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
Snowfall continuous or frequent over the mountains, beware of conditions becoming challenging on higher terrain. At lower elevations falling as rain.
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
Snowfall continuous or frequent over the mountains, beware of conditions becoming challenging on higher terrain. At lower elevations falling as rain.
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 15th November 2026
Last updated
Sat 14th Nov 26 at
4:00PM
Summary for all mountain areas
Rain and increasingly snow over Scottish mountains as colder air moves in. Drier and higher cloud bases toward southwest Highlands. Rain affects northern England and Wales with some persistent and locally heavier falls, becoming snow on hills into evening. Wind speed and direction will vary in all areas.
Headline for The Northwest Highlands
Dry for a time with cloud breaks, then snow likely into afternoon.
How windy? (On the Munros)
North-northwesterly 20 to 30mph, occasional squally gusty periods during showers, mainly near coasts, chance of brief 40mph mainly Skye.
Effect of the wind on you?
Varying, starting to affect comfortable walking at times over high terrain, some more challenging moments possible. Significant wind chill.
How Wet?
Patchy snow, risk more persistent for a time into afternoon.
Areas of light snow early morning, mainly north and eastern areas, a few showers near west coast, rain only lowest slopes. Drier for a time, then a cluster of frequent snow moves in from northwest in afternoon, may set in for an hour or so. Then showery snow and hail into evening and night, chance of lightning.
Cloud on the hills?
Breaks for a time, lowers in afternoon
Varying banks of cloud over the hills in the morning, but breaks forming toward some upper slopes, mainly inland toward Kintail, perhaps widely for a few hours, but then lowering quickly over tops from west in afternoon.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
40%
Sunshine and air clarity?
A little sun breaking through during morning, but weak through high cloud, then cloudier again afternoon. Visibility intermittently good, but poor in snow, risk appalling at times on tops.
How Cold? (at 900m)
-3C, little change all day. Feeling like -10 to -15C directly in the wind on higher mountains.
Freezing Level
400 to 600m.
Viewing Forecast For
The Northwest Highlands
Monday 16th November 2026
Last updated
Sat 14th Nov 26 at
4:00PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
Northwest 20-35mph at dawn, strongest Sutherland; soon easing to 10mph or less. Later rising SE'ly, gales after dark.
Effect of the wind on you?
Small most of daytime; marked wind chill at first N/E areas. Toward dusk becoming blustery Skye, deteriorating into night.
How Wet?
Showers fading
Snow and hail showers from dawn mostly northern areas and locally near west coast. Fading out to be largely dry many areas, but an odd shower mainly north coast.
Cloud on the hills?
Mostly clearing
Varying cloud base capping higher slopes in the morning, and frequently on higher slopes near Ben Hope much of day. Most mountains increasingly clear into middle of day and afternoon.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
40% rising to 80%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Patchy sun early morning, but increasingly sunny except near the north coast. Visibility briefly poor in showers, otherwise excellent.
How Cold? (at 900m)
-2C. Feeling like -10 to -15C directly in wind early morning, but improving.
Freezing Level
600m, but some lower inland terrain may be partly frozen in the morning.
Viewing Forecast For
The Northwest Highlands
Tuesday 17th November 2026
Last updated
Sat 14th Nov 26 at
4:00PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
Easterly 40 to 50mph, in places risk 60mph and very gusty around high mountains; may lessen slightly during the daytime.
Effect of the wind on you?
Challenging to possibly difficult conditions across the mountains, buffeting gusts to lower slopes and significant wind chill.
How Wet?
Occasional flurries
Most likely only patchy snow flurries, sleet or rain on lower slopes; very little most west coastal mountains.
Cloud on the hills?
Breaks toward Skye and Torridon
Banks of cloud drifting over higher slopes, may often shroud much high terrain on the mainland, but breaking above the hills at times in west coastal areas of Wester Ross and on Skye if generally drier.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
30%, to 60% west coast tops
Sunshine and air clarity?
Some bright skies, but little sun due to layers of high cloud. Visibility very good, but some haze in east.
How Cold? (at 900m)
-1 or -2C, may lift just above 0C. Feeling like -15C or possibly colder in exposure to stronger wind.
Freezing Level
600-800m, but some terrain lower down partly frozen in morning; tending to rise a little into the afternoon.
Planning Outlook
Cold with higher terrain frequently or almost permanently frozen most or all next week particularly in Scotland. Meanwhile Wales and northern England will see one or two incursions of much warmer air together with areas of persistent rain and intermittent hill snow. Less precipitation generally northward across Scotland, but marked exceptions: here too, where the frequently northerly wind rises over mountains (with the sea directly to the north), accumulations of snow may well be considerable.