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
Light wind, negligible impact
Little wind or walking hardly affected by the wind, but feeling chilly if exposed on tops. 10-15mph or less.
Winter sunshine
Bright sunshine most of the day with the mountains generally free of cloud. Snow cover on higher terrain.
Clear
Excellent or superb visibility, no navigation issues.
Cool to mild
Air temperature 5 to 10C on higher terrain. Comfortable temperatures on lower terrain, but feeling chilly if exposed to wind higher up, especially if stationary. Pack extra layers.
Click an icon for more information or click here for a key to all icons.
Light wind, negligible impact
Little wind or walking hardly affected by the wind, but feeling chilly if exposed on tops. 10-15mph or less.
Winter sunshine
Bright sunshine most of the day with the mountains generally free of cloud. Snow cover on higher terrain.
Clear
Excellent or superb visibility, no navigation issues.
Cool to mild
Air temperature 5 to 10C on higher terrain. Comfortable temperatures on lower terrain, but feeling chilly if exposed to wind higher up, especially if stationary. Pack extra layers.
Viewing Forecast For
The Northwest Highlands
Sunday 28th December 2025
Last updated
Sat 27th Dec 25 at
2:40PM
Summary for all mountain areas
High pressure brings dry and sunny conditions to the Highlands with little wind and the mountains clear, although some fog in the glens. Elsewhere, an east wind will continue to feed cloud into the Scottish Borders, N Pennines, and east Wales with scope for spots of drizzle. Still dry and sunny toward west coast.
Headline for The Northwest Highlands
Light winds with sun and mountains clear, above patchy fog. Terrain mostly frozen.
How windy? (On the Munros)
North to northeasterly or variable, 10mph or less.
Effect of the wind on you?
Small
How Wet?
Dry all day
Cloud on the hills?
Little if any
Fog patches some glens. Possible thin cloud banks drifting onto coastal slopes in north and west around 600-700m. Otherwise the mountains clear.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
90%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Mostly sunny, partly cloudy coastal areas. Visibility excellent.
How Cold? (at 900m)
3C, inversion conditions - hills warmer than lower slopes all day - up to 5C highest summits.
Freezing Level
Frost in glens and lower slopes, also in some upland hollows and corries, all day out of sunlight; above freezing on tops.
Viewing Forecast For
The Northwest Highlands
Monday 29th December 2025
Last updated
Sat 27th Dec 25 at
2:40PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
Northeast 15 to 25mph, may be calm over tops early in day above inversion, before wind picks up as inversion breaks down.
Effect of the wind on you?
Mostly small, but considerable wind chill where exposed to the wind.
How Wet?
A little patchy precipitation from cloud
Mostly dry, but scope for a little patchy spots of light rain or snow grains from the banks of low cloud.
Cloud on the hills?
Cloud banks, tops initially clear above.
Cloud banks from 500-1000m, highest tops may be clear for a time, before banks lift onto all higher terrain above 700m. Clearer Skye/Wester Ross.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
70% on and near Skye. 30% elsewhere.
Sunshine and air clarity?
Cloudiest in north and east, clearer with sunshine in southwest. Visibility mostly very good, away from any precipitation.
How Cold? (at 900m)
Around 0C
Freezing Level
Morning frost in glens/corries and initially tops above inversion, plus 2C, but turning colder on tops as freezing level stabilises around 700-900m during afternoon.
Viewing Forecast For
The Northwest Highlands
Tuesday 30th December 2025
Last updated
Sat 27th Dec 25 at
2:40PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
Northerly 15 to 30mph, strongest up towards Ben Hope.
Effect of the wind on you?
Blustery at times with considerable wind chill.
How Wet?
Snow flurries, mainly north.
A few snow flurries from Ben Hope down to Ben Wyvis. Otherwise, dry. Into the night, chance of a weak cold front edging south with a narrow band of light snow.
Cloud on the hills?
Patches or banks, mainly in the north.
Patches of banks of low cloud on upper slopes from 700m upwards. Mostly across northern areas and perhaps also on Skye. Little elsewhere.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
40% north, 70% south.
Sunshine and air clarity?
Broken cloud and sun, best sun in the south. Visibility very good, away from any snow flurries.
How Cold? (at 900m)
-3C
Freezing Level
Terrain frozen from lower slopes upwards, with frost into the glens in morning.
Planning Outlook
Early next week, high pressure still dominates, but generally colder air becoming entrained into its circulation from the north, which sees lower temperatures on high terrain. Small amounts of precipitation, occasional showers or snow flurries. Later in the week, a stronger and colder northerly may develop with snow and hail showers becoming frequent in the north and down coastal extremities elsewhere.