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.)
Wednesday'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
Wednesday 12th November 2025
Last updated
Tue 11th Nov 25 at
4:27PM
Summary for all mountain areas
Northern areas of the Highlands generally wet, the rain only gradually breaking up. Showers for the southwest Highlands. Dropping below freezing on northern tops later. Heavy rain sets in again across Wales, already flooding expected after previous rain. Mostly dry for much of Pennines, Lakes & south Scotland.
Headline for The Northwest Highlands
Strengthening NE'ly wind. Often raining. Dropping colder.
How windy? (On the Munros)
Speed and direction variable, a lull some inland areas in morning. But abruptly becoming widely northeasterly 30 to 40mph, up to 50mph along west coast mountains and especially Skye afternoon.
Effect of the wind on you?
Beware of changing conditions, significant wind chill and considerable buffeting developing, more difficult especially coastal mountains afternoon.
How Wet?
Widespread rain, snow later on tops
Rain fairly persistent widely, intensity varied, in places drizzly, but locally heavier for periods. Tending to break up and turning showery, sleet then snow on northern Munros afternoon into evening. Wet underfoot most areas.
Cloud on the hills?
Extensive
Shrouding the mountains widely, banks of cloud at varied elevations, in places to some lower slopes. Some variable rise of base in afternoon, but rare if any breaks to tops.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
10%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Overcast and dull. Visibility widely poor in rain.
How Cold? (at 900m)
3C, dropping to 0C north, further south later. Feeling like -5C to nearer -10C if exposed to stronger wind.
Freezing Level
Gradually lowering from north to 900-1000m, lower more widely into evening, to 800m.
Viewing Forecast For
The Northwest Highlands
Thursday 13th November 2025
Last updated
Tue 11th Nov 25 at
4:27PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
Northeasterly 50mph, gusts 60mph early in day, lessening gradually during daytime to 35mph; after dark easing to 20mph.
Effect of the wind on you?
Difficult conditions across the mountains in the morning, gusts likely to knock you over, improving slowly. Significant wind chill.
How Wet?
Snow showers north/east hills
Periods of showers with snow above 600m. Snow showers most frequent onto northern slopes from off the sea, also pushing inland near Ben Wyvis. More often dry around Skye and nearby mainland.
Cloud on the hills?
Varied over higher terrain, breaks west
Patchy cloud above 700-800m, most frequent toward the north and east. Breaks more common toward west coast from Torridon to Skye. Risk of lower cloud more persistent around Ben Wyvis in morning.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
30%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Overcast south, patchy sunshine north; may break through more widely at times. Very poor visibility in rain/snow, though improving during breaks.
How Cold? (at 900m)
-1C. Feeling like -15C in direct strongest wind.
Freezing Level
800m
Viewing Forecast For
The Northwest Highlands
Friday 14th November 2025
Last updated
Tue 11th Nov 25 at
4:27PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
East-northeasterly, 25mph to in places 35mph, very gusty downslope toward west; strengthening dusk onward to 40-50mph.
Effect of the wind on you?
Strenuous walking in exposure, buffeting gusts knocking you off balance on some slopes. Significant wind chill.
How Wet?
Snow flurries north and east
Showers and snow flurries most frequent over northernmost mountains, also a few bands of showers may move in from Moray Firth toward Ben Wyvis and Great Glen. Mostly rain lower slopes below 400m.
Cloud on the hills?
Fairly extensive, breaks west
Banks of cloud frequent above 500-700m in north and eastern areas, more broken cloud above 800m westwards, tops clearing periodically Kintail to Skye.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
30%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Glimpses of sun mostly west coastal mountains toward Skye. Slight haze N/E areas, visibility reduced in showers; locally often very good west.
How Cold? (at 900m)
-2 or -3C. Wind chill feeling like -10 to -15C on tops.
Freezing Level
600-700m, but near to freezing on some lower slopes early morning.
Planning Outlook
High rainfall totals bring concerns for flooding again, risk more significant in Wales in the days ahead. A marked contrast of temperature north to south this week, but colder air to the north becomes more widespread into the weekend and early next week, leaving higher terrain below freezing for a run of days and some accumulating snow, mostly focused over northern Scottish mountains. Wind will vary, then become east-northeasterlies, gales Friday into Saturday, then a possible brief lull before turning northerly on Sunday. More uncertain outlook further into next week, but some further unsettled areas of low pressure currently show signs of remaining nearby - but often within a colder weather regime.