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
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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Distant views reduced by haze, locally foggy for a time in valleys and some hill 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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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
Distant views reduced by haze, locally foggy for a time in valleys and some hill 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
Monday 23rd March 2026
Last updated
Sun 22nd Mar 26 at
4:07PM
Summary for all mountain areas
Wind speed increasing significantly across Scotland, becoming severe-gale force over mountains into afternoon. Rain and briefly some snow on tops moving in from the west. England and Wales dry, with sun through a veil of high cloud, also increasingly windy - upland gales evening into night.
Headline for The Northwest Highlands
Severe upland gales develop. Rain and lowering cloud moves in.
How windy? (On the Munros)
Southwesterly, strengthening during day, rapidly near Skye, from 25-35mph early morning, to 50-70mph middle of day onward into afternoon, continually strengthening with gusts later over 80mph.
Effect of the wind on you?
Deteriorating significantly as gales arrive, quickly becoming severe, making any mobility increasingly difficult on hills. Powerful gusts downslope to north of higher terrain
How Wet?
Rain developing, becoming heavier by afternoon west
Odd patches of rain near west coast, but dry inland much of morning. Rain arriving increasingly from west middle of day, briefly snow may fall on high tops inland. Rain more persistent into afternoon, heaviest soonest near Skye.
Cloud on the hills?
Very little, then lowering over hills
Local patches near coast, but starting to form more widely over higher slopes in the afternoon, quickly filling in above 700-800m and lowering to 600m in west as rain develops, some lower banks on windward southwestern slopes.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
90%, dropping to 20% later in day.
Sunshine and air clarity?
Weak sun through high cloud, thickening to become overcast. Visibility very good, then poor later in rain.
How Cold? (at 900m)
-2C rising to +2C by late afternoon. As wind increases, chill factor feeling like -12 to -15C in exposure.
Freezing Level
600m plus frost inland glens around dawn. Tending to rise, by late afternoon lifting just above freezing to highest tops. Starting to drop again overnight to 900m.
Viewing Forecast For
The Northwest Highlands
Tuesday 24th March 2026
Last updated
Sun 22nd Mar 26 at
4:07PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
West to southwesterly 50 to 70mph, peak speeds likely in morning, but powerful squally gusts all day.
Effect of the wind on you?
Difficult conditions across the mountains, any mobility often very challenging in exposure. Severe wind chill.
How Wet?
Heavy snow and hail showers
Showery, increasingly heavy and frequent, clustering into more constant precipitation in western areas, falling as snow toward lowering elevations, also hail, risk isolated thunder & lightning.
Cloud on the hills?
Varied, but fairly extensive tops
Cloud base constantly changing, but often covering high terrain, bases varying 600 to 900m, only brief breaks higher up.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
20%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Brief glimpses of sun mostly east. Visibility very poor at times, appalling in snow and cloud; intermittently good.
How Cold? (at 900m)
0C at first, lowering to -2C afternoon. Feeling like -15 to -18C in the wind.
Freezing Level
Dropping up to dawn onto higher tops, then 700m before noon, 500m up to dusk.
Viewing Forecast For
The Northwest Highlands
Wednesday 25th March 2026
Last updated
Sun 22nd Mar 26 at
4:07PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
Northwesterly 35 to 50mph, varying speeds with squally gusts around showers.
Effect of the wind on you?
Challenging walking conditions, frequent buffeting, often arduous over higher exposed terrain. Severe wind chill.
How Wet?
Frequent hail and snow
Showery snow and hail falling to lower slopes, frequent to at times near-constant over coastal areas in the north and west, but extending across all the region. Risk of isolated thunder & lightning.
Cloud on the hills?
Varying, but often capping tops
Cloud base constantly changing, will come and go all day above 800-900m, frequently capping high tops toward coasts, patches at times to 600m. Briefly clearing tops.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
20%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Brief bursts of bright sun. Visibility intermittently very good, but appalling for periods in showers with brief whiteout over tops.
How Cold? (at 900m)
-3 or -4C, slight rise into afternoon. Wind chill feeling like -17 to -20C on tops.
Freezing Level
400m from dawn, lifting to 600m, slightly higher away from showers.
Planning Outlook
Cold, wintry conditions across all mountains into midweek - significant chill factor from gale force west then northwesterly winds. Showery hail and snow falling to increasingly lower elevations in the Highlands on Tuesday, whilst a band of heavy rain moves slowly southward over England & Wales. Hail and snow showers extend southwards into Wednesday, by then below freezing on all tops above 600-700m. Fewer showers by Thursday for many, though further snow then rain moves into western Scotland. Temperature and freezing level then varying as changeable westerlies prevail for Scotland through the weekend into early next week with periods of upland gales widely, accompanied by spells of rain, hill snow and hail showers; some windows of drier weather more often affect England & Wales.