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.)
Sunday'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.
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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.
Viewing Forecast For
The Northwest Highlands
Sunday 22nd March 2026
Last updated
Sat 21st Mar 26 at
4:00PM
Summary for all mountain areas
A band of patchy rain and low cloud moves southeastwards, improving with rising cloud bases across the Highlands, but brisk winds and below freezing on higher terrain - snow showers mostly in northwest. England & Wales start with low-level fog, hazy sun then cloud lowering, a little rain develops.
Headline for The Northwest Highlands
Windy, up to gale force north. Cold with snow showers.
How windy? (On the Munros)
Westerly 30 to 40mph, squally gusts during showers, up to 50mph northern areas around dawn, and at times later in showers. Lower speeds briefly around Skye to Kintail in the morning, 20-25mph.
Effect of the wind on you?
Very blustery with significant wind chill, particularly northern areas, walking strenuous, affecting balance on exposed ridges, buffeting gusts at times. Locally more moderate conditions in south in morning.
How Wet?
Early rain, then snow showers
A brief band of rain moving southwards soon from dawn, steady rain mixed with showery moments at first, turning to snow flurries on tops, followed by showers with snow falling to 500m, later 300m, also hail, most common north.
Cloud on the hills?
Early cloud rising with breaks, varied on tops
Covering hills fairly widely around dawn, lowest bases in west 600 to 800m. Soon lifts and breaks, mostly above 900m, clearing higher tops for periods, but varied patches returning in showers, most often west coast tops.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
20% at first, rising to 60%.
Sunshine and air clarity?
Occasional sunshine breaking through. Visibility soon often very good as rain clears, but reduced in showers, briefly poor in snow locally.
How Cold? (at 900m)
+2C up to dawn, but soon dropping to 0C, then -2C by middle of day onward. Feeling like -10 to -15C directly in wind.
Freezing Level
Above the summits just up to dawn, but soon lowering, to 700-800m before noon, dropping to 500-600m by dusk.
Viewing Forecast For
The Northwest Highlands
Monday 23rd March 2026
Last updated
Sat 21st Mar 26 at
4:00PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
Southwesterly, strengthening during day, rapidly near Skye, from 25-35mph early morning, to 50-70mph.
Effect of the wind on you?
Deteriorating significantly as gales arrive, risk quickly becoming severe, making any mobility increasingly difficult on hills.
How Wet?
Rain developing, later heavy west
Chance of an odd west coastal shower, otherwise likely dry morning. Then during afternoon, patchy rain arriving from west, briefly snow may fall on high tops inland, then rain becoming more persistent, heaviest soonest near Skye.
Cloud on the hills?
Very little, then lowering over hills
Some patches starting to form over higher slopes in the afternoon, then quickly filling in and lowering as rain develops.
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 likely lifting just above freezing to highest tops.
Viewing Forecast For
The Northwest Highlands
Tuesday 24th March 2026
Last updated
Sat 21st Mar 26 at
4:00PM
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
Heavy rain up to dawn, finishing as snow on high terrain. Then showery, increasingly heavy and frequent, falling as snow toward lowering elevations, also hail, risk isolated thunder.
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)
0 or +1C 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.
Planning Outlook
A fine start to the week for many places, but strengthening winds and a spell of heavy rain arriving from the northwest during Monday advances southwards into Tuesday. Cold, wintry conditions follow across the mountains into midweek, falling sub-zero across all hills of Britain above 600-700m later Tuesday into Wednesday. Significant chill factor from gale force west then northwesterly winds. Showery hail and snow falling toward lower elevations. High pressure to the southwest then likely rebuilds to settle things again toward next weekend and temperatures will tend to recover. A mixed west to southwesterly flow likely continues to bring more changeable conditions to west and northwest Scotland.