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.)
Thursday's Forecast
Windy, walking impeded
Blustery conditions enough to give buffeting on higher terrain or affect balance on exposed ridges. 25 to 40mph.
Snow and hail showers
Periods of bright or sunny conditions mixed with showers or flurries of snow and hail. Visibility may change rapidly from excellent to very poor.
Very cold
Significant wintry conditions - below freezing from lower elevations up all day, -7 or -8C highest summits, feeling like -20C or below on high tops due to wind chill. Frostbite and hypothermia risk. Substantial protective clothing is 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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Windy, walking impeded
Blustery conditions enough to give buffeting on higher terrain or affect balance on exposed ridges. 25 to 40mph.
Snow and hail showers
Periods of bright or sunny conditions mixed with showers or flurries of snow and hail. Visibility may change rapidly from excellent to very poor.
Very cold
Significant wintry conditions - below freezing from lower elevations up all day, -7 or -8C highest summits, feeling like -20C or below on high tops due to wind chill. Frostbite and hypothermia risk. Substantial protective clothing is 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
Thursday 12th February 2026
Last updated
Wed 11th Feb 26 at
4:09PM
Summary for all mountain areas
Very cold in Scotland with strong wind. Snow in the central/south highlands, some improvement from the north. Blustery too in north England, cloudy with patchy morning snow, later more frequent. South Pennines and north Wales see rain and snow with lighter wind. Blustery with patchy rain south Wales.
Headline for The Northwest Highlands
Bitterly cold and windy; northern snow showers
How windy? (On the Munros)
Northeasterly 30-40mph in the morning, strongest in the south. A gradual easing from the north with time, speeds near 15-30mph, always strongest in the south.
Effect of the wind on you?
Arduous walking with severe wind chill early; powerful gusts to the west may greatly challenge balance. Effects slowly easing with time, though always blustery in exposure in the south.
How Wet?
Early snow south, then northern showers
Some early snow in southern and eastern areas. Becoming drier for a time, a few snow showers affecting Ben Wyvis, then a band of showery snow arrives onto northern Munros and slowly moves south afternoon.
Cloud on the hills?
Most high terrain south and east early, then patches from the north
Cloud fairly extensive on high terrain from Kintail towards the hills east of Ullapool. More patchy further north, well-broken towards the west coast. With time, cloud becomes well-broken more widely, though patches will drift down north and west coast high terrain in snow showers, some further south. Skye largely clear.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
60%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Frequent bursts of sunshine in the north and west, most often cloudy east and south but some bright moments here too. Excellent visibility out of snow.
How Cold? (at 900m)
-4 to -5C; may start slightly warmer Skye. Temperature drops overnight. Feeling like -20C in strongest wind.
Freezing Level
Most terrain frozen, locally to glen level north/east; up to 500m Skye early. Lowering later and overnight to glen level.
Viewing Forecast For
The Northwest Highlands
Friday 13th February 2026
Last updated
Wed 11th Feb 26 at
4:09PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
Generally northerly between 15-30mph, some variability in speed and direction, gusty near showers.
Effect of the wind on you?
Blustery on high terrain with significant wind chill; walking may become strenuous at times.
How Wet?
Snow showers
Snow showers affect north and west coastal slopes most of the day, all the way to Skye, some hail mixed in as well, small risk an odd lightning flash north. Showers at times push inland too.
Cloud on the hills?
Patchy cloud on high terrain
Patchy cloud drifts onto coastal slopes all day, mostly on higher terrain, lowest bases near Ben Hope to 700-800m; towards the south, summits will see breaks. The inland south often, but not always, cloud-free.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
60%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Sunshine in-and-out near the coast, more consistent inland. Excellent visibility away from snow showers.
How Cold? (at 900m)
-5 or -6C, rising a degree or two in the sun. Feeling like -20C or colder in strongest direct wind.
Freezing Level
Nearly all terrain frozen from dawn, just some coastal slopes/Skye up to 300-400m. Some thawing on sun-exposed low slopes.
Viewing Forecast For
The Northwest Highlands
Saturday 14th February 2026
Last updated
Wed 11th Feb 26 at
4:09PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
Westerly 10-15mph from dawn, shifting southwesterly, strengthening to a gusty 30-40mph, deteriorating overnight.
Effect of the wind on you?
Small at first, walking increasingly affected, arduous near the coast later with buffeting and significant wind chill.
How Wet?
Rising chance of west coast snow
A few odd snow flurries on slopes abutting the west coast. A rising chance of larger bursts of snow affecting Skye and drifting up the coast. Snow spreads more widely after nightfall.
Cloud on the hills?
Some cloud west later
Most hills substantially free of cloud, a few caps over high summits possible from time to time. Later, a greater chance of cloud banks coming above 800m near the west coast and southern tops.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
80%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Extensive sunshine, some patchy cloud near the coast. High cloud moves in with time. Excellent visibility.
How Cold? (at 900m)
-3 or -4C. With time, feeling as cold as -15 to 18C in wind.
Freezing Level
All terrain frozen from dawn. Near the west coast, lifting to 300-400m. Some sun-exposed low slopes to thaw as well.
Planning Outlook
Colder for all areas during the transition into the weekend, mountain terrain frozen to increasingly lower elevations - soonest toward the north and east of Scotland. A widespread frost early on Saturday. Northeasterly wind will be dominant - the distribution of snow showers shifting with time from eastern hills to more north-facing mountains, particularly Scotland. Brighter than recently with sunshine and clearer hills later Friday and Saturday. Gales with heavy snow (rain to increasingly higher elevations) overnight into Sunday brings a return to unsettled weather for the following week - wet and windy periods come and go, freezing levels rising (high Scotland terrain stays frozen), then lowering again during periods of northwesterly wind.