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.)
Sunday'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+
Heavy snow and hail showers, isolated lightning
Showery precipitation, often heavy, may merge to become constant for periods. A mix of snow and hail often falling to lower slopes. Risk of very localised thunder and lightning.
Whiteout
Fog and lying snow over the mountains, possibly with falling or blowing snow, very disorientating. Map and compass essential, beware of unseen hazards.
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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Severe gale or storm, mobility very difficult
Severe conditions on the mountains, any movement very challenging, you may be blown over. 55-70mph+
Heavy snow and hail showers, isolated lightning
Showery precipitation, often heavy, may merge to become constant for periods. A mix of snow and hail often falling to lower slopes. Risk of very localised thunder and lightning.
Whiteout
Fog and lying snow over the mountains, possibly with falling or blowing snow, very disorientating. Map and compass essential, beware of unseen hazards.
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
Sunday 12th April 2026
Last updated
Sat 11th Apr 26 at
4:00PM
Summary for all mountain areas
Gales will be severe all day over Scottish mountains, whilst upland gales gradually lessen for northern England, easing sooner in Wales, but remaining blustery. Widespread heavy showers merging into more constant precipitation in western Scotland, powerful squalls with hail, snow falling at times and risk of thunder.
Headline for The Northwest Highlands
Severe gales. Frequent to near constant rain, hail, snow.
How windy? (On the Munros)
South then southwesterly, 50 to 70mph, stronger gusts in showers. Lessening only onward into night.
Effect of the wind on you?
Difficult walking conditions, any mobility challenging in places, powerful squally gusts could knock you over on exposed terrain. Severe wind chill.
How Wet?
Heavy showers, hail, snow; more continuous in western areas
Showers merging into more constant falls toward Skye and Torridon all day, and increasingly widespread showers north/eastward by afternoon; heavy bursts with hail, snow at times falling toward 600m, chance of isolated thunder & lightning. Snow cover on most higher mountains.
Cloud on the hills?
Varying, most persistent near Skye
Frequently covering western tops from Wester Ross to Skye above 800m, some patches to 600m or lower in showers, but brief breaks to upper slopes. Better breaks further north/east away from showers.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
20% west, to 40% north/east
Sunshine and air clarity?
Intermittent bright sunshine, but rare around Skye. Visibility changing suddenly from very good to briefly appalling in snow/hail and cloud.
How Cold? (at 900m)
0 or -1C rising to +1 or 2C by afternoon, but dropping slightly during showers. Wind chill feeling like -15 to -18C on tops.
Freezing Level
800-900m from dawn, rising above 1000m, then lowering again from dusk; briefly dropping also in showers.
Viewing Forecast For
The Northwest Highlands
Monday 13th April 2026
Last updated
Sat 11th Apr 26 at
4:00PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
Southwest then southerly, 20 to 25mph, nearer 30mph early in the day; gusty all day around showers.
Effect of the wind on you?
Fairly small, but more noticeably blustery on some exposed tops, particularly morning, giving considerable wind chill.
How Wet?
Hail showers most widely afternoon
Showers mostly coastal areas near Skye early morning, then a scattering forming inland into afternoon, most widespread later afternoon, briefly heavy with hail, also snow may fall to 600m. Risk isolated thunder & lightning.
Cloud on the hills?
Often above hills, varied in showers
Patches of cloud forming around some upper slopes in the morning, lifting above many tops. Then occasional banks forming over hills during and after showers. The Cuillin more often covered above 700m in morning.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
30% Skye in morning, otherwise 70%.
Sunshine and air clarity?
Sunshine mostly inland and north in morning, then cloud builds, leaving brief bursts of sun. Visibility excellent, but briefly very poor in showers.
How Cold? (at 900m)
-1C rising to +1 or 2C, but dropping a few degrees in showers. Wind chill feeling like -7C to near -10C early in day on tops.
Freezing Level
800m at first, also frost in some sheltered inland glens; rising above 1000m into middle of day and afternoon.
Viewing Forecast For
The Northwest Highlands
Tuesday 14th April 2026
Last updated
Sat 11th Apr 26 at
4:00PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
South to southeasterly, 20 to 30mph, strengthening in west afternoon, later 40mph. Then after sunset likely 50-60mph.
Effect of the wind on you?
Increasingly blustery, particularly western mountains, starting to affect comfortable walking and balance; marked wind chill.
How Wet?
Rain unlikely until night
Likely dry all daytime. By evening into night, patchy rain develops from southwest, becoming more persistent further into night.
Cloud on the hills?
Little if any
Fragments of cloud around some slopes early morning, also mist in some glens at first. Dispersing to leave hills generally clear.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
90%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Sunshine best northern areas in the morning, then patchwork of cloud and sun, high cloud gradually builds later. Visibility excellent.
How Cold? (at 900m)
0C rising to 4C. Feeling colder as wind increases, later in day risk chill factor feels like -10C.
Freezing Level
900m early in day, plus frost inland glens around dawn. Rising just above tops, then further above tops later in day.
Planning Outlook
Chilly and showery conditions to start the new week, hail and a risk of isolated thunder into Monday afternoon, but less windy than the weekend. Drier for much of Tuesday, but rain and strengthening south-southwesterly winds return from the west later. Milder into mid-late week, but Scottish high tops above 1200m close to freezing at times. Wednesday through Friday, showers or some more persistent rain, mostly in the west, accompanied by strong winds, gales over mountains for periods. Higher pressure gradually builds by next weekend, bringing fewer showers and lighter winds; chilly overnight, but fairly mild spring days.