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.)
Sunday's Forecast
Severe gale or storm, mobility very difficult
Severe conditions on the mountains, any movement very challenging, you may be blown over. 55-70mph+
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.
Poor visibility
Murky conditions with areas of fog shrouding the hills, making navigation challenging. Map and compass essential.
Cold
Air temperature below 0C all day on higher mountains. Significant chill factor if exposed to strong winds. Suitable protective clothing required.
Flooding
Fast-flowing rivers and streams. Some routes may be impassable due to flooding.
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Severe gale or storm, mobility very difficult
Severe conditions on the mountains, any movement very challenging, you may be blown over. 55-70mph+
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.
Poor visibility
Murky conditions with areas of fog shrouding the hills, making navigation challenging. Map and compass essential.
Cold
Air temperature below 0C all day on higher mountains. Significant chill factor if exposed to strong winds. Suitable protective clothing required.
Flooding
Fast-flowing rivers and streams. Some routes may be impassable due to flooding.
Viewing Forecast For
The Northwest Highlands
Sunday 25th October 2026
Last updated
Sat 24th Oct 26 at
4:12PM
Summary for all mountain areas
Severe conditions across the mountains: storm-force wind, to hurricane force over Munros well into the day; severe wind chill. Frequent showers with hail in England and Scotland, persistent Scottish Highlands with snow on tops; risk of flooding. Scattered showers Wales, becoming scattered further north.
Headline for The Northwest Highlands
Severe conditions: hurricane-force wind, rain, hail, summit snow
How windy? (On the Munros)
Westerly 70 to 90mph, gusts to 100mph or higher over summits, strongest wind likely around midday hours. Will begin to moderate from the south and west, but stained speeds unlikely below 50mph anywhere during daylight.
Effect of the wind on you?
Severe conditions, mobility very difficult, to near impossible in exposure during strongest wind; severe wind chill. Effects will begin to moderate in the south and west, but mobility remains challenging in exposure during daylight.
How Wet?
Rarely ceasing rain, hail, upland snow
Near-constant precipitation from dawn, snow often falling above 700m, also hail at all elevations, mixed with rain, small risk isolated lightning. A tendency towards lighter falls, at least southern areas, and will break up a bit with time, snow as low as 500-600m later.
Cloud on the hills?
Extensive
From dawn, blanket cloud across high terrain, base variably lowering to middle and lower slopes in heavier showers, particularly west coast where may lower to coastal cliffs. Cloud will begin to lift and break up somewhat from the south, though bases often down to at least 700m, any higher breaks just eastern hills.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
10%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Rare brief bursts of sun, best chance south and east later in the day. A general haze at best, visibility often poor due to precipitation, to appalling in snow and cloud on tops.
How Cold? (at 900m)
-1 or 0C; starting a degree higher in the north. Wind chill feels like -17 to -20C in exposure, or colder in strongest wind.
Freezing Level
800-900m.
Viewing Forecast For
The Northwest Highlands
Monday 26th October 2026
Last updated
Sat 24th Oct 26 at
4:12PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
Westerly 35-40mph, shifting south-southeasterly, briefly lessening; later 40-50mph, further strengthening into night.
Effect of the wind on you?
May be briefly fairly small, but often blustery, more strenuous conditions early and late with notable wind chill.
How Wet?
Spotty rain/snow, then rain sets in
A little spotty rain/snow around in the morning (snow above 800m), many eastern hills dry for a few hours. Rain arrives to Skye, spreading widely and setting in, persistent in many places with heavy bursts.
Cloud on the hills?
Patches on high terrain, becoming extensive
Varied patches mostly above 700-800m in the morning, some breaks to summits. Cloud will lower onto Skye as rain arrives, increasingly spreading north through afternoon, extensive to middle slopes; west coast slopes near and north of Ullapool stay clearer for longer.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
60%, lowering to 10% through afternoon
Sunshine and air clarity?
Patchy sun, a little haze but good visibility to start, high cloud building, thickening to finish overcast and dull.
How Cold? (at 900m)
1C, sharply rising afternoon to 10C evening/night; little change with height. Feeling below 0C in strongest wind.
Freezing Level
1000m at dawn, lifting well above the summits.
Viewing Forecast For
The Northwest Highlands
Tuesday 27th October 2026
Last updated
Sat 24th Oct 26 at
4:12PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
Southwesterly 65-85mph, shifting westerly, may strengthen for a time, top speeds to 100mph.
Effect of the wind on you?
Severe conditions across mountains including smaller hills; any mobility difficult and severe wind chill.
How Wet?
Often raining
Rain fairly persistent Skye and Torridon, frequent showers further north and east. Best of dry windows Caithness, though a swathe of steady heavy rain likely affects all areas for a few hours. Later showery, snow above 700m.
Cloud on the hills?
Fairly extensive
May be fairly extensive from middle slopes up well into the day on and around Skye, some variability. Further north and east, more varied, breaks up towards 900m, but more widely extensive during steady rain. Later, some chance of breaks approaching easternmost summits.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
20%, later 40% Ben Wyvis/Easter Ross
Sunshine and air clarity?
Mostly overcast, a few glimpses of sun north and east. Often poor visibility, hazy west, and very poor in snow.
How Cold? (at 900m)
3 or 4C, generally lowering, to finish at 0C. Feeling like -15 to -20C in direct wind.
Freezing Level
Just above summits in the morning, lowering to 900m later before rising again overnight.
Planning Outlook
Unsettled weather persists into early next week. A relative lull in the early hours on Monday for north Scotland before the next weather system soon sweeps in from the southwest with drizzle, some heavy rain, and extensive mountain gales. Temperatures will be unseasonably mild. Rain breaks into showers for most on Tuesday with cooling temperatures, becoming snow on high terrain. Gales remain widespread, severe conditions persist over Scottish Highlands. Pressure slowly builds from the south into Wednesday and Thursday; staying blustery, cloud and some showers affecting western areas, but bright spells breaking out, briefly more settled in England and Wales. Confidence in forecast detail is low into next weekend, but western hills are likely wet again, more widely cloudy with cool to mild temperatures.