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.)
Saturday's Forecast
Moderate breeze, locally gusty
A noticeable breeze, feeling cool where exposed on tops. Locally may be gusty, but unlikely to affect walking progress. 15-25mph.
Winter sunshine
Bright sunshine most of the day with the mountains generally free of cloud. Snow cover on higher terrain.
Cold
Air temperature below 0C all day on higher mountains. Significant chill factor if exposed to strong winds. Suitable protective clothing required.
Winter kit required on higher terrain
Snow cover over higher mountains. Safe progress over some terrain will require suitable footwear - possibly crampons and ice-axe where necessary.
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Moderate breeze, locally gusty
A noticeable breeze, feeling cool where exposed on tops. Locally may be gusty, but unlikely to affect walking progress. 15-25mph.
Winter sunshine
Bright sunshine most of the day with the mountains generally free of cloud. Snow cover on higher terrain.
Cold
Air temperature below 0C all day on higher mountains. Significant chill factor if exposed to strong winds. Suitable protective clothing required.
Winter kit required on higher terrain
Snow cover over higher mountains. Safe progress over some terrain will require suitable footwear - possibly crampons and ice-axe where necessary.
Viewing Forecast For
The Northwest Highlands
Saturday 28th February 2026
Last updated
Fri 27th Feb 26 at
4:03PM
Summary for all mountain areas
Fine and chilly for the Highlands, frosty morning; sunshine giving way to building cloud from southwest. Remnants of a front over England brings cloud, some rain, local showers with snow on hills. Much of Wales dry and bright. Light winds widely, then increasing S-SW'ly later, ahead of rain / hill snow into night.
Headline for The Northwest Highlands
Wind increasing. Dry, sunshine, most hills clear all day.
How windy? (On the Munros)
South to southwesterly 10-15mph, locally less early morning inland, strengthening soonest in morning on Skye, to 20-25mph, widely onward into afternoon, later reaching 30mph in west, 40mph after dark.
Effect of the wind on you?
Mostly small in morning, but soon feeling more noticeable on higher Cuillin, marked wind chill. Becoming more blustery from west with time, starting to affect ease of walking in exposure.
How Wet?
Dry most or all day
Isolated brief showers near west coast in morning, snow flurries above 600m. Onward into the evening and night, some patchy rain preceded by hill snow moving onto areas near Skye, little elsewhere.
Cloud on the hills?
Mostly little if any
Some cloud banks drifting over higher slopes mainly southern Cuillin in morning, patches towards Torridon as well, but these likely clearing. Rare patches elsewhere. Cloud lowers onto Skye into night.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
90%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Mostly sunny, some patchy cloud west; high cloud tending to build later. Visibility excellent.
How Cold? (at 900m)
-2C, rising a degree, up to 0C Skye late in the day. As wind increases, chill factor feeling like -10C.
Freezing Level
400 to 600m, plus frost most glens and sheltered lower slopes early morning. Rising slightly during day, particularly near west coast.
Viewing Forecast For
The Northwest Highlands
Sunday 1st March 2026
Last updated
Fri 27th Feb 26 at
4:03PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
Southerly 30 to 50mph, strongest west coast, particularly Skye, gusty downslope to the north. Risk 60mph+ after dark.
Effect of the wind on you?
Strenuous walking with chaotic gusts all day, in places more difficult at times in west. Significant wind chill.
How Wet?
Patchy rain/snow, raining on Skye later
Patchy rain and snow from dawn, snow falling mostly above 700m but locally lower. Through afternoon, an increasing risk of rain onto Skye and nearby, spreading more widely north later.
Cloud on the hills?
Extensive southwest, variable northward
Extensive cloud on the Cuillin down to middle slopes, often lower. Middle slopes upward of Torridon area also often shrouded. East and northward, cloud more variable, breaks above 900m but also lowering to middle slopes at times; some early patches in the corries too.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
40% inland north, to 10% Skye and nearby
Sunshine and air clarity?
Mostly cloudy, though a few glimpses of sun may break out in the north. Very good visibility away from fog/rain, increasingly mostly poor Skye.
How Cold? (at 900m)
-2C, lifting to +4C afternoon onward. Feeling like -10 to -12C in direct wind.
Freezing Level
500-700m from dawn, local variability, including lower frosts. Lifting with time to above the summits afternoon.
Viewing Forecast For
The Northwest Highlands
Monday 2nd March 2026
Last updated
Fri 27th Feb 26 at
4:03PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
South-southwest later westerly; speed likely to vary during day, mostly in range 30 to 45mph, a possible brief lull.
Effect of the wind on you?
Expect blustery conditions often affecting comfortable walking, more challenging occasionally. Marked wind chill.
How Wet?
Rain at times, increasingly hill snow
Possibly dry for a few hours, but also bands of showery rain - one may be clearing eastward soon from dawn, another arriving from west during daytime, turning to snow above 800m, later 600m.
Cloud on the hills?
Varied with breaks mostly north/east
Varying cloud, some banks at different heights from dawn, tending to thin and break, clearer toward north and east. Then further cloud may lower across western hills during day, most likely near Skye.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
40%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Occasional sun breaking through, best toward north, then clouding over again. Visibility very good or excellent for a time, reducing to be poor in hill snow.
How Cold? (at 900m)
0 or +1C, dropping later toward -1C. If exposed to stronger wind, risk feeling like -10 to -15C.
Freezing Level
Above summits prior to dawn, but lowering, to 900-1000m into daytime, by dusk likely 700-800m.
Planning Outlook
A changeable southwesterly regime onward into early next week. Milder air and thawing into Sunday, accompanied by rain and upland gales. A drop of freezing level onto higher mountains develops during Monday into Monday night; weakening fronts bringing some precipitation, but fading. Higher pressure nearby and commonly drier conditions during early March, though an occasional front coming in from the west may bring some rain later in the week ahead. Varied wind speeds, extensive lulls mixed with some windier days. Milder air is likely to return from the south more often.