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.)
Saturday'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.
Poor visibility
Murky conditions with areas of fog shrouding the hills, making navigation challenging. Map and compass essential.
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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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.
Poor visibility
Murky conditions with areas of fog shrouding the hills, making navigation challenging. Map and compass essential.
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
Saturday 14th March 2026
Last updated
Fri 13th Mar 26 at
12:32PM
Summary for all mountain areas
Very much less windy, especially England and Wales in afternoon. But still cold day with hail and snow showers, and particularly Wales away from western hills spells of sun. The snow will penetrate to lower slopes in Scotland but be confined above 600m elsewhere.
Headline for The Northwest Highlands
Wind and snow showers easing & cloud base rising.
How windy? (On the Munros)
Westerly, 30 to 40mph after dawn, strongest Sutherland. Will by midday be widely 20mph, but gusts to 30 or 35mph near showers.
Effect of the wind on you?
Becoming fairly small, although balance difficult and wind chill considerable in gusty winds in precipitation.
How Wet?
Frequent hail and snow showers.
Precipitation frequent as shower after shower comes in. Snow and above 300, rising to 500m snow.
Cloud on the hills?
Almost constantly covering higher mountains, but cloud base rising
Varied cloud base: sometimes patches below 450m near precipitation mainly morning western hills. Increasingly cloud becoming confined above 700 to 1000m, lowest within a few miles of the general lie of the west coast.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
20% rising to 40%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Glimpses of sun, mainly away from Skye and nearby mainland. Hazy, mainrly near Skye morning; very poor visibility in snow
How Cold? (at 900m)
-2C; varying by a degree or two as showers come and go. Will feel as cold as minus 16C directly in the wind.
Freezing Level
600m post dawn; mostly 800m by mid afternoon
Viewing Forecast For
The Northwest Highlands
Sunday 15th March 2026
Last updated
Fri 13th Mar 26 at
12:32PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
Westerly typically between 35 and 45mph. Risk strengthening further later afternoon onwards.
Effect of the wind on you?
Continued difficult walking and wind chill significant on exposed higher areas. Expect balance, and in places general mobility to be difficult.
How Wet?
Frequent snow and hail
Widespread rain after dawn, snow higher tops. Soon snow as low as 600m. Through day, succession of sometimes heavy hail and snow showers (most rain only lowest slopes). Isolated thunder.
Cloud on the hills?
Very extensive on higher areas
Typically, quickly varying cloud base between 450m (locally lower) and 600m near precipitation to otherwise 700 to perhaps 1000m. Generally lowest cloud base will be on more western mountains.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
20%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Glimpses of sun, mainly lower slopes well inland. Varied visibility; appalling in precipitation but otherwise good - although a haze.
How Cold? (at 900m)
Soon -2C. Will feel as cold as minus 15C where exposed to the wind.
Freezing Level
Soon between 400 and 600m.
Viewing Forecast For
The Northwest Highlands
Monday 16th March 2026
Last updated
Fri 13th Mar 26 at
12:32PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
West backing southwesterly; 50 to 65mph most of morning. Then gradually easing to around 40mph in a slight lull.
Effect of the wind on you?
Severe wind chill and difficult walking. Any mobility may well be a struggle at least in the morning - especially near precipitation.
How Wet?
Frequent hail and snow
Shower after shower; sometimes particularly morning the precipitation - often hail and above 300, later 600m snow - almost constant giving whiteout. Precipitation may set in toward dusk.
Cloud on the hills?
Rarely if at all clearing higher summits.
Cloud base will vary: near precipitation forming below 450m, sometimes 300m. Otherwise, cloud base 600m morning, and 800 to perhaps temporarily 1000m (most likely Sutherland and eastern summits elsewhere) into the afternoon.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
20%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Glimpses of sun only - mainly lower slopes well inland. Persistent haze - but appalling visibility in precipitation.
How Cold? (at 900m)
-2C, rising toward 0C. Will feel as cold as minus 18C due to wind chill.
Freezing Level
600m, rising toward 900m.
Planning Outlook
Frequent upland gales until Tuesday - generally strongest Scottish Highlands. Precipitation will continue on most mountains, focussed in the west - lengthy periods of showery weather and occasional swathes of widespread rain. Freeze thaw cycles will continue: on the Scottish Highlands, thaw periods brief and snow widely accumulating. Further south, lying snow mostly confined to higher summits. There is now high likelihood of an abrupt transition mid-week as pressure builds north of Britain: extensively fine; cloud often clearing, particularly western Britain and temperature levels more varied - fairly warm some afternoons but frost widely at night.