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
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 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.
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.
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.
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
Thursday 26th March 2026
Last updated
Wed 25th Mar 26 at
4:19PM
Summary for all mountain areas
A sunny start, frosty in England and Scotland; freezing levels at middle heights in Wales. Some snow showers north and west Scotland early. High cloud builds from the west; patchy snow and rain arrive afternoon, spread east, and increase in frequency into night. Rain increasingly to higher slopes as temperature rises.
Headline for The Northwest Highlands
Early showers and sun, snow flurries to rain later, becoming breezy
How windy? (On the Munros)
Northwesterly 20-30mph up to dawn, strongest far north. Soon shifting westerly and easing to 15-25mph, lower speeds possible too. Reorienting southwesterly through afternoon and gradually strengthening, 35-40mph along the coast into nighttime.
Effect of the wind on you?
Effects fairly small much of the day, nuisance wind in the morning. Into evening, walking increasingly strenuous, particularly near the coast where gusts will challenge stability; significant wind chill.
How Wet?
Few showers, mostly north, then rain arrives afternoon into evening
Some early snow showers near and north of Ullapool, mostly easing, a few odd showers afternoon. Light, patchy snow arriving from the west afternoon, snow below 500m, patches drifting east with time, turning to rain to the tops, the rain most persistent Skye/Torridon, more widely for several overnight hours.
Cloud on the hills?
Just high tops early, becoming extensive
Some cloud banks drifting over the high tops, mostly in the north, but summits often clear through morning, particularly towards Ben Wyvis. Cloud gradually fills in over high terrain during the afternoon as rain arrives, becoming extensive and lowering to middle slopes evening, bases as low as 200-300m Cuillin.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
80%, lowering to 20% through afternoon
Sunshine and air clarity?
Bursts of sunshine early in the day, best in the east, soon weakened by high cloud, increasingly overcast. Excellent visibility in the morning, deteriorating, dull and murky into night.
How Cold? (at 900m)
-3 or -4C (-5C far north), gradually rising towards -1C afternoon, then sharply rising as evening approaches, up to +4C for several overnight hours, later cooling again. Feeling like -15C in wind early.
Freezing Level
200-400m, frosts in inland glens. Rising to 600-700m afternoon, sharply rising to the summits as evening approaches, further rising for several overnight hours.
Viewing Forecast For
The Northwest Highlands
Friday 27th March 2026
Last updated
Wed 25th Mar 26 at
4:19PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
Westerly 35-40mph, gradually strengthening, reaching up to 50mph over high northern tops by dusk.
Effect of the wind on you?
Strenuous walking with significant wind chill, a deteriorating trend with mobility increasingly impeded, particularly north.
How Wet?
Frequent snow showers, some hail
From dawn, showers from the west, snow down to 600m, some hail too. Showers increasingly push inland, heavier falls for several afternoon hours; snowfall level lowers too.
Cloud on the hills?
Variable, lowest and most persistent west
Cloud comes and goes all day above 700-800m, most persistent along the west coast and as low as 600m during showers, more persistent for a time midday. Well-broken inland early, more frequent during afternoon showers.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
50% inland, to 30% west coast
Sunshine and air clarity?
Bursts of bright sunshine, mostly inland, perhaps rare along the west coast. Variable visibility, intermittently good, but poor or appalling during snow showers.
How Cold? (at 900m)
-1C, gradually lowering, -3C into night. Feeling like -13 to -15C in the wind, cooler in the north late in the day.
Freezing Level
Lowering from overnight, 700-800m at dawn, lowering to 600m through the day.
Viewing Forecast For
The Northwest Highlands
Saturday 28th March 2026
Last updated
Wed 25th Mar 26 at
4:19PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
Westerly 45 to 60mph, strongest toward the north and in morning, powerful squalls. Gales likely strengthen again into night.
Effect of the wind on you?
Challenging conditions over the mountains, mobility difficult particularly morning. Significant-to-severe wind chill.
How Wet?
Hail and snow, fewer showers later
Showery morning, frequent to more constant precipitation for a time western mountains, hail and snow falling to some lower elevations. With time becoming fewer and less heavy showers and mostly rain below 600m.
Cloud on the hills?
Lifting and breaking higher during day
Often covering higher slopes above 600-800m in the morning, lowest and most persistent toward west coast. Base tending to rise, breaks to higher slopes for periods into afternoon.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
20% rising to 40%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Sun breaking through more often as the day progresses. Visibility very poor in showers, then more often becoming very good.
How Cold? (at 900m)
-2C rising to 0C. Wind chill feeling like -15 to -20C.
Freezing Level
600-700m in morning, rising to 800-900m afternoon.
Planning Outlook
Thursday starts chilly with clear skies for many, snow then rain moves into western areas with time. Strong northwesterly winds prevail as the weekend starts, brining cooler temperatures and a mix of showers and sun across most areas, the showers likely snowy to middle elevations with some hail mixed in. The cool, spring-like conditions will allow showers to become heavier and more widespread in the afternoon. Sunday into next week sees high pressure southwest of the country, producing drier weather with sun breaks, a trend towards milder temperatures too, but several low pressure systems to the north draw bands of rain eastward, mostly affecting Scotland, occasionally northern England and Wales. A risk of cooler northerly winds re-establishing later in the week, though detail is uncertain.