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.)
Tuesday'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.
Patchwork of cloud and sun
Dry most or all day. A mix of cloud and sunshine. Occasional cloud banks drifting over higher slopes, lifting above the tops.
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.
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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.
Patchwork of cloud and sun
Dry most or all day. A mix of cloud and sunshine. Occasional cloud banks drifting over higher slopes, lifting above the tops.
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
Tuesday 7th April 2026
Last updated
Mon 6th Apr 26 at
3:56PM
Summary for all mountain areas
Patchy mist in some sheltered valleys at dawn, soon dissipating for sunshine and cloud-free hills, locally hazy. Mild temperatures, including to summits, particularly Wales where summits may be several degrees warmer than mid-slopes. High cloud builds, thickest north and west, some rain northwest Scotland later.
Headline for The Northwest Highlands
Gales with powerful gusts; clear hills but high cloud building
How windy? (On the Munros)
Southerly 30 to 50mph, locally very variable but strongest in the west/Skye. Powerful gusts likely, not just on the higher slopes, and may more widely approach 40-60mph for a few hours.
Effect of the wind on you?
Challenging conditions over the Cuillin all day, likely more widely challenging for several hours, though a few periods where effects less severe in the east. Sudden buffeting gusts at all heights.
How Wet?
Rain arriving onto Skye and west coast afternoon into evening
Patchy rain begins pushing onto Skye afternoon, mostly spots from high cloud, gradually setting in and reaching other west coastal areas with time, a risk of a heavy burst too. By evening onward, more persistent rain setting in along the coast, patchy inland and east, if any.
Cloud on the hills?
Little if any much of day
Patchy mist some glens at first. The mountains generally clear much of the day, but later some cloud banks form on and near Skye, mainly south Cuillin, filling in further by evening onward into night; inland Munros likely clear until nightfall.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
90%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Bright sunshine early in the day, high cloud around, this thickening with time, to mostly block the sun by later afternoon. Visibility excellent; Skye may be hazier.
How Cold? (at 900m)
7 or 8C from dawn, rising to 10 to 12C, mildest in the north. Only little change with added height. Directly in the stronger wind, feeling below freezing, in places nearer to -5C.
Freezing Level
Above the summits. Possible slight frost some sheltered inland glens at dawn, most likely south.
Viewing Forecast For
The Northwest Highlands
Wednesday 8th April 2026
Last updated
Mon 6th Apr 26 at
3:56PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
South to southwesterly 15 to 25mph, strongest west coast and strengthening, 35-45mph, 50mph gusts Cuillin later.
Effect of the wind on you?
Fairly small eastern areas for many hours, but more blustery west, likely to become more gusty and challenging with time.
How Wet?
Mostly dry, patchy rain later
A little patchy rain, an odd showery burst possible, small amounts. Late in the day, patchy rain returns to Skye, and more widely into night.
Cloud on the hills?
Some patches, lowering later west
Patchy cloud some slopes at varied heights from dawn, becoming confined to higher tops, tending to break. Banks cling to the upper Cuillin slopes, but tops may be just above the cloud later. Later, likely lowering more extensively from west, soonest Skye.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
50%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Occasional sun mostly around midday hours in the north; a veil of high cloud thickens again later. Visibility excellent.
How Cold? (at 900m)
2 to 5C, coolest near the west coast, and may warm a degree in the east. Later feeling like -10C in wind.
Freezing Level
Above the summits.
Viewing Forecast For
The Northwest Highlands
Thursday 9th April 2026
Last updated
Mon 6th Apr 26 at
3:56PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
A gusty westerly 20-30mph, a risk of stronger wind later in the day with a slight northwesterly shift.
Effect of the wind on you?
Walking inconvenienced in exposure, feeling chilly with occasional stability challenges, particularly later.
How Wet?
Morning rain followed by showers
A band of rain passes east across all areas through morning, locally heavy on the west coast, followed by showers, falling as snow to 500m, some hail mixed in too, the showers gradually easing in intensity.
Cloud on the hills?
Coming and going on high terrain
Extensive from dawn to at least middle slopes, lower in the west. As rain eases, cloud lifts and breaks to mostly above 800m, clear summits at times, but returning in showers; west coastal hills most often covered, locally to 600m in showers.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
Rising to 50%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Bursts of bright sunshine between showers. Very good visibility.
How Cold? (at 900m)
-1C most of the day, may vary by a degree. Feeling like -10C in direct wind.
Freezing Level
Lowering from overnight, 1000m at dawn, gradually lowering further, to 700-800m.
Planning Outlook
Variable temperature in the near term: warm on Wednesday for England & Wales at least, becoming cooler over western Scotland as a cold front sweeps eastward; more widely cooler Thursday with freezing temperatures on high terrain and snow showers; milder by Friday with some sun in England and Wales, settling on near-average temperatures over the weekend. A changeable mix of weather during this period with some rain and showers with snow or hail on the hills, and often windy late week into the weekend in Scotland. More settled England and Wales but a few windy, wet spells will affect these areas too. Into the following week, first indications of high pressure building, winds shifted easterly brining some rain to eastern areas but often sunny with lighter wind and near-average temperatures.