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.)
Friday'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.
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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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.
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
Friday 27th February 2026
Last updated
Thu 26th Feb 26 at
4:11PM
Summary for all mountain areas
Blustery showers in north and west Scotland, snow above 800m, this level lowering; wind eases, showers isolate to the northwest. Patchy rain in south Scotland and north England, fairly small wind effects, some clear hills. Overnight rain central/south Pennines and Wales turns patchy; risk of changeable conditions here.
Headline for The Northwest Highlands
Blustery early, easing; showers from the west, increasingly as snow
How windy? (On the Munros)
Westerly 25 to 30mph, strongest wind north, starting near 40mph, more widely stronger pre-dawn as well and shifted southwesterly. Shifting slightly northwesterly, easing to 15-20mph, though may remain stronger far north.
Effect of the wind on you?
Blustery wind impedes comfortable walking particularly in the north with marked wind chill and some buffeting; pre-dawn, walking more strenuous to the north. Trending to fairly small effects with time.
How Wet?
Showers, snowfall level lowering
Showers arrive from the west, snow falling to 800m at dawn. Showers may at times pass in clusters. Snowfall level lowers with time, down to 300m by evening.
Cloud on the hills?
Mostly high terrain, sometimes lower, may improve
Terrain above 800-900m often in cloud, bases to middle slopes during showers, but with time a breaking trend, some "ribbons" at higher elevations but also breaks to summits possible, best chance inland. Despite improving trend, a risk of passing high cloud banks remains into evening.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
30% rising to 60%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Sun bursts increasingly break out between showers, best chance to the east. Good visibility but some haze towards the west.
How Cold? (at 900m)
0 or -1C from dawn, soon starting to lower, becoming -2C widely. Feeling like -10 to -13C directly in the wind in the morning, this effect easing.
Freezing Level
900-1000m from dawn, a lowering trend during day to 800m, reaching to 600-700m by evening.
Viewing Forecast For
The Northwest Highlands
Saturday 28th February 2026
Last updated
Thu 26th Feb 26 at
4:11PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
Southwesterly 15-25mph, shifting southerly and slowing rising, 35-45mph by dusk, always strongest west coast, risk 50mph.
Effect of the wind on you?
Fairly small to start, increasingly blustery, walking becoming challenging in exposure in west and wind chill significant.
How Wet?
Much of day likely dry
Chance of brief showers near west coast in morning, snow flurries above 600m. Onward into the night, risk of rain preceded by hill snow moving in from west.
Cloud on the hills?
Mostly little if any
Some cloud banks drifting over higher slopes mainly southern Cuillin, patches towards Torridon as well. Rare patches elsewhere, a few along the west coast early.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
70%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Mostly a good amount of sun, patchy cloud west; high cloud tending to build later. Visibility excellent.
How Cold? (at 900m)
-2C, rising a degree, up to 0C Skye late in the day. Wind chill feeling like -10 to later -15C.
Freezing Level
400 to 600m, plus frost some sheltered lower areas early morning. Likely rising somewhat later in day near west coast.
Viewing Forecast For
The Northwest Highlands
Sunday 1st March 2026
Last updated
Thu 26th Feb 26 at
4:11PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
Southerly 30-35mph, strongest towards the west coast and downslope to the north. A rising trend with time, to 55mph Skye.
Effect of the wind on you?
Strenuous walking with chaotic gusts all day. Deteriorating, conditions becoming difficult west; significant wind chill.
How Wet?
Patchy rain/snow, raining on Skye later
Patchy rain and snow from dawn, snow falling mostly above 700m but locally lower. Through afternoon, an increasing risk of rain onto Skye and nearby, risk spreading more widely later.
Cloud on the hills?
Extensive southwest, variable northward
Extensive cloud on the Cuillin down to middle slopes, often lower. Middle slopes upward of Torridon area also often shrouded. East and northward, cloud more variable, breaks above 900m but also lowering to middle slopes at times; some early patches in the corries too.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
40% inland north, to 10% Skye and nearby
Sunshine and air clarity?
Mostly cloudy, though a few glimpses of sun may break out in the north. Very good visibility away from fog/rain.
How Cold? (at 900m)
-2C, lifting to 4C, or 5C towards the north. Feeling like -10 to -12C in direct wind.
Freezing Level
500-700m from dawn, local variability, including lower frosts. Lifting with time to above the summits afternoon.
Planning Outlook
A changeable southwesterly regime continues through the weekend into early next week. Colder for a time with lowering freezing levels on Saturday allowing some refreezing of higher mountain terrain mainly in Scotland, the snowpack on high mountains consolidating following recent thawing. Early low frosts possible into north England as well. Milder air and thawing returns into Sunday, accompanied by rain and upland gales. During next week, higher pressure is expected to develop around the British Isles, bringing quieter weather, drier for most with lighter winds. Some fronts may continue to graze northwest Scotland with rain and stronger winds. Temperatures tending to be on the milder side during early March, occasional cooler winds lowering freezing levels, but winter conditions only on high Munros.