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.)
Friday'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.
Snow and rain mix
Precipitation falling mostly as snow on higher terrain, rain on low-to-middle elevations, may turn to sleet or rain higher up.
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.
Snow and rain mix
Precipitation falling mostly as snow on higher terrain, rain on low-to-middle elevations, may turn to sleet or rain higher up.
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
Friday 21st November 2025
Last updated
Thu 20th Nov 25 at
4:00PM
Summary for all mountain areas
Terrain widely frozen after hard frost; snow cover across much upland terrain, or more substantial to lower slopes northern Highlands. A front moves into Scotland, snow then rain in west, cloud lowering. Elsewhere dry, sunshine weakening. Wind strengthening to gale force Scottish mountains.
Headline for The Northwest Highlands
Soon upland gales. Snow turning to rain moving in from west.
How windy? (On the Munros)
Southwesterly, strengthening rapidly from dawn, soonest near coast, to be in range 35 to 50mph, briefly nearer 60mph more northern mountains. Starting to ease into night.
Effect of the wind on you?
Conditions deteriorate quickly in the morning, to give difficult walking and significant wind chill; gusts may knock you off your feet in exposed spots.
How Wet?
Snow becoming rain from west
Substantial snow cover over most mountains, to lower slopes many areas. Dry start, then during morning snow flurries start to push inland across western mountains, becoming persistent. Increasingly rain to higher elevations in west coastal areas, heavier afternoon. Turning to rain higher up inland later.
Cloud on the hills?
Patchy, then more extensive from west
Prior to snow/rain, just patchy cloud on various slopes, some clearer areas. With time, cloud lowering and filling in across the hills above 600-800m, soonest toward Skye. More broken eastwards even up to dusk.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
60% dropping to 20% west
Sunshine and air clarity?
Any weak early sun soon obscured by thickening high cloud, becoming overcast. Visibility starts excellent, for longest in east, but reducing to poor in rain, very poor in snow.
How Cold? (at 900m)
-2C, rising to 0C, up to +1 or 2C near west coast later daytime, then inland after dark. In stronger wind feeling like -15C.
Freezing Level
Terrain frozen inland to lower slopes, but a rise of freezing level in west toward 800m, most rapid near coast; from dusk lifting just above freezing widely higher up.
Viewing Forecast For
The Northwest Highlands
Saturday 22nd November 2025
Last updated
Thu 20th Nov 25 at
4:00PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
Westerly 20 to 25mph, often strongest northern tops. May become more variable toward and beyond dusk for a time.
Effect of the wind on you?
Feeling noticeably breezy with marked wind chill; may start to affect balance on the most exposed ridges.
How Wet?
Showery rain west coast, snow inland tops
Showery conditions most frequent near to western coasts, here mostly rain toward higher slopes, but showers that push inland falling as snow above 800-900m. Drier eastward.
Cloud on the hills?
Fairly extensive, lowest west
Covering higher mountains most or all day, often shrouding western areas above 800m, sometimes 600m on and near Skye. Highest breaks around Ben Wyvis.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
30%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Brief glimpses of sun mostly east. Visibility very good locally below cloud and where dry, but reduced in showers, poor if in snow or constant rain.
How Cold? (at 900m)
0 or 1C inland, up to 2C coasts and Skye. Feeling like -7C directly in the wind.
Freezing Level
900 to 1100m, typically highest near to west coast; some lower terrain furthest inland may remain partly frozen.
Viewing Forecast For
The Northwest Highlands
Sunday 23rd November 2025
Last updated
Thu 20th Nov 25 at
4:00PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
Uncertain forecast detail: Likely easterly in range 25 to 35mph, possibly 40mph mainly south; very gusty in places.
Effect of the wind on you?
Expect blustery conditions, risk considerable buffeting and wind chill over some mountains.
How Wet?
Patchy rain or hill snow
Most likely small amounts of precipitation, a few local showers, of snow above 700-800m. May be more frequent at times eastern hills, little toward Skye.
Cloud on the hills?
Varied, breaks west
Covering many higher slopes, most persistent around Ben Wyvis to Ben Hope, in places to 600m at times. Further west, cloud higher and more broken at times to upper slopes.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
30%
Sunshine and air clarity?
A little weak sun mostly west. Visibility very good where dry, reduced if in showers.
How Cold? (at 900m)
Around 0C. Feeling like -10 to -15C if exposed to stronger wind.
Freezing Level
800 to 1000m, plus locally frost lower down in the morning.
Planning Outlook
Changes into the weekend as less cold Atlantic air moves in, but higher mountain terrain at least in Scotland staying frozen with snow cover. A complex area of low pressure circulates over Britain through the weekend, retreating to leave briefly northeasterly winds by Monday; areas of rain and some upland snow, mainly Scotland and high tops in northern England. Winds will vary markedly, some lulls, but risk periods of gales. A brief ridge of high pressure gives a lull by Tuesday, then a shift to milder southwesterlies is likely to bring spells of rain and some thawing to higher levels.