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.
Patchy cloud and winter sun
Mostly dry with a mix of cloud and sun, patchy cloud occasionally covering some mountain slopes.
Cold
Air temperature below 0C all day on higher mountains. Significant chill factor if exposed to strong winds. Suitable protective clothing required.
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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.
Patchy cloud and winter sun
Mostly dry with a mix of cloud and sun, patchy cloud occasionally covering some mountain slopes.
Cold
Air temperature below 0C all day on higher mountains. Significant chill factor if exposed to strong winds. Suitable protective clothing required.
Viewing Forecast For
The Northwest Highlands
Tuesday 30th December 2025
Last updated
Mon 29th Dec 25 at
4:21PM
Summary for all mountain areas
Quiet but chilly conditions, light winds and plenty of sunshine for much of the Highlands, much terrain frozen, sub-zero all day over hills and in some glens. A cold east-northeasterly breeze England and Wales, strongest toward south; fairly cloudy, locally an odd snow flurry over the Pennines.
Headline for The Northwest Highlands
Cold, but wind mostly light. Largely dry, patchy cloud.
How windy? (On the Munros)
Skye to Torridon and Kintail: Northerly or variable 5-10mph, tending to increase a little afternoon to 15mph, 20mph by dusk. Northern areas: Northwesterly 15 to 25mph, strongest around Ben Hope afternoon, risk 30mph.
Effect of the wind on you?
Mostly small, but becoming locally blustery at times with considerable wind chill in far north.
How Wet?
Rare if any precipitation
Largely dry all day. Brief snow flurries possible in the north.
Cloud on the hills?
Patches or banks, mainly in the north
Patches or banks of low cloud increasingly on upper slopes from 700m upwards across northern areas and perhaps also on Skye. Little elsewhere.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
40% north, 80% south.
Sunshine and air clarity?
Broken cloud and sun, best sun in the south. Visibility very good, away from any snow flurries.
How Cold? (at 900m)
-3C. Wind chill feeling like -10 to -13C.
Freezing Level
Terrain frozen from lower slopes upwards, with frost into the glens in morning.
Viewing Forecast For
The Northwest Highlands
Wednesday 31st December 2025
Last updated
Mon 29th Dec 25 at
4:21PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
Westerly 25 to 35mph, increasing to 35 to 45mph, risk 50mph late in day toward Ben Hope.
Effect of the wind on you?
Be prepared for increasingly arduous conditions through the day with significant buffeting and wind chill.
How Wet?
Patchy rain or upper slopes snow
Patches of rain and snow increasingly developing. Level to which snow falls tending to vary between 700 and 900m.
Cloud on the hills?
Extensive
Soon after dawn, if not before, low cloud becoming extensive and increasingly to lower slopes toward west coast.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
20%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Increasingly overcast. Becoming increasingly misty and murky, with poor visibility in precipitation.
How Cold? (at 900m)
-1C, lifting to 0C or just above. Feeling like -10 to -15C in the strongest winds.
Freezing Level
300-600m, lifting to 800-1000m.
Viewing Forecast For
The Northwest Highlands
Thursday 1st January 2026
Last updated
Mon 29th Dec 25 at
4:21PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
Northwesterly 35 to 50mph, squally gusts in showers.
Effect of the wind on you?
Frequent buffeting, walking often arduous on higher terrain. Significant wind chill, severe higher up.
How Wet?
Frequent snow and hail
A succession of showers moving inland from coasts in west and north, merging to feel near-constant for periods, falling as snow and hail to lower slopes, chance isolated thunder mainly in north.
Cloud on the hills?
Often covering upper slopes
Cloud base constantly changing, but often capping higher slopes, bases 600-900m, lowest most often near coast. Brief breaks higher up mainly toward Great Glen.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
20%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Largely cloudy, brief bursts of sun. Visibility varying, very poor in snow and cloud, intermittently very good.
How Cold? (at 900m)
-3C, falling to -5C evening into night. Wind chill feeling like -15C, later -20C higher tops.
Freezing Level
400 to 600m, highest near to coast. Some inland glens near freezing all day, then into night dropping to all lower slopes.
Planning Outlook
Significantly cold wintry conditions into the start of January. Air temperature well below freezing on high terrain, plus low minima into many glens and valleys with sustained hard frost. Strong northerly winds later this week giving severe wind chill. Frequent and heavy snow showers moving into northern areas and running down coastal extremities with significant accumulations. Elsewhere, lots of dry and sunny weather, although occasional organised bands of snow will feed south at times in the Arctic airflow. Staying cold into next week with scope for snowfalls more widely.