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.
Patchy rain or drizzle
Rain on and off, or generally drizzly - total amounts small, but may be persistently damp, especially where hills are shrouded in cloud.
Hazy, some fog banks
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Distant views reduced by haze, locally foggy for a time in valleys and some hill slopes.
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.
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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.
Patchy rain or drizzle
Rain on and off, or generally drizzly - total amounts small, but may be persistently damp, especially where hills are shrouded in cloud.
Hazy, some fog banks
Distant views reduced by haze, locally foggy for a time in valleys and some hill slopes.
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.
Viewing Forecast For
The Northwest Highlands
Saturday 21st March 2026
Last updated
Fri 20th Mar 26 at
3:45PM
Summary for all mountain areas
Cloud covering some western Scottish mountains much of day, a little rain or drizzle mostly Lochaber to Skye. Clearer hills east and southwards in the Highlands, and some breaks form in far northwest. Gusty winds toward north/west. Sunshine, haze and early low-level fog England & Wales, light winds.
Headline for The Northwest Highlands
Blustery, gusty. Patchy light rain, varied cloud.
How windy? (On the Munros)
Southwesterly 15 to 25mph, reaching 30mph occasionally around some tops. Increasing quickly evening into night to 35-50mph, local 60mph for a time overnight in north.
Effect of the wind on you?
Fairly small during day, but in exposure at times starting to affect ease of walking and balance. Marked wind chill. Deteriorating toward dusk into night.
How Wet?
A little rain west and south
Patchy rain and drizzle mostly over western hills, locally more persistent over a few hours Skye to Kintail areas, but amounts small.
Cloud on the hills?
Fairly extensive, most persistent Skye; local breaks
Covering western mountains on and near Skye much of day, lowest bases toward west coast, from 600 to 800m upward, in places lower for a time in rain. Bases tend to rise and some breaks forming east and northern hills.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
20% west, 40% east/north.
Sunshine and air clarity?
Fairly cloudy, some haze toward west. Glimpses of sun east and further north at times, good visibility where dry.
How Cold? (at 900m)
1 to 3C, coolest north of Ullapool. Feeling like -5C directly in the wind.
Freezing Level
Close to freezing around 1000m toward the north, otherwise above the higher summits.
Viewing Forecast For
The Northwest Highlands
Sunday 22nd March 2026
Last updated
Fri 20th Mar 26 at
3:45PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
Westerly 30 to 40mph, squally gusts around showers, may reach 50mph in northern areas.
Effect of the wind on you?
Very blustery, walking strenuous, affecting balance on exposed ridges, buffeting gusts at times. Significant wind chill.
How Wet?
Early rain, then snow showers
A brief band of rain moving southwards soon from dawn, steady rain mixed with showery moments, turning to snow flurries on tops, followed by showers with snow and later hail falling to 400-500m.
Cloud on the hills?
Early cloud rising with breaks
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.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
20% 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.
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 slightly further by dusk.
Viewing Forecast For
The Northwest Highlands
Monday 23rd March 2026
Last updated
Fri 20th Mar 26 at
3:45PM
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.
Planning Outlook
A changeable mix during the week ahead, but feeling wintry with snow and hail showers widely into midweek. Fine conditions on Monday, but southwesterly winds increasing, later severe gales on Scottish mountains. A spell of rain by late Monday into the night with a brief rise of temperature, but the freezing level drops from the northwest again into Tuesday, 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. 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 may continue to bring more changeable conditions to west and northwest Scotland.