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
Severe gale or storm, mobility very difficult
Severe conditions on the mountains, any movement very challenging, you may be blown over. 55-70mph+
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.
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.
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+
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.
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.
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
Monday 30th March 2026
Last updated
Sun 29th Mar 26 at
4:00PM
Summary for all mountain areas
Gale-force west-northwesterlies, severe over higher Scottish mountains toward the north, squally gusts around showers of snow, also hail toward north early in the day. Light showers of rain or upland snow tending to fade with time, some breaks in cloud forming, best eastwards.
Headline for The Northwest Highlands
Gales, severe on high tops. Snow showers, risk hail.
How windy? (On the Munros)
West to northwesterly, 45 to 60mph, strongest toward north and in the morning, gusts over 70mph high tops.
Effect of the wind on you?
Challenging conditions, very difficult mobility especially morning, gusts could knock you over. Significant wind chill.
How Wet?
Snow & hail showers
Showery snow, also hail in the morning, frequent over western mountains. Tending to ease to lighter and more scattered showers afternoon, by then mostly rain below 500-600m. Rain and drizzle in west into night.
Cloud on the hills?
Most persistent western tops, higher breaks east
Covering higher western areas widely in morning, bases 600-800m, higher eastwards; tending to rise. Breaks forming higher with time. Will then lower from southwest into night, soonest from dusk on Skye.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
30% rising to 60% inland and east
Sunshine and air clarity?
Occasional sun, most common east. Visibility good out of showers, but some haze in west and far north, intermittently poor in snow.
How Cold? (at 900m)
-2C rising to 0 or +1C afternoon, then higher after dark. Wind chill feeling like -15 to -18C.
Freezing Level
600-700m from dawn, rising to 900-1000m afternoon, then lifting above the summits into night.
Viewing Forecast For
The Northwest Highlands
Tuesday 31st March 2026
Last updated
Sun 29th Mar 26 at
4:00PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
West to southwesterly, 30 to 40mph, very gusty in places around exposed high tops and ridges.
Effect of the wind on you?
Very blustery in exposure, making balance difficult on ridges, sudden buffeting in places. Considerable wind chill.
How Wet?
Drizzly rain particularly west
Drizzly over western mountains much of the day, some steadier but mostly light rain at times. Combined with some snow melt, rock surfaces will be very slippery. Smaller amounts of occasional drizzle further eastwards.
Cloud on the hills?
Extensive, lowest in west
Blanket low cloud across the mountains, from lower elevations upward near to west coast in the morning. Tending to rise a little during day, but likely to shroud many hills all day above 600-800m, local breaks east.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
10%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Cloudy and misty, some brighter moments may emerge mainly inland and east, where visibility good if below cloud, but generally poor over the hills.
How Cold? (at 900m)
3 or 4C. Feeling like -7 to -10C directly in the wind.
Freezing Level
Above freezing up to all summits.
Viewing Forecast For
The Northwest Highlands
Wednesday 1st April 2026
Last updated
Sun 29th Mar 26 at
4:00PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
Southwesterly 40-50mph, stronger gusts early in day - uncertain duration, but likely switching northerly during day 20-30mph.
Effect of the wind on you?
Arduous conditions for several hours at least, buffeting gusts. Reducing effect on walking, but notable chill factor.
How Wet?
Heavy rain then snow, hail showers
Rain likely persistent over western mountains, often heavy for several hours at least, becoming increasingly snow on hills, to lowering elevations from the north. With time breaking into showers with hail.
Cloud on the hills?
Extensive, may improve
Covering the mountains widely during precipitation, from low-to-mid slopes up in west. Bases then rising variably, breaks may form higher up into afternoon.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
Below 10%, rising to 30%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Overcast, dull, poor visibility in rain, very poor in snow and cloud, possible whiteout for periods, then at least intermittently very good if weather improves from north.
How Cold? (at 900m)
4C at first, tending to drop, possibly quickly to 0C in north, later -2C. Feeling like -10C in exposure to wind.
Freezing Level
Above all summits from dawn, but likely lowering onto high tops from north, a more rapid drop possible with time to 600m.
Planning Outlook
A drop of temperature is expected again across Scotland during Wednesday as a band of rain then upland snow drifts slowly southwards. Atlantic weather patterns and west-southwesterly winds likely continue into the start of the Easter period at least, a risk of further gales over the mountains. Temperature may remain variable, possibly often cold over the mountains with snow and hail showers at times to lower elevations at least in Scotland, sometimes more widely, mixed with some spells of rain - precipitation generally most frequent west and northwest. Some windows of drier and brighter conditions, but day-to-day detail is uncertain.