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.)
Tuesday'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.
Patchy rain or drizzle
Rain on and off, or generally drizzly - total amounts small, but may be persistently damp, especially where hills are shrouded in cloud.
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.
Click an icon for more information or click here for a key to all icons.
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.
Patchy rain or drizzle
Rain on and off, or generally drizzly - total amounts small, but may be persistently damp, especially where hills are shrouded in cloud.
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
Tuesday 10th March 2026
Last updated
Mon 9th Mar 26 at
4:00PM
Summary for all mountain areas
Patchy rain and lowest cloud over southwest-facing hill groups. Cloud fairly extensive on hills, but higher bases and some breaks northeastwards. Gale-force winds on high terrain, speeds strengthening during day, later becoming widely severe upland gales; heavier rain arrives from west by evening.
Headline for The Northwest Highlands
Windy, gales on tops. Lowest cloud west, a little rain.
How windy? (On the Munros)
South to southwesterly; increasing markedly with height to a gusty 40mph or by late afternoon 50-60mph. After dark, 70-80mph.
Effect of the wind on you?
Markedly increasing buffeting and wind chill with height. Balance and general mobility increasingly difficult on higher slopes. Deteriorating further after dark to become severe.
How Wet?
Rain now and again; wetter toward evening west
Rain from time to time - very little in total. Most persistent Skye and within a few miles of the nearby coast. Sleet above 800m. By dusk, persistent rain spreads in quickly from the west, heavy for a few hours in the evening Skye to Torridon. Into night, turning showery with hail, snow on tops.
Cloud on the hills?
Persistent very low cloud near Skye; clearer northern and eastern summits
Skye and nearby mainland: persistent fog, at times the cloud forming at or below 300m. Highest cloud base elsewhere; north of about Torridon and east toward Ben Wyvis typically 750-1000m middle of day.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
Almost nil near Skye to 30% elsewhere
Sunshine and air clarity?
Glimpses of sun mainly or only lower slopes near and north of Ullapool and near Ben Wyvis. Hazy, particularly near west coast.
How Cold? (at 900m)
1C - little temperature drop above 900m. Rising slightly after dark, then lowering overnight to -1C. Feeling like -10C during day directly in the wind; nearer -15C by evening.
Freezing Level
Above the summits - some terrain above 900m may be frozen. Then dropping into the night ahead toward 800m.
Viewing Forecast For
The Northwest Highlands
Wednesday 11th March 2026
Last updated
Mon 9th Mar 26 at
4:00PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
Westerly up to 60mph post dawn; dropping to 40-50mph middle of day, strongest far north. Increasing again evening into night.
Effect of the wind on you?
Expect significant or severe wind chill and walking - sometimes any mobility - to be very difficult across the hills, particularly near precipitation.
How Wet?
Frequent hail and snow
Particularly morning, succession of sudden hail and above 600m snow showers. Sometimes whiteout will occur. Onward into evening, more prolonged rain, snow becoming confined higher up.
Cloud on the hills?
Persistently covering higher areas; rapid variation in cloud base.
In precipitation, cloud forming below 300 to 500m (generally lowest morning near the west coast). Otherwise, by midday (as average cloud base tends to rise) between 600 and 1000m, highest on easternmost areas.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
20%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Bursts of sunshine, mainly afternoon lower slopes well inland. Very varied visibility: general haze, but abruptly appalling in precipitation.
How Cold? (at 900m)
-1C. Will feel like -15C directly in the wind.
Freezing Level
750m
Viewing Forecast For
The Northwest Highlands
Thursday 12th March 2026
Last updated
Mon 9th Mar 26 at
4:00PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
Southwesterly 50 to 70mph, tending to decrease a little during afternoon.
Effect of the wind on you?
Difficult conditions, mobility challenging over exposed terrain from mid-elevations upward. Severe wind chill.
How Wet?
Frequent snow and hail
Overnight heavy rain finishing as snow as low as 600m. Then a succession of showers, of snow above 500m, at times constant on western mountains, often heavy, hail, risk thunder.
Cloud on the hills?
Fairly extensive higher slopes
Covering most high terrain all day, though cloud base varying in and out of heavier precipitation, some banks of cloud to below 600m, occasional breaks to some tops.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
20%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Brief glimpses of sun mostly eastern areas. Visibility briefly very good when dry, but at times very poor in snow and cloud; general haze nearer west coast.
How Cold? (at 900m)
-1 or -2C. Wind chill feeling like -15 to -18C.
Freezing Level
Above 1000m prior to dawn, but soon 600 to 800m, some variation, tending to lower especially later in day.
Planning Outlook
Generally unsettled this week and through the upcoming weekend as low pressure systems pass near and north of Britain - strong west or southwesterly winds prevail, often gale-force to at times storm-force over the mountains. Some fluctuation of temperature and freezing level, but mostly below freezing over Scottish mountains, at times snow falling to lower elevations. Colder for all by the end of the week with widely lowering freezing level Thursday into Friday. Frequent precipitation most western mountains, accumulations of snow across the mountains, most substantial in western Scotland from Glencoe northwards. Quieter weather patterns indicated beyond mid-month as higher pressure builds.