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.)
Thursday's Forecast
Gale force, walking arduous
Considerable buffeting, walking into the wind will be strenuous on exposed terrain, stronger gusts may knock you off your feet. 40 to 55mph.
Heavy snow and hail showers, isolated lightning
Showery precipitation, often heavy, may merge to become constant for periods. A mix of snow and hail often falling to lower slopes. Risk of very localised thunder and lightning.
Whiteout
Fog and lying snow over the mountains, possibly with falling or blowing snow, very disorientating. Map and compass essential, beware of unseen hazards.
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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Gale force, walking arduous
Considerable buffeting, walking into the wind will be strenuous on exposed terrain, stronger gusts may knock you off your feet. 40 to 55mph.
Heavy snow and hail showers, isolated lightning
Showery precipitation, often heavy, may merge to become constant for periods. A mix of snow and hail often falling to lower slopes. Risk of very localised thunder and lightning.
Whiteout
Fog and lying snow over the mountains, possibly with falling or blowing snow, very disorientating. Map and compass essential, beware of unseen hazards.
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
Thursday 1st January 2026
Last updated
Wed 31st Dec 25 at
3:55PM
Summary for all mountain areas
Cold north-northwesterly winds, widely gale force over the mountains, difficult conditions with severe chill factor on Scottish high tops. Showery snow and hail frequent in northern Scotland. Rare showers central Scotland and northern England. Early rain and hill snow followed by showers in Wales.
Headline for The Northwest Highlands
Gales on mountains, snow and hail to lower slopes.
How windy? (On the Munros)
Northwesterly 35 to 50mph, sustained winds tending to strengthen widely during morning into middle of day, in places 60mph on high tops; squally gusts in showers.
Effect of the wind on you?
Frequent buffeting, walking often arduous on higher terrain, gusts knocking you off balance in places in exposure. Significant wind chill, severe higher up.
How Wet?
Frequent snow and hail
A succession of showers moving inland from coasts in west and north, merging to feel near-constant for periods, falling as snow and hail to lower slopes. Periods of whiteout on hills. Chance isolated thunder mainly in north.
Cloud on the hills?
Often covering upper slopes
Cloud base constantly changing, but often capping higher slopes, bases 600-900m, lowest most often near coast. Brief breaks higher up mainly toward Great Glen.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
20%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Largely cloudy, brief bursts of sun. Visibility varying, very poor in snow and cloud, intermittently very good.
How Cold? (at 900m)
-3C, falling to -5C evening into night. Wind chill feeling like -15C, later -20C higher tops.
Freezing Level
400 to 600m, highest near to coast. Some inland glens near freezing all day, then into night dropping to all lower slopes.
Viewing Forecast For
The Northwest Highlands
Friday 2nd January 2026
Last updated
Wed 31st Dec 25 at
3:55PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
Northerly 30 to 40mph, risk 50mph at dawn, and again into the evening; squally gusts in showers.
Effect of the wind on you?
Severe wind chill over the mountains. Frequent buffeting in exposure on higher terrain.
How Wet?
Near-constant snow and hail
A succession of heavy showers coming in from the north, snow and hail falling and accumulating to sea level. Frequent whiteout over the mountains. Risk of isolated thunder.
Cloud on the hills?
Often shrouding tops
Cloud base constantly changing, often capping hills above 800-900m, shafts of cloud to 600m in showers. Brief breaks to upper slopes mostly toward Great Glen.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
20%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Rare brief bursts of sun. Visibility often appalling due to snow falling or blowing and where also in cloud; but intermittently very good.
How Cold? (at 900m)
-5C. Wind chill feeling like -15 to -20C on tops.
Freezing Level
Most terrain frozen, sub-zero all day glens upward. Just above freezing up to 200-300m on slopes nearest to the coast.
Viewing Forecast For
The Northwest Highlands
Saturday 3rd January 2026
Last updated
Wed 31st Dec 25 at
3:55PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
Northerly 30 to 40mph, squally gusts in showers.
Effect of the wind on you?
Continued severe wind chill over the mountains. Frequent buffeting on exposed terrain.
How Wet?
Near-constant snow and hail
An ongoing stream of heavy showers coming in from the north, snow and hail falling and accumulating to sea level. Frequent whiteout on the tops. Risk isolated thunder.
Cloud on the hills?
Often shrouding tops
Cloud base constantly changing, often capping hills above 800-900m, shafts of cloud to 600m in showers. Brief breaks to upper slopes mostly toward Great Glen.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
20%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Brief bursts of sun, more frequent Kintail. Visibility often appalling due to snow falling or blowing and where also in cloud; but intermittently very good.
How Cold? (at 900m)
-5 or -6C. Wind chill feeling like -20C in exposure on tops.
Freezing Level
Terrain widely frozen, staying sub-zero from glens upward. Nearest the coast, partial thawing in sunlight to 300-400m.
Planning Outlook
Terrain extensively frozen onward into the weekend and early next week at least; sub-zero temperatures from the glens upward in Scotland and some valleys inland in northern England. Substantial fresh snow accumulations in the North West Highlands and Cairngorms, heavy showers streaming in from the north also containing hail. Largely dry and sunny from central Scotland to northern England. Hail and snow showers will run into north and west Wales from the sea. Bitter northerly winds, up to gale force higher tops, tending to lessen into Sunday. Some fluctuation of freezing level during next week, but some fronts moving in from northwest likely bring snowfall to hills at times more widely.