed.
• Avoid being out at dusk or dawn.
• Use an insecticide on the exposed areas of the skin.
• For campers, avoid sleeping under or close to areas of trees or thick foliage.
• Use the sun and wind to help avoid them.
• Midges generally do not like smoke, so sit close to the campfire or barbecue so far as it is safe to do so.
• Use insect repellent candles and coils.
• Use an electric or battery-operated fan.
• For indoors, keep windows and doors closed or use a door or window net.