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.)
Monday's Forecast
Windy, walking impeded
Blustery conditions enough to give buffeting on higher terrain or affect balance on exposed ridges. 25 to 40mph.
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.
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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Windy, walking impeded
Blustery conditions enough to give buffeting on higher terrain or affect balance on exposed ridges. 25 to 40mph.
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.
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
Monday 20th April 2026
Last updated
Sun 19th Apr 26 at
4:00PM
Summary for all mountain areas
Hill snow and rain lower down in northeast Scotland from early in the day, locally persistent for a time. Showers form across Scotland and northern England during the day, locally increasingly heavy with hail. Blustery toward northwest Scotland, otherwise fairly light wind until late in day. Staying at freezing on high Scottish tops.
Headline for The Northwest Highlands
Blustery especially further NW. Hill snow, showers with hail.
How windy? (On the Munros)
Northeasterly turning easterly afternoon, 20 to 30mph, gusty in places, particularly Ben Hope area, also at times on Skye. Widely strengthening by dusk onward to easterly 30-35mph.
Effect of the wind on you?
Rather blustery with considerable wind chill on exposed higher terrain. Gusts feel more noticeable at times on some hills. More extensively windy late in the day. Considerable chill factor.
How Wet?
Showery, more frequent north; hail and snow on hills
Showers or more frequent precipitation north and eastern areas in the morning, soft hail, also snow falling above 400-500m, later 700-800m, some heavier showers forming more widely, on and off into afternoon, tending to drift westwards.
Cloud on the hills?
Lifting to tops with breaks
Cloud banks fairly widely above 600-800m in the morning, but better breaks Torridon area. Base rising toward 900m, with breaks forming higher up and increasingly lifting above many tops afternoon; patches lower in showers.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
40%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Fairly cloudy, local sun mostly west early in day. Some sun breaking through occasionally. Visibility mostly very good, briefly reduced in showers.
How Cold? (at 900m)
0C rising to 2C afternoon. Where exposed to wind, feeling like -7 to -10C.
Freezing Level
800-900m in morning, plus frost in some glens at dawn. Rising just above freezing to highest tops during the afternoon.
Viewing Forecast For
The Northwest Highlands
Tuesday 21st April 2026
Last updated
Sun 19th Apr 26 at
4:00PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
Easterly 25 to 30mph, gusty in places around tops and some passes.
Effect of the wind on you?
Marked wind chill in exposure, some blustery spots affecting ease of walking.
How Wet?
Precipitation rare if any
Substantially dry. Chance of light spots of rain on eastern hills, snow grains on higher slopes, mostly morning.
Cloud on the hills?
Mostly north and east, lifting
Cloud banks widely in north and east areas in the morning, to 600m for a time, tending to lift higher. More broken above 800m westwards. Tending to break up widely.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
70%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Fairly cloudy, some brighter sunnier moments mostly west. Visibility very good.
How Cold? (at 900m)
0C rising to 3C afternoon. Directly in the wind, feeling as cold as -10C in the morning.
Freezing Level
900m early morning, patchy slight frost some western glens. Rising just above freezing on highest tops.
Viewing Forecast For
The Northwest Highlands
Wednesday 22nd April 2026
Last updated
Sun 19th Apr 26 at
4:00PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
Easterly 15-20mph, but risk local gusty spots 25mph, mainly western mountains.
Effect of the wind on you?
Fairly small, but locally gusts may feel uncomfortable, not just on higher slopes. Feeling chilly in exposure.
How Wet?
No precipitation expected
Cloud on the hills?
Hardly any west, patchy cloud east
West coastal mountains likely clear all day. Cloud banks inland and mainly further east in morning, base around 600m, whilst highest tops may poke above the cloud. Tending to thin, but patches may linger in east.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
90% west, 60% east/northeast.
Sunshine and air clarity?
Sunshine all day Skye and much of west coast, broken cloud further east. Visibility excellent.
How Cold? (at 900m)
0 to 3C north and east, typically warmer west coast, up to locally 6C afternoon. Feeling sub-zero directly in the wind.
Freezing Level
Around freezing on higher slopes mainly in north and east in the morning, also frost some glens. Lifting above all tops.
Planning Outlook
A drier outlook through late April as high pressure resides over Britain, centred generally toward the north. Easterly winds prevail this week, strong and gusty over England and Wales, gale-force in places through midweek. Less windy further north across Scotland and becoming lighter winds everywhere by later in the week. Western mountains generally clear with plenty of sunshine throughout this week ahead, variable cloud at times drifting onto some eastern hills. Some overnight frosts into valleys. Daytime temperatures rising several degrees above freezing to highest tops, warmest in west. Risk of a strengthening chilly northerly wind for a time during next weekend.