The Northwest Highlands
Areas north from Knoydart in the west, and the Great Glen towards the east (NB. Does not include Mull and areas west of Loch Linnhe, these are found in the West Highlands forecast.)
Thursday's Forecast
Gale force, walking arduous
Considerable buffeting, walking into the wind will be strenuous on exposed terrain, stronger gusts may knock you off your feet. 40 to 55mph.
Frequent or persistent rain
Steady rain fairly persistent, occasionally heavy, rather wet underfoot.
Poor visibility
Murky conditions with areas of fog shrouding the hills, making navigation challenging. Map and compass essential.
Chilly
Air temperature typically 0 to 5C on higher summits. Feeling distinctly chilly on tops when stationary or where exposed to wind. Take appropriate layers.
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Gale force, walking arduous
Considerable buffeting, walking into the wind will be strenuous on exposed terrain, stronger gusts may knock you off your feet. 40 to 55mph.
Frequent or persistent rain
Steady rain fairly persistent, occasionally heavy, rather wet underfoot.
Poor visibility
Murky conditions with areas of fog shrouding the hills, making navigation challenging. Map and compass essential.
Chilly
Air temperature typically 0 to 5C on higher summits. Feeling distinctly chilly on tops when stationary or where exposed to wind. Take appropriate layers.
Viewing Forecast For
The Northwest Highlands
Thursday 11th December 2025
Last updated
Wed 10th Dec 25 at
4:27PM
Summary for all mountain areas
Gale force winds across most hills and mountains, severe gales high Scottish tops particularly morning in west, powerful gusts downslope in places. Low cloud and some drizzly rain west, mostly dry east/northeast. More persistent rain develops for western Scotland afternoon onward.
Headline for The Northwest Highlands
Upland gales, strongest morning. Increasingly wet.
How windy? (On the Munros)
South-southwesterly 45 to 60mph, up to 70mph west coastal mountains in morning, tending to lessen afternoon, dropping to 30mph or less up to dusk and onward into evening. Increasing again into night.
Effect of the wind on you?
Widely arduous walking from mid-heights upward, powerful gusts lower down; more difficult or severe conditions on high terrain, particularly western areas in the morning hours; improving afternoon.
How Wet?
Rain on and off, then persistent west
Pulses of rain run in from the southwest, greatest risk more persistent on Skye, sometimes passing northward, but much of Sutherland drier in morning. With time, rain more widely persistent, heavier at times Skye to Wester Ross.
Cloud on the hills?
Most persistent on and near Skye
Covering the Cuillin and nearby coastal hills on mainland most or all day, lowest in rain to mid-slopes. Further inland, capping tops for periods, some local breaks north. Lowering further as rain sets in.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
30%, dropping below 10% west.
Sunshine and air clarity?
Glimpses of sun mainly north and east in morning, often cloudy west. Hazy, visibility reduced to poor in rain.
How Cold? (at 900m)
4C, slight drop into evening to 2C. Feeling near -10C in the wind.
Freezing Level
Above the summits, then lowering into night to 1100m.
Viewing Forecast For
The Northwest Highlands
Friday 12th December 2025
Last updated
Wed 10th Dec 25 at
4:27PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
Southwesterly soon rising to 40-50mph, risk stronger gusts over high tops of west coast.
Effect of the wind on you?
Uncomfortable winds from dawn strengthen to widely arduous walking conditions. Significant wind chill.
How Wet?
South showers spread up the west coast
Showers onto Skye from dawn, falling as sleet/snow on the high tops. Showers increasingly frequent and spreading up the west coast afternoon, more widely overnight.
Cloud on the hills?
Mostly high ground south and west
Inland, some ragged patches from dawn soon clearing for many cloud-free hills through morning. More frequently capping the tops of Skye and nearby Munros, lower bases in showers but also breaks. Will increasingly shroud high terrain.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
70% inland early, 40% south; lowering to 30%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Some early high cloud passes for frequent sunshine, though increasingly patchy. Very clear air at first but becoming hazy from the west.
How Cold? (at 900m)
1 or 2C from dawn, lowering to around 0C. Feeling as cold as -15C in strongest wind.
Freezing Level
1100m, lowering to 900-1000m.
Viewing Forecast For
The Northwest Highlands
Saturday 13th December 2025
Last updated
Wed 10th Dec 25 at
4:27PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
Southwesterly, strengthening during daytime from 40-50mph to 70-80mph, risk stronger gusts afternoon-evening.
Effect of the wind on you?
Challenging conditions from mid-elevations upward, increasingly any mobility difficult, significant wind chill.
How Wet?
Heavy rain developing
Rain increasingly setting in, starting mostly in the west as patchy rain or drizzle, initially sleet on higher tops. Becoming fairly persistent and more widespread, incessant heavy falls with time in west.
Cloud on the hills?
Becoming extensive, lowering
Varied banks of cloud mostly on western slopes early in day, but increasingly filling in and lowering, becoming blanket fog from lower slopes upward in west.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
10%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Overcast, increasingly dull. Hazy, visibility poor as rain sets in.
How Cold? (at 900m)
1C rising steadily to later reach 5C. Wind chill feeling like -10 to -15C.
Freezing Level
Around 1000m up to dawn but rising above all summits during the morning.
Planning Outlook
Staying unsettled into the weekend and beyond as southwesterly winds prevail and low pressure systems pass to the northwest of Scotland; sustained gales over the mountains, severe or stormy for periods. Temperatures only just below freezing intermittently on higher Scottish tops, even here will experience spells above freezing with thawing, any lying snow patchy, but beware some icy surfaces on the very highest tops where some refreezing occurs. Rainfall will be frequent and heavy for periods, sometimes showery with hail. Expect very wet ground conditions and further flooding of streams and some rivers.