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
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.
Patchy cloud and winter sun
Mostly dry with a mix of cloud and sun, patchy cloud occasionally covering some mountain slopes.
Clear
Excellent or superb visibility, no navigation issues.
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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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.
Patchy cloud and winter sun
Mostly dry with a mix of cloud and sun, patchy cloud occasionally covering some mountain slopes.
Clear
Excellent or superb visibility, no navigation issues.
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 8th March 2026
Last updated
Sat 7th Mar 26 at
1:08PM
Summary for all mountain areas
A blanket of low cloud and haze (particularly Pennines) over England, Wales and SW Scotland will spread to the Borders and S Highlands later in day - albeit cloud breaks in places. The Scottish highlands mostly fine albeit windy in the NW with chance of a little rain.
Headline for The Northwest Highlands
Gusty winds, particularly west coast where a little rain.
How windy? (On the Munros)
Southerly varying from 20 to locally 30mph in gusts eastern hills to 30 to 40, locally 45mph coastal hills south from Wester Ross, particularly Skye.
Effect of the wind on you?
Blustery and gusty higher terrain - and local sudden gusts lower slopes north of major ridges and summits. Arduous walking and notable wind chill near west coast.
How Wet?
Risk a little rain near Skye
Extensively dry, but risk of a little patchy rain at times near the west coast (south from Wester Ross), most likely Skye.
Cloud on the hills?
Mostly clearing: mainly confined to Skye by early afternoon.
Patches, in some areas widely on higher slopes from dawn. Will improve as most summits clear by midday or early afternoon. But the cloud may persist on Skye, particularly Cuillins sometimes above 450m.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
80% but 20% Skye.
Sunshine and air clarity?
Extensive cloud - though particularly well inland from west coast, thinning at times to allow sunshine. Excellent or superb visibility.
How Cold? (at 900m)
0 to 3C, highest northern areas. Little temperature change above 900m.
Freezing Level
Above the summits northern hills. 900 to 1200m elsewhere. Frost some glens at dawn.
Viewing Forecast For
The Northwest Highlands
Monday 9th March 2026
Last updated
Sat 7th Mar 26 at
1:08PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
Southwesterly 15 to perhaps 25mph western mountains in the afternoon.
Effect of the wind on you?
Mostly small
How Wet?
Patchy rain/snow mainly morning.
A weakening front across the NW Highlands will bring rain (snow above 750-900m) from time to time - but away from western mountains near Skye will amount to very little. What rain there is, may well tend to fizzle with time.
Cloud on the hills?
Extensive morning; cloud base may lift, and clear for some areas.
Confidence in detail presently low: Almost blanket fog probable from dawn, the base very low near Skye. An improvement very likely, perhaps substantial with some or many higher areas clearing in afternoon.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
20% rising to 50% elsewhere.
Sunshine and air clarity?
Cloud will tend to break, perhaps substantially by afternoon. Visibility becoming mostly excellent.
How Cold? (at 900m)
Between 0 and 2C.
Freezing Level
Between 900 and 1150m.
Viewing Forecast For
The Northwest Highlands
Tuesday 10th March 2026
Last updated
Sat 7th Mar 26 at
1:08PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
South to on higher slopes southwesterly; increasingly markedly with height to a gusty 40mph on higher exposed areas.
Effect of the wind on you?
Markedly increasing buffeting and wind chill with height. Balance may well be difficult for periods on higher slopes.
How Wet?
Rain now and again
Rain from time to time - very little in total. Probably most persistent Skye and within a few miles of the coast adjacent to Skye. Sometimes sleet higher slopes.
Cloud on the hills?
Persistent; lowest cloud base near Skye
Generally persistent cloud above 450 to 600m, but on and near Skye, at times the cloud forming at or below 300m. Highest cloud base will be north from about Torridon and east toward Ben Wyvis and perhaps summits near Great Glen, where typically 750-900m
Chance of cloud free Munros?
20%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Glimpses of sun mainly or only lower slopes near and north of Ullapool and near Ben Wyvis. Hazy, particularly near the coast.
How Cold? (at 900m)
1C - little temperature drop above 900m. Will feel as cold as minus 10C directly in the wind.
Freezing Level
Above the summits - some terrain above 900m may be frozen.
Planning Outlook
Increasingly wet and windy, particularly western mountains through next week. From Wednesday, bouts of upland severe or storm force winds will reach the Sottish Highlands and the gales periodically affecting other mountain areas later in the week. Freeze thaw cycles will occur on higher areas south from S Scotland whilst the Scottish Highlands experience infrequent thaw, with fresh snow sometimes reaching lower slopes, whilst extensive higher up.