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.
Snow flurries
Occasional light snow flurries, sleet or rain lower elevations. Amounts little more than nuisance value, but locally more persistent and reducing visibility for periods.
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 flurries
Occasional light snow flurries, sleet or rain lower elevations. Amounts little more than nuisance value, but locally more persistent and reducing visibility for periods.
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
Sunday 25th January 2026
Last updated
Sat 24th Jan 26 at
4:05PM
Summary for all mountain areas
Blustery for most, gales in Scotland which will be severe on high tops early. Continued snow and local whiteout conditions on high terrain in east Scotland, snowdrifts build here. Often raining over the Pennines and south Wales, more intermittent in north Wales and Lakeland (sleet or snow on high summits).
Headline for The Northwest Highlands
Gales, severe early; snow flurries north/east
How windy? (On the Munros)
East to southeasterly, 45-55mph over high tops early, risk reaching 60mph over southern high summits. An easing trend with time, 35-40mph, some gustiness.
Effect of the wind on you?
Challenging walking conditions may persist over much higher terrain; conditions easing with time, but walking remains arduous with balance challenges during daylight. Significant wind chill
How Wet?
Intermittent hill snow north
Snow flurries mostly east and northern areas, at times reaching Ben Hope; sleet or rain to lower elevations, but increasingly turning to snow. Small amounts or largely dry Wester Ross to Skye.
Cloud on the hills?
Fairly extensive inland and east, breaks west
Covering most high terrain from Ben Hope to Ben Wyvis, persistent low bases to 600-700m on eastern slopes and locally lower in snow. Bases mostly on high terrain towards the west coast with breaks, particularly Skye/Torridon.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
30%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Glimpses of sun in west coastal areas, best on lower slopes in the morning. Hazier north/east, poor visibility in snow/rain.
How Cold? (at 900m)
-1 or -2C, but locally up to +1C some west coast higher terrain, including Skye, though these areas lowing to 0C or lower into night. Feeling near -15C in the wind, colder early.
Freezing Level
Around 600m northeastern areas, nearer 700-800m west, perhaps to summits on Skye. Lowering to 600-700m overnight, always highest west.
Viewing Forecast For
The Northwest Highlands
Monday 26th January 2026
Last updated
Sat 24th Jan 26 at
4:05PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
Southeasterly 30-35mph, soon strengthening, reaching a sustained 50-55mph with powerful gusts overnight.
Effect of the wind on you?
Walking soon becomes challenging with buffeting making balance difficult in exposure. Severe wind chill.
How Wet?
Local light snow
Patchy light snow will drift into Caithness with some spots in the wind drifting further west. Some patches may reach Kintail as well. The west coast likely remains dry.
Cloud on the hills?
Higher bases and broken west coast
Cloud often shrouding the high terrain of Easter Ross and Caithness, bases reaching middle slopes during snow. More broken south and west coast, mostly just high terrain. Cloud confined to high terrain on Skye, some breaks to summits may occur.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
30%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Often bright or sunny along the west coast, high cloud arriving to the south with time. Very good visibility here too, poorer east where in cloud/snow.
How Cold? (at 900m)
-2 or -3C. Feeling like -15 to -20C in direct wind.
Freezing Level
400-500m, locally up to 600m Skye/Torridon. Local frost in some inland glens in the morning as well.
Viewing Forecast For
The Northwest Highlands
Tuesday 27th January 2026
Last updated
Sat 24th Jan 26 at
4:05PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
East-southeasterly 55-65mph, soon rising, reaching sustained speeds of 75mph+ with powerful gusts.
Effect of the wind on you?
Widely difficult conditions - mobility likely only by crawling in full force of wind and gusts. Severe wind chill.
How Wet?
Snow inland and east slopes
Snow on and off on eastern slopes from Ben Wyvis to Ben Hope. Only wind-blown snow reaching Wester Ross and Skye, very little if any towards the coast.
Cloud on the hills?
Breaks to high terrain near west coast
Cloud shrouds high terrain from Ben Wyvis to Ben Hope most or all day, and likely Skye too - bases reaching to middle slopes during snow. Higher bases and often broken towards coastal Wester Ross, some summits may see clear periods.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
20% inland/east, up to 40% west.
Sunshine and air clarity?
Mostly cloudy, some bright periods on low western terrain. Good visibility, though suddenly poor during snowfalls.
How Cold? (at 900m)
-3C, a degree warmer Skye/west coast slopes. Feeling like -18 to -23C in strongest wind.
Freezing Level
400-500m. Highest freezing levels on slopes near the west coast.
Planning Outlook
An unsettled week ahead: a dominance of low pressure will bring periods of wet weather and gales (at times severe), to all areas. Winds will be predominantly east-southeasterly, particularly in Scotland, maintaining the cold air with freezing levels consistently to middle or lower slopes - wind chills will be severe. A near-term risk of flooding in the eastern highlands. Wind direction will be more variable in England and Wales, at times shifting south-southwesterly and drawing in milder air, brining freezing levels to upper slopes or even above the high summits. Low cloud often covering many hills with only local sunny breaks here and there.