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.)
Friday'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 cloud and winter sun
Mostly dry with a mix of cloud and sun, patchy cloud occasionally covering some mountain slopes.
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.
Patchy cloud and winter sun
Mostly dry with a mix of cloud and sun, patchy cloud occasionally covering some mountain slopes.
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
Friday 12th December 2025
Last updated
Thu 11th Dec 25 at
3:43PM
Summary for all mountain areas
Increasingly blustery north England and Scotland, gales over Scottish Highlands; lighter wind Pennines and Wales. Early patchy rain over east Scotland and the Pennines soon clears, slowest south Pennines; many hills then cloud-free. Scattered showers onto west coasts, most frequent and heavy west-central Scotland.
Headline for The Northwest Highlands
Winds soon gale force; showers Skye, largely dry elsewhere
How windy? (On the Munros)
Southwesterly 30-40mph from dawn, soon rising to 40-50mph, increasingly strong gusts over high tops, up to 55mph.
Effect of the wind on you?
Uncomfortable winds from dawn soon strengthen to widely arduous walking conditions; gusts in exposure later in the day may require bracing to maintain stability. Significant wind chill.
How Wet?
Showers on Skye and nearby
Scattered showers onto Skye from dawn, falling as sleet/snow on the high tops. Showers more frequent afternoon, later reaching west coast slopes and inland south; the snow level lowering somewhat with time. Well inland stays dry.
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 later; Ben Wyvis to Ben Hope clear much of the day
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 south, more widely patchy later. Very clear air at first but becoming hazy from the west.
How Cold? (at 900m)
2C from dawn, perhaps a degree warmer northernmost mountains. Lowering to around 1C widely, some local variation. Feeling as cold as -15C in strongest wind.
Freezing Level
1200m, likely above the tops north; lowering to 1000m, locally 900m south.
Viewing Forecast For
The Northwest Highlands
Saturday 13th December 2025
Last updated
Thu 11th Dec 25 at
3:43PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
Southwesterly, strengthening during morning from 45-55mph to 70-80mph, risk stronger gusts from afternoon.
Effect of the wind on you?
Challenging conditions from mid-elevations upward, increasingly any mobility difficult, significant wind chill.
How Wet?
Heavy rain developing
Patchy rain or drizzle from dawn, initially sleet on higher tops. Soon becoming fairly persistent Skye and gradually more widespread, incessant heavy falls with time in west, rapidly rising streams.
Cloud on the hills?
Becoming extensive, lowering
Varied banks of cloud mostly on southern high terrain early in day, but increasingly spreading north, filling in, and lowering, becoming blanket fog from lower slopes upward in west.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
Lowering to 10%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Overcast, increasingly dull. Hazy, visibility poor as rain sets in.
How Cold? (at 900m)
2C rising steadily to later reach 6C, variable but staying higher into night. Wind chill feeling like -10 to -15C.
Freezing Level
Around 1100m up to dawn but rising above all summits during the morning.
Viewing Forecast For
The Northwest Highlands
Sunday 14th December 2025
Last updated
Thu 11th Dec 25 at
3:43PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
A gusty southwesterly, sustained winds between 40-55mph, may strengthen further. Gusts to middle slopes.
Effect of the wind on you?
Strong gusty winds will challenge balance and stability all day, including less exposed slopes. Significant wind chill.
How Wet?
Most often south, drifting north
Frequent rain Skye with bursts drifting inland and northward. At times falling heavier, risk of merging into a more widespread area of rain. Best chance of dry periods Ben Wyvis to east of Loch Broom.
Cloud on the hills?
Covering most high tops, lowest coastal south
Shrouding high tops along the coast from Skye towards Ullapool, southern inland hills as well. Variable bases, 600-900m, lowest on Skye. Higher bases Ben Wyvis to Loch Broom, perhaps local breaks to tops.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
20%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Little or no sun, often dull on southern coastal hills but local visibility improvements, particularly inland north.
How Cold? (at 900m)
3 to 6C, variable. Feeling like -8C in direct wind.
Freezing Level
Above the summits
Planning Outlook
Staying unsettled through the weekend and next week as southwesterly winds prevail and low pressure systems pass to the northwest of Scotland; sustained gales over the mountains, severe or stormy for periods. Rainfall will be frequent and heavy for periods, sometimes showery with hail in the west. Expect very wet ground conditions and further flooding of streams and some rivers. Best chance for dry and bright periods central and south Pennines, though these fleeting. Mild for the time of year, 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.