 Although 64 kilometres ( 40 mi ) from the nearest land , St Kilda is visible from as far as the summit ridges of the Skye Cuillin , some 129 kilometres ( 80 mi ) distant . The climate is oceanic with high rainfall , 1 @,@ 400 millimetres ( 55 in ) , and high humidity . Temperatures are generally cool , averaging 5 @.@ 6 ° C ( 42 @.@ 1 ° F ) in January and 11 @.@ 8 ° C ( 53 @.@ 2 ° F ) in July . The prevailing winds , especially strong in winter , are southerly and southwesterly . Wind speeds average 13 kilometres per hour ( 8 @.@ 1 mph ) approximately 85 percent of the time and more than 24 kilometres per hour ( 15 mph ) more than 30 percent of the time . Gale force winds occur less than 2 percent of the time in any one year , but gusts of 185 kilometres per hour ( 115 mph ) and more occur regularly on the high tops , and speeds of 209 kilometres per hour ( 130 mph ) have occasionally been recorded near sea level . The tidal range is 2 @.@ 9 metres ( 9 @.@ 5 ft ) , and ocean swells of 5 metres ( 16 ft ) frequently occur , which can make landings difficult or impossible at any time of year . The oceanic location protects the islands from snow , which lies for only about a dozen days per year . 
