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.)
Saturday'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.
Hazy, some fog banks
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Visibility reduced around cloud banks, hazier on some lower slopes. Locally some improvements possible out of cloud.
Chilly
Air temperature typically 0 to 5C on higher summits. Feeling distinctly chilly on tops when stationary or where exposed to wind. Take appropriate 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.
Hazy, some fog banks
Visibility reduced around cloud banks, hazier on some lower slopes. Locally some improvements possible out of cloud.
Chilly
Air temperature typically 0 to 5C on higher summits. Feeling distinctly chilly on tops when stationary or where exposed to wind. Take appropriate layers.
Viewing Forecast For
The Northwest Highlands
Saturday 13th December 2025
Last updated
Fri 12th Dec 25 at
4:13PM
Summary for all mountain areas
Increasingly severe conditions Scottish Highlands: gusty storm-force winds on high terrain and becoming wet from the west. Gales in England and Wales, severe from Snowdonia towards Lakeland/north Pennines; drizzly rain on western slopes, patches drifting east. Driest south Pennines.
Headline for The Northwest Highlands
Deteriorating to severe conditions; increasingly wet
How windy? (On the Munros)
Southwesterly, strengthening during morning from 45-55mph to 70-85mph afternoon, stronger for a periods with strongest gusts reaching up to 95mph on coastal/northern tops.
Effect of the wind on you?
Conditions soon challenging from mid-elevations upward, increasingly any mobility difficult and turning severe afternoon with violent gusts. Severe wind chill.
How Wet?
Persistent rain developing, locally heavy
Showery rain at and before dawn, initially sleet on higher tops. Rain eases briefly after sunrise, but soon returning to Skye, setting in as persistent rain and spreading widely afternoon, incessant heavy falls with time on southern Munros.
Cloud on the hills?
Becoming extensive, lowering
Varied banks of cloud mostly on southern high terrain early in day, but increasingly spreading north, filling in, and lowering, becoming blanket fog from lower slopes upward in west. Some higher breaks here and there east.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
40% soon lowering to 10%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Some weak sun through high cloud early, turning overcast and increasingly dull west. Hazy, visibility turning poor as rain sets in.
How Cold? (at 900m)
1C from dawn rising steadily to later reach 6C, little change with added height. Rising another degree into night and varying. Wind chill feeling like -12 to -15C later in the day.
Freezing Level
Around 1100m up to dawn, gradually rising, above the summits afternoon.
Viewing Forecast For
The Northwest Highlands
Sunday 14th December 2025
Last updated
Fri 12th Dec 25 at
4:13PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
A gusty southwesterly, sustained winds between 40-50mph, may strengthen further, risk 60mph gusts.
Effect of the wind on you?
Strong gusty winds will challenge balance and stability all day, including less exposed slopes. Significant wind chill.
How Wet?
Most often south, drifting north
Frequent rain Skye and nearby with bursts drifting inland and northward. At times falling heavier, risk of merging into a more widespread area of rain. Best chance of dry periods Ben Wyvis to east of Loch Broom.
Cloud on the hills?
Covering most high tops, lowest coastal south
Shrouding high tops along the coast from Skye towards Ullapool, southern inland hills as well. Variable bases, 600-900m, lowest on Skye. Higher bases Ben Wyvis to Loch Broom, perhaps local breaks to tops.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
20%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Little or no sun, often dull on southern coastal hills but local visibility improvements, particularly inland north.
How Cold? (at 900m)
5 to 7C; variable, increasingly so after nightfall with lower temperatures. Feeling like -8C in direct wind.
Freezing Level
Above the summits
Viewing Forecast For
The Northwest Highlands
Monday 15th December 2025
Last updated
Fri 12th Dec 25 at
4:13PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
Very uncertain detail: generally west-southwesterly 25-35mph, highly variable with higher and lower speeds.
Effect of the wind on you?
Winds uncomfortable or strenuous walking in exposure with a chilly feel, but may also be fairly small for periods.
How Wet?
Some west coast showers
Frequent showers near the west coast at and before dawn, showers more scattered after dawn, though may remain frequent Skye. May again increasing in frequency and intensity later.
Cloud on the hills?
Mostly high terrain west, clear periods
Variable banks on west coast slopes, 600-900m, most frequent Skye/Kintail with few higher breaks; well-broken inland with higher bases, many Munros often clear. Increasingly frequent south, more widely along the west coast later.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
50%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Patchy sunshine for most, except south, more extensive northward. Very good visibility.
How Cold? (at 900m)
0 or 1C. May be several degrees warmer just before dawn. Feelings as cold as -10C in direct wind.
Freezing Level
Above the summits from overnight, rapidly lowering to 900-1000m at or before dawn.
Planning Outlook
A brief spell of drier-brighter weather on Tuesday, but otherwise staying unsettled into next week as southwesterly winds prevail and low pressure systems pass to the northwest of Scotland; sustained gales over the mountains, severe or stormy for periods. Bands of rain will regularly pass eastward across most areas, showery in the west between wetter spells with hail at times. Expect very wet ground conditions and further flooding of streams and some rivers. Mild for the time of year, temperatures only just below freezing intermittently on higher Scottish tops, even here will experience spells above freezing with thawing, any lying snow patchy, but beware some icy surfaces on the very highest tops where some refreezing occurs. Detail becomes very uncertain after next weekend though temperatures likely to drop.