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.)
Today'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.
Snow flurries
Occasional light snow flurries, sleet or rain lower elevations. Amounts little more than nuisance value, but locally more persistent and reducing visibility for periods.
Cold
Air temperature below 0C all day on higher mountains. Significant chill factor if exposed to strong winds. Suitable protective clothing required.
Terrain widely frozen
All ground frozen from lower elevations upward, with hard frost or snow cover. Beware of icy surfaces on lower and higher terrain. Appropriate footwear needed, crampons may be 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.
Snow flurries
Occasional light snow flurries, sleet or rain lower elevations. Amounts little more than nuisance value, but locally more persistent and reducing visibility for periods.
Cold
Air temperature below 0C all day on higher mountains. Significant chill factor if exposed to strong winds. Suitable protective clothing required.
Terrain widely frozen
All ground frozen from lower elevations upward, with hard frost or snow cover. Beware of icy surfaces on lower and higher terrain. Appropriate footwear needed, crampons may be necessary.
Viewing Forecast For
The Northwest Highlands
Saturday 10th January 2026
Last updated
Fri 9th Jan 26 at
4:05PM
Summary for all mountain areas
Most terrain frozen, snow cover over many hills, beware icy surfaces even lower down. Wind fairly light, but feeling blustery at times over Scottish mountains and later northern England. Some snow showers and flurries, mostly toward the west. Varied patchy cloud around hills, sunnier Pennines & NE Scotland.
Headline for The Northwest Highlands
Chilly often brisk wind. Local flurries, varied cloud.
How windy? (On the Munros)
South turning southwesterly 20 to 30mph, gusty in places on some downslopes to the north of higher mountains. Strengthening rapidly later evening into the night to gales 50-70mph+.
Effect of the wind on you?
Blustery, starting to affect balance on some exposed ridges, locally buffeting gusts not just on tops; considerable wind chill. Deteriorating significantly into night.
How Wet?
Coastal showers, snow flurries move inland
Showers most frequent near to west coasts, occasional snow flurries pushing eastwards at times, to lower slopes inland, but near coast mostly rain below 500m, some hail. Into night, snow to lower slopes inland or soon mostly rain near coast setting in.
Cloud on the hills?
Varied patches, more widely in showers
Patchy cloud around some slopes and tops, mostly in west and where showers occur, may often cover some hills above 800m near coast around Skye. Some mist possible lower slopes inland.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
50%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Glimpses of weak sun, best north/east. Visibility very good away from showers, but in places beware difficult navigation if in fog over snow cover.
How Cold? (at 900m)
-2C, nearer 0C coastal tops. Feeling like -10 to -13C if exposed to wind.
Freezing Level
Terrain widely frozen inland; just above freezing around 300-500m, up to 600-700m near west coast and on Skye.
Viewing Forecast For
The Northwest Highlands
Sunday 11th January 2026
Last updated
Fri 9th Jan 26 at
4:05PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
Southerly, in range 45 to 60mph much of daytime, but risk 70-80mph early morning and likely again into the night.
Effect of the wind on you?
Difficult conditions over the mountains; frequent buffeting and powerful gusts to some lower slopes, significant wind chill.
How Wet?
Snow soon turning to rain
Snow and freezing rain starts overnight - may fall to lower slopes inland and east for a few hours. Into daytime, increasingly rain toward higher levels widely, heaviest near Skye. Very wet underfoot where snow melts.
Cloud on the hills?
Fairly extensive
Shrouding most higher terrain all day, to lower slopes on Skye and south-facing coastal slopes. Higher bases inland and northwards, some breaks toward tops.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
20%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Overcast and mostly dull. Visibility generally very poor, appalling early in day if in snow on tops.
How Cold? (at 900m)
-1C rising to +2 or 3C, small variation of temperature with height inland. Wind chill feeling like -15C.
Freezing Level
Much terrain frozen to lower slopes inland from dawn, 600-800m+ coasts; rising variably above freezing toward all tops.
Viewing Forecast For
The Northwest Highlands
Monday 12th January 2026
Last updated
Fri 9th Jan 26 at
4:05PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
South to southwesterly 50 to 70mph, may fluctuate during the day, risk 80mph for a few hours.
Effect of the wind on you?
Difficult conditions, any mobility challenging, frequent buffeting even lower elevations. Significant wind chill.
How Wet?
Rain much of day west, snow high tops
Frequent to constant precipitation most western mountains, often heavy Skye to Torridon; smaller amounts toward Ben Wyvis. Falling as snow above around 900-1000m. Very wet underfoot where snow melts.
Cloud on the hills?
Extensive, lowest west
Covering the hills most or all day above 800m, often 500-600m south Cuillin and nearby coastal hills up to Torridon. Some higher bases at times east and northward.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
20%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Little or no sun. A general haze, particularly west; visibility very poor in precipitation.
How Cold? (at 900m)
1 or 2C. Wind chill feeling around -15C where directly exposed on tops.
Freezing Level
Close to highest summits around 1000-1100m, but later in the day may drop further, more likely into the night.
Planning Outlook
Thawing develops during Sunday, snow turning to rain, rising just above freezing toward highest tops in Scotland, whilst in England and Wales a more rapid and substantial thaw - beware unstable snowpack conditions, then becoming very wet underfoot where melting occurs. A complex and unsettled outlook next week, generally less cold than recently, but still often below freezing over Scottish mountains above 800-1000m, and at least intermittently below freezing over tops in England and Wales. A mix of snow and rain will fall, often snow on Scottish tops with fresh accumulations. Some showery days with hail. Wind will vary in speed and direction day-to-day, some lulls, but risk gales at times on hills.