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.)
Monday's Forecast
Windy, walking impeded
Blustery conditions enough to give buffeting on higher terrain or affect balance on exposed ridges. 25 to 40mph.
Patchy rain or drizzle
Rain on and off, or generally drizzly - total amounts small, but may be persistently damp, especially where hills are shrouded in cloud.
Hazy, some fog banks
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Visibility reduced around cloud banks, hazier on some lower slopes. Locally some improvements possible out of cloud.
Chilly
Air temperature typically 0 to 5C on higher summits. Feeling distinctly chilly on tops when stationary or where exposed to wind. Take appropriate layers.
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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.
Patchy rain or drizzle
Rain on and off, or generally drizzly - total amounts small, but may be persistently damp, especially where hills are shrouded in cloud.
Hazy, some fog banks
Visibility reduced around cloud banks, hazier on some lower slopes. Locally some improvements possible out of cloud.
Chilly
Air temperature typically 0 to 5C on higher summits. Feeling distinctly chilly on tops when stationary or where exposed to wind. Take appropriate layers.
Viewing Forecast For
The Northwest Highlands
Monday 22nd December 2025
Last updated
Sun 21st Dec 25 at
4:30PM
Summary for all mountain areas
Strong and gusty SE'ly winds. Rain fairly widely across the Highlands in the morning, easing but leaving patchy drizzle and low cloud shrouding the hills. Low cloud and some drizzly rain for England and Wales, but some breaks for the Lakes, also clearing conditions moving into south Wales.
Headline for The Northwest Highlands
Windy, gusty. Rain pushing northwestwards, low cloud.
How windy? (On the Munros)
Southeasterly 30 to 40mph; gusty over the tops and downslope, strongest gusts reach 50mph in the north; lessening a little from the south during afternoon.
Effect of the wind on you?
Arduous conditions for several hours, sudden strong gusts will challenge balance. Significant wind chill.
How Wet?
Rain for several hours, then drizzly
Widespread rain and drizzle arrives from the southeast early morning, becoming fairly persistent for a few hours most areas, pushing northwestward, tending to ease off during afternoon, but leaving patchy drizzle, most on eastern hills.
Cloud on the hills?
Varied, lowest east, breaks west coast
Fairly extensive banks at varying heights, lowest in the rain and eastern slopes. Briefly clearer around dawn some west coast areas. Then later as rain clears, very disorganised cloud banks, ragged patches clinging to forest canopies for a time; clearest hills northwest coast.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
20%, to 40% toward west coast
Sunshine and air clarity?
Mainly overcast. Rain will often limit visibility through the day, though if locally drier at first, very good visibility near west coast.
How Cold? (at 900m)
3 or 4C, warmest in the northwest. Feeling closer to -10C where exposed to the strongest winds.
Freezing Level
Above the summits
Viewing Forecast For
The Northwest Highlands
Tuesday 23rd December 2025
Last updated
Sun 21st Dec 25 at
4:30PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
Southerly or variable 10 to 25mph.
Effect of the wind on you?
Fairly small, local lulls, though some uncomfortable gusty spots possible.
How Wet?
A little rain on and off
Periods of patchy rain for most mountains, likely more frequent on hills nearest the west coast, but total amounts likely small.
Cloud on the hills?
Varied cloud banks, lowest in rain
Cloud often capping tops, some higher breaks, best inland north areas. During rain, bases lower to 700-900m, most persistent Skye and nearby mountains; some lower banks too including patchy fog in the glens.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
30%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Some glimpses of weak sun possible inland and north. Good visibility but variable as rain comes and goes, some haze east.
How Cold? (at 900m)
2 to 4C, may lower slightly from north later.
Freezing Level
Above the summits, may drop to 1000m later in day.
Viewing Forecast For
The Northwest Highlands
Wednesday 24th December 2025
Last updated
Sun 21st Dec 25 at
4:30PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
Variable, generally easterly or southerly, 10mph or less.
Effect of the wind on you?
Negligible
How Wet?
No rain expected
Cloud on the hills?
Patches on middle-upper slopes
Patchy cloud clinging to slopes between 800-1000m, will variably come and go for most areas, many slopes often cloud free. A chance of morning fog in the glens as well.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
60%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Often sunny on higher and low terrain, sun more variable at middle elevations. Very good visibility though a slight haze.
How Cold? (at 900m)
0 or +1C at dawn, rising a degree or two.
Freezing Level
Around 1000m, though frost likely inland glens at dawn. Lifting above the summits.
Planning Outlook
Cloud and patchy rain lingers early this week, then a slow change to drier and chiller weather into the Christmas period as high pressure builds to the north. Easterly winds will be dominant, the strongest winds in England and Wales. Cloud may be fairly sheet-like in the east sometimes, though variably more extensive or broken, best northwest. The coldest air will reach England and Wales on the easterly wind with freezing levels reaching as low as 400-600m in Wales, staying slightly warmer in northern Scotland with some inversion conditions likely over higher terrain; frost into glens.