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.)
Saturday'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
Saturday 24th January 2026
Last updated
Fri 23rd Jan 26 at
3:35PM
Summary for all mountain areas
Gales widely across high terrain, strongest sustained speeds over Wales. Snowfall continues over east and southeast Scottish Highlands mountains, whiteout on higher terrain; rain lower down. Largely dry and clearer further northwest. Clearer also for the Lake District. Rain frequent in south Wales.
Headline for The Northwest Highlands
Gales, very gusty. Patchy snow east/north, clearer west.
How windy? (On the Munros)
East to southeasterly 35 to 50mph, powerful gusts downslope to the west.
Effect of the wind on you?
Challenging conditions; walking and balance difficult in exposed areas, buffeting gusts lower down; severe wind chill.
How Wet?
Snow mostly northeast hills
Snow flurries mostly eastern hills, sleet or rain lower slopes toward east coast; more frequent or persistent near/north of Dornoch Firth. Very little across most west coast mountains.
Cloud on the hills?
Most persistent northeast, breaks west
Covering eastern hills from Ben Hope to Ben Wyvis most or all day, to mid-slopes or lower near to North Sea. Higher and more broken cloud west and southwest toward Skye and Torridon, at times clearing tops.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
20% east/north, to 50% near Skye.
Sunshine and air clarity?
Glimpses of weak sun west coast, where visibility good below cloud, though some haze. Otherwise cloudy, poor visibility where in snow locally in east.
How Cold? (at 900m)
-1 or -2C inland, north and east, up to +1C coastal tops around Skye. Directly in the wind feeling like -15 to -18C.
Freezing Level
500-600m in east & northern areas, higher toward Wester Ross and Skye, 800m or above freezing to upper slopes on some coastal mountains.
Viewing Forecast For
The Northwest Highlands
Sunday 25th January 2026
Last updated
Fri 23rd Jan 26 at
3:35PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
East to southeasterly, speed tending to lessen during day, in range 30 to 50mph, very gusty in west.
Effect of the wind on you?
Challenging walking conditions may persist over much higher terrain, buffeting gusts lower down. Significant wind chill
How Wet?
Intermittent hill snow northeast
Snow flurries mostly east and northernmost areas, sleet or rain lower elevations. Small amounts or often dry Wester Ross to Skye.
Cloud on the hills?
Fairly extensive, breaks west
Often covering many high tops, lowest cloud base eastern areas from Ben Hope to Ben Wyvis. Some breaks higher up near to western coasts, Skye to Torridon.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
30%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Glimpses of sun mostly west coastal areas where visibility good. Hazier north/east, poorer in snow/rain.
How Cold? (at 900m)
-1 or -2C, but locally up to +1C some west coast higher terrain, including Skye. Feeling like -10 to -15C in the wind.
Freezing Level
600m or slightly lower in some northeastern areas, but nearer 800m further west, locally higher west coast.
Viewing Forecast For
The Northwest Highlands
Monday 26th January 2026
Last updated
Fri 23rd Jan 26 at
3:35PM
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 Kintail, Easter Ross, and Caithness, bases reaching middle slopes during snow. More broken on the west coast, typically on 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)
-3C. Feeling like -15 to -20C in direct wind.
Freezing Level
400-500m. Frost in inland glens in the morning as well.
Planning Outlook
East to southeasterlies continue onward into next week, frequently strong to gale-force over the mountains, giving severe chill factor. Below freezing across high terrain in Scotland, and into early next week a lowering freezing level over hills in England and Wales. Frequent or persistent snowfall over east and southern Scottish mountains. Patchier and small amounts reaching coastal regions in west-northwest Scotland. Areas of rain and increasingly hill snow push across England and Wales as low pressure remains dominant. Low cloud often covering many hills.