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
Windy, walking impeded
Blustery conditions enough to give buffeting on higher terrain or affect balance on exposed ridges. 25 to 40mph.
Frequent or persistent rain
Steady rain fairly persistent, occasionally heavy, rather wet underfoot.
Poor visibility
Murky conditions with areas of fog shrouding the hills, making navigation challenging. Map and compass essential.
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.
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.
Frequent or persistent rain
Steady rain fairly persistent, occasionally heavy, rather wet underfoot.
Poor visibility
Murky conditions with areas of fog shrouding the hills, making navigation challenging. Map and compass essential.
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.
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
Saturday 21st February 2026
Last updated
Fri 20th Feb 26 at
3:30PM
Summary for all mountain areas
Southwesterly winds strengthening during the day, becoming upland gales more widely later. Milder overall, soon rising above freezing to the highest summits in Scotland. Rain, drizzle and low cloud extensive, developing into more prolonged heavy rain from the west in the afternoon.
Headline for The Northwest Highlands
Increasingly windy, gales later. Rain much of day, heavier later.
How windy? (On the Munros)
Southwesterly 25mph from dawn, locally less for a time, but strengthening, soonest on Skye in morning, to 35mph, widely through middle of day, then reaching 45-50mph up to dusk and onward into evening.
Effect of the wind on you?
A relative lull in the morning, but soon increasingly blustery around Skye, affecting comfortable walking. Conditions become more arduous with time, more difficult toward dusk.
How Wet?
Often raining, becoming heavier
Rain on and off widely, most persistent western mountains around Skye and Torridon, briefly starting as sleet above 900m, snow on highest northern tops around dawn. Rain setting in widely heavier from the southwest afternoon. Increasingly wet underfoot, particularly where snow melts.
Cloud on the hills?
Extensive
Blanketing the mountains all day, from lower elevations upward near west coast and Skye. Locally higher bases inland and eastward, but rarely above 600-800m.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
10%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Overcast and dull west, some brighter skies possibly toward north/east for a time. Visibility generally poor, locally better early in day north/eastern areas.
How Cold? (at 900m)
1C at first, soon rising to 3 or 4C. Where exposed to increasing wind on tops, feeling like -7 to -10C.
Freezing Level
1000-1100m around dawn, soon rising above summits. Dropping to 1100m into night. Snow cover will remain on higher mountains, but a period of thaw.
Viewing Forecast For
The Northwest Highlands
Sunday 22nd February 2026
Last updated
Fri 20th Feb 26 at
3:30PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
Southwesterly 40 to 50mph, frequent squally gusts in showers, at times to 60mph on higher tops.
Effect of the wind on you?
Challenging conditions over the mountains, frequent buffeting making walking arduous in exposure. Significant wind chill.
How Wet?
Frequent rain, hail, snow high tops
Generally showery, but merging into near-constant precipitation over western mountains, heavy bursts with hail, snow falling mostly above 900m. Risk of isolated thunder, mainly in west.
Cloud on the hills?
Fairly extensive higher areas
Covering the mountains much of the time above 800 to 1000m, but cloud bases will vary in and out of showers. Occasionally forming to 600m in west. Some breaks higher up inland and east.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
20%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Glimpses of sun mostly eastern areas. Visibility occasionally very good, but often reduced by showers, at times poor in west.
How Cold? (at 900m)
1C. Wind chill feeling like -12 to -15C on tops.
Freezing Level
1000 to 1100m.
Viewing Forecast For
The Northwest Highlands
Monday 23rd February 2026
Last updated
Fri 20th Feb 26 at
3:30PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
Southwest turning westerly, 50 to 60mph with stronger gusts from dawn, easing slowly during day, to 30-40mph by dusk.
Effect of the wind on you?
Any mobility challenging on high terrain at least in the morning, an improvement may be only by evening. Significant wind chill.
How Wet?
Heavy showers in morning fading
Frequent showery precipitation over western areas from before dawn into morning, heavy with hail, snow above 900m. Fading with time to lighter showers, more often dry north/east afternoon. Then heavy rain into night.
Cloud on the hills?
Varied over tops, some breaks form
Cloud base varying early in day, often covering higher slopes, patches to 600-700m in west. Tending to lift and break toward upper slopes, but may often cap west coast tops near Skye all day.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
30%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Occasional sun breaking through, mostly eastern areas in the afternoon. Hazy, poor around showers, but visibility improving afternoon.
How Cold? (at 900m)
1 or 2C, then rising slightly into night. Feeling like -15C directly in the wind.
Freezing Level
1000 to 1100m marginal rise during day, then lifting above the summits into night.
Planning Outlook
West to southwesterly winds prevail during the week ahead as areas of low pressure move toward northwest Scotland whilst ridges of higher pressure occasionally nudge across southern Britain. Sustained gales over the mountains, only brief lulls. Temperatures will fluctuate above and below freezing on higher Scottish mountains, with periods of thaw and refreezing. England and Wales generally above freezing to tops with a substantial thaw of most upland snow. Frequent rainfall, often heavy over western mountains, at times showery with hail, some snow on Scottish Munros. The final days of February favour colder northwesterly air and a drop of freezing level.