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.)
Today's Forecast
Windy, walking impeded
Blustery conditions enough to give buffeting on higher terrain or affect balance on exposed ridges. 25 to 40mph.
Heavy snow and hail showers, isolated lightning
Showery precipitation, often heavy, may merge to become constant for periods. A mix of snow and hail often falling to lower slopes. Risk of very localised thunder and lightning.
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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Windy, walking impeded
Blustery conditions enough to give buffeting on higher terrain or affect balance on exposed ridges. 25 to 40mph.
Heavy snow and hail showers, isolated lightning
Showery precipitation, often heavy, may merge to become constant for periods. A mix of snow and hail often falling to lower slopes. Risk of very localised thunder and lightning.
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 2nd December 2025
Last updated
Mon 1st Dec 25 at
4:10PM
Summary for all mountain areas
Hail showers will frequent west coast hills fairly widely; snow on the highest tops with risk of isolated lightning. Drier inland, particularly northeast Scotland where sunny bursts will occur. Chilly, feeling cold in a brisk southwesterly wind; this easing in Wales and south Pennines afternoon.
Headline for The Northwest Highlands
Hail showers west, frequent Skye; blustery
How windy? (On the Munros)
South-southwesterly 25-35mph, locally lighter in the far north at dawn. Squally gusts over 40mph west coast hills in showers, reaching 30-40mph more widely later, strongest south and west.
Effect of the wind on you?
Affecting comfortable walking from dawn with balance and stability increasingly challenged; gusts over west coasts tops may require bracing. Significant wind chill.
How Wet?
West coast showers, frequent with hail Skye and nearby
Frequent showers on and near Skye all day, at times snow above 800m; hail likely with risk isolated thunder. Some showers along the west coast further north too. Some patchy light rain further inland in the morning, though amounting to little.
Cloud on the hills?
Most persistent Skye with variable low bases; breaks north/east
Covering higher slopes of the Cuillin most of the day, bases varied 500 to 800m. Wester Ross and Kintail tops also often covered above 800m, some brief breaks to 1000m, though will similarly lower in showers. Clearer tops more often north/east, particularly after morning.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
20% west, to 50% north/east.
Sunshine and air clarity?
Occasional sun mostly Sutherland, where visibility often excellent. Toward southwest coast hazier, visibility poor in heavy showers.
How Cold? (at 900m)
0 or 1C. Wind chill feeling around -10 to -12C.
Freezing Level
900-1000m.
Viewing Forecast For
The Northwest Highlands
Wednesday 3rd December 2025
Last updated
Mon 1st Dec 25 at
4:10PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
Southwesterly 30-35mph. Risk stronger winds near the west coast and south, particularly early. Lighter north.
Effect of the wind on you?
Blustery in exposure; balance and stability affected all day south of Ullapool; significant wind chill. Less effects north.
How Wet?
Rain into showers, returning south
West coast showers from dawn, further inland from Ullapool southward and merging into broader areas of rain; snow above 800-900m inland. A gradual breaking trend though rain returns later south and west.
Cloud on the hills?
Most high terrain with lower banks
Fairly extensive over high terrain of the west coast and inland southern areas with lower banks in rain, locally down to 600m or lower. Breaks forming, particularly northeast, though west and south hills seeing fog more widely late in the day.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
30%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Best of sun glimpses in the north and east. Visibility increasingly excellent away from showers, but very poor where in snow.
How Cold? (at 900m)
1C, locally 0C early in the day. Feeling like -13C in direct strongest wind.
Freezing Level
900-1000m
Viewing Forecast For
The Northwest Highlands
Thursday 4th December 2025
Last updated
Mon 1st Dec 25 at
4:10PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
East-southeasterly 15-25mph. Some variability with a risk of stronger winds north, particularly early.
Effect of the wind on you?
Fairly small, though uncomfortable winds may affect northern areas.
How Wet?
Morning patchy rain south
Patchy rain on southern areas from early in the day, some patches may push further north for a few hours; high tops to the north see some drizzle for a time. Trending dry except on Skye.
Cloud on the hills?
Variable, mostly high terrain; breaks north
High tops south of Ullapool often in cloud with bases to 900-1000m, lower banks forming too; variable and a chance of breaks. Cloud banks at various heights near the east coast as well. Clearest tops in Sutherland.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
20% south to 50% northwest
Sunshine and air clarity?
Mostly overcast, brighter north with some sunny glimpses around Ben Hope. Excellent visibility.
How Cold? (at 900m)
1 to 3C, warmest in the northwest.
Freezing Level
Mostly just highest tops, though may lower towards 1000m over Kintail for at time.
Planning Outlook
Low pressure circulating to the west and north will dominate the weather for the next 7 to 10 days, bringing generally unsettled weather. A brief period of slack pressure on Thursday into Friday will ease winds for a time though patchy rain will linger in several areas. Strong southwesterly winds return over the weekend bringing cloud and rain to many mountains, most persistent on southwestern slopes. Several low pressure systems with continue crossing the British Isles through the week; often showery and cloudy in the west with broader bands of rain regularly passing east. Wind speed likely to vary though often quite strong with risk of gales coming and going. Brighter, drier periods will punctuate the unsettled weather next week but these likely short-lived.