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.)
Tuesday'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+
Frequent or persistent rain
Steady rain fairly persistent, occasionally heavy, rather wet underfoot.
Poor visibility
Murky conditions with areas of fog shrouding the hills, making navigation challenging. Map and compass essential.
Cool to mild
Air temperature 5 to 10C on higher terrain. Comfortable temperatures on lower terrain, but feeling chilly if exposed to wind higher up, especially if stationary. Pack extra layers.
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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+
Frequent or persistent rain
Steady rain fairly persistent, occasionally heavy, rather wet underfoot.
Poor visibility
Murky conditions with areas of fog shrouding the hills, making navigation challenging. Map and compass essential.
Cool to mild
Air temperature 5 to 10C on higher terrain. Comfortable temperatures on lower terrain, but feeling chilly if exposed to wind higher up, especially if stationary. Pack extra layers.
Viewing Forecast For
The Northwest Highlands
Tuesday 9th December 2025
Last updated
Mon 8th Dec 25 at
4:00PM
Summary for all mountain areas
Severe conditions becoming widespread and lasting onward into the night and Wednesday - stormy conditions, hurricane-force winds on higher mountains. Heavy rain sweeping northwards across Scotland during the day, breaking up into showers for England & Wales; flooding likely.
Headline for The Northwest Highlands
Soon heavy rain, increasingly stormy winds.
How windy? (On the Munros)
Southeasterly, an hour or so from dawn 30mph or less in north, rapidly strengthening in morning to 50-60mph, soonest Skye; gusts 70mph develop, turning S'ly afternoon. Rising further by dusk onward to reach SW'ly 90-100mph evening into night.
Effect of the wind on you?
Deteriorating during the morning to make mobility difficult on exposed terrain, powerful gusts could knock you over on downslopes N/W of major hill groups. Later increasingly severe conditions low-levels upward, damaging gusts.
How Wet?
Near-constant rain sets in, flood risk
Rain arrives in the south as dawn breaks and rapidly spreads widely, setting in persistent and heavy for several hours, beginning to break from the south afternoon, but showery rain in west, in evening frequent or setting in again; into night turning to snow above 1000m. Beware fast-rising streams and flood risk.
Cloud on the hills?
Becoming extensive
From dawn, shrouding high ground from Skye towards Ben Wyvis, some eastern Munros further north as well. Northwest coast clearer tops just after dawn. Deteriorating widely, from lower or middle slopes upward, though bases always highest west coast north from Torridon.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
Lowering to less than 10%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Soon widely overcast and dull. Poor visibility as rain sets in, though northern areas in particular starting good.
How Cold? (at 900m)
3 or 4C, rising to 6 to 8C for several hours, then lower again later, to 2C into night. Feeling like -10C in strongest daytime wind; colder into the night.
Freezing Level
Above the summits until after dark, then lowering to just touch the highest Munro summits overnight (1100m+).
Viewing Forecast For
The Northwest Highlands
Wednesday 10th December 2025
Last updated
Mon 8th Dec 25 at
4:00PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
Southwesterly 60 to 80mph, gusts over higher mountains approaching 100mph.
Effect of the wind on you?
Difficult walking conditions from modest elevations upward, severe over the mountains; significant wind chill.
How Wet?
Showery with hail
Frequent showery precipitation, merging to be near-constant at times in the west, falling as sleet on the Munros, possible snow highest tops, also hail.
Cloud on the hills?
Often covering high tops
Cloud base constantly changing, but often shrouding higher slopes, at times down to 600m in west, brief breaks to tops inland.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
20%
Sunshine and air clarity?
A little sun mainly eastern areas. Hazy particularly in west, visibility poorer in rain.
How Cold? (at 900m)
2 or 3C. Wind chill feeling near to -15C.
Freezing Level
Near or just above highest summits (1100m+).
Viewing Forecast For
The Northwest Highlands
Thursday 11th December 2025
Last updated
Mon 8th Dec 25 at
4:00PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
South-southwesterly 40 to 60mph, some uncertainty of peak speed, risk 70mph+ west coastal mountains.
Effect of the wind on you?
Widely arduous, but risk of more difficult or severe conditions ongoing, particularly western areas.
How Wet?
Risk rain on and off west
Pulses of rain may run in from the southwest, greatest risk more persistent on Skye, sometimes passing northward, but much of Sutherland more often dry.
Cloud on the hills?
Most persistent on and near Skye
Covering the Cuillin and nearby coastal hills on mainland most of day, lowest in rain to mid-slopes. Further inland, capping tops for periods, some local breaks north.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
30%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Glimpses of sun mainly north and east, often cloudy west. Hazy, visibility poor in rain.
How Cold? (at 900m)
4C, may start to drop into evening. Feeling near -10C in the wind.
Freezing Level
Above the summits
Planning Outlook
A very unsettled pattern as southwesterly winds prevail and low pressure systems move in from the Atlantic, sustained gales over the mountains, severe or stormy for periods. Temperatures only close to freezing on higher Scottish tops this week, even here will experience spells above freezing with thawing, leaving snow increasingly patchy, but beware some icy surfaces on the very highest tops where some refreezing occurs. Drier for most places on Thursday this week, otherwise rainfall will be frequent and heavy, sometimes showery with hail. Expect wet ground conditions and further flooding of streams and some rivers.