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

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Click here to download the latest PDF Last Updated Mon 18th Mar 24 at 4:30PM
View our detailed version Last Updated Mon 18th Mar 24 at 4:30PM

Viewing Forecast For

The Northwest Highlands
Tuesday 19th March 2024
Last updated Mon 18th Mar 24 at 4:30PM

Summary for all mountain areas

Upland gales for the Highlands in the morning will ease. Early heavy bursts of rain clearing eastwards to leave often drier conditions. Variable cloud amounts, most persistent over western mountains, but lifting with some breaks forming.

Headline for The Northwest Highlands

Gales easing. Early showers fade.

How windy? (On the Munros)

Southerly, soon veering westerly, 35 to 50mph, strongest in the morning, later dropping to 20mph or less.

Effect of the wind on you?

Be prepared for arduous, or for a time difficult conditions with significant wind chill. Improving during the day.

How Wet?

Heavy showers soon easing

A band of showery at times heavy and squally rain will move through early morning, risk isolated hail and thunder briefly. Increasingly snow on the Munros. Then a few drizzly showers in west.

Cloud on the hills?

Fairly extensive upper slopes.

Cloud bases varying, but fairly extensive through day upper slopes, and even to mid slopes in morning. Best of the breaks in the afternoon, widely in the east.

Chance of cloud free Munros?

20% morning, 60% afternoon.

Sunshine and air clarity?

Cloudy morning, patches of sun in the afternoon, especially in the east. Visibility poor in morning rain, but becoming very good.

How Cold? (at 900m)

2C lowering to 0 or -1C in afternoon. Wind chill feeling as cold as -10C where directly in strongest winds in morning.

Freezing Level

Above summits in morning, then lowering to 900m or slightly lower in the afternoon in northern areas.

Viewing Forecast For

The Northwest Highlands
Wednesday 20th March 2024
Last updated Mon 18th Mar 24 at 4:30PM

How windy? (On the Munros)

Westerly 10 to 15mph, perhaps less inland. Tending to increase through afternoon 20-25mph.

Effect of the wind on you?

Mostly small, increasing wind through the afternoon will bring a marked wind chill.

How Wet?

Brief showers

Isolated showers, mainly near the west coast, snow flurries above 500 to later 700m. Risk of rain arriving from west into night.

Cloud on the hills?

Cloud breaking off many hills.

Patches of cloud at first, mainly mid to upper slopes, some hills clear. These banks more widely will lift off the tops, although patches may persist west coast.

Chance of cloud free Munros?

60%

Sunshine and air clarity?

Broken cloud and sunshine. Visibility very good.

How Cold? (at 900m)

-3C lifting to -1C

Freezing Level

600m lifting to 800m

Viewing Forecast For

The Northwest Highlands
Thursday 21st March 2024
Last updated Mon 18th Mar 24 at 4:30PM

How windy? (On the Munros)

West to southwesterly 50 to 70mph, stronger gusts likely over exposed higher terrain.

Effect of the wind on you?

Difficult conditions over the mountains, gusts could knock you over. Significant wind chill from mid-heights upward.

How Wet?

Heavy rain, later snow & hail

Heavy rain focused on western mountains, may last much of the day. An abrupt transition to snow on high tops as this finishes by evening. Then into night, showers with snow & hail falling below 600m.

Cloud on the hills?

Extensive

Shrouding most mountains all day, to lower elevations near the west coast.

Chance of cloud free Munros?

20%

Sunshine and air clarity?

Overcast and dull. Visibility generally poor.

How Cold? (at 900m)

3 to 5C. Wind chill feeling like -5 to -10C on tops.

Freezing Level

Soon well above the summits. Then into night, likely to fall rapidly, below 800m by early Friday.

Planning Outlook

Mixed westerly patterns prevail this week, but turning northwesterly toward the weekend allowing much colder air to move in - dropping extensively below freezing point over all British mountains for several days. Fresh upland snowfalls, concentrated toward the west and north of the Highlands, including heavy showers with hail. A period of sustained gales over the tops late this week and likely into the weekend - severe gales over Scottish tops on Thursday at least; significant or at times severe wind chill factor.