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
Moderate breeze, locally gusty
A noticeable breeze, feeling cool where exposed on tops. Locally may be gusty, but unlikely to affect walking progress. 15-25mph.
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.
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.
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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Moderate breeze, locally gusty
A noticeable breeze, feeling cool where exposed on tops. Locally may be gusty, but unlikely to affect walking progress. 15-25mph.
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.
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.
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 1st February 2026
Last updated
Sat 31st Jan 26 at
4:30PM
Summary for all mountain areas
Extensive low cloud and patchy areas of rain, or snow on higher mountains, merging into more constant precipitation from the west over England, Wales and southwest Scotland. Driest conditions for the coastal northwest Highlands. Improving afternoon for Wales. Variable winds, dropping fairly light Highlands.
Headline for The Northwest Highlands
Wind easing. Local rain north, possible showers Skye, varied cloud.
How windy? (On the Munros)
Southeasterly, in morning 35mph north, 20-25mph towards Skye, gusty in places especially northwest of high tops. An easing trend, notably south, toward 10mph Skye and Wester Ross afternoon.
Effect of the wind on you?
Walking strenuous in exposure in the north early in day with significant wind chill, but improving, becoming small in south.
How Wet?
Rain mostly northeast, later southwest
Patchy rain onto eastern hills, most frequent Caithness to Ben Hope. Only spotty precipitation west. Occasional showery rain arrives to Skye afternoon, patches later drifting into Wester Ross, but dry much of day west coast.
Cloud on the hills?
Most high terrain, breaks west
Cloud covers the high terrain of most inland and eastern mountains, the lowest bases east down to middle slopes. Broken and higher bases west coast, some summit breaks north of Torridon, cloudier southwest with time.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
50% west, lowering to 30% widely
Sunshine and air clarity?
Some glimpses of sun towards west coast, mostly cloudy elsewhere. Good visibility out of cloud, poor in precipitation.
How Cold? (at 900m)
0 or 1C, highest temperatures on the west coastal hills. Feeling like -10 to -13C in the wind.
Freezing Level
900-1000m, highest level near the west coast toward north where just above freezing point on some higher slopes.
Viewing Forecast For
The Northwest Highlands
Monday 2nd February 2026
Last updated
Sat 31st Jan 26 at
4:30PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
Southeasterly 25-40mph, strongest north and later strengthening in the south too. Gusty, top speeds to 45-50mph.
Effect of the wind on you?
Fairly small in the south early, deteriorating, becoming strenuous-to-arduous with significant wind chill.
How Wet?
Western hills dry, rain/snow northeast
Showery rain drifts into Caithness and Ben Hope area from the east much of the day, snow above 700m later 500m. Snow flurries may reach further inland with time, but west coast Munros stay dry.
Cloud on the hills?
Mostly high terrain, lowest north and east
Cloud caps the high inland and east hills much of the day, lowest bases around Caithness/Ben Hope, to mid-slopes or lower during precipitation. Well broken towards Skye, clearing summits at times.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
30%, to 60% Skye
Sunshine and air clarity?
Most sun on the west coast, particularly Skye, some cloud building with time. Very good visibility out of precipitation.
How Cold? (at 900m)
-1 or -2C. Typically higher on the west coast, 0 or +1C around Skye. Feeling like -10 to -15C in the wind.
Freezing Level
Starting 800 to 1000m, highest in west; dropping during day from east toward 600m, from dusk 400-500m in east.
Viewing Forecast For
The Northwest Highlands
Tuesday 3rd February 2026
Last updated
Sat 31st Jan 26 at
4:30PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
Easterly 35 to 50mph, very gusty in places around higher mountains and downslope west of high terrain.
Effect of the wind on you?
Challenging walking conditions over exposed terrain, gusts knocking you off balance; significant wind chill.
How Wet?
Snow mostly east and north
Snow frequent or persistent eastern hills from Ben Wyvis area up to Ben Hope. Further west, rarer flurries, often dry Skye and coast near Torridon.
Cloud on the hills?
Most persistent east, breaks west
Covering much higher eastern terrain above 600m, 800m further inland, but often higher and more broken westwards, but grazing higher slopes for periods.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
40%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Glimpses of sun mainly near Skye, where visibility mostly good. Very poor if in snow and cloud east/north.
How Cold? (at 900m)
-4C north and east, to -1C near west coast. Wind chill feeling like -15 to -18C.
Freezing Level
300-400m Caithness to Easter Ross, up to 600m more western areas, or locally varied higher up nearest to west coast.
Planning Outlook
Southeast then easterly winds will prevail during the week ahead, strong to gale force over many hills for sustained periods. From Monday into Tuesday onward, colder air temperature and lower freezing level again, leaving mountain terrain widely frozen from mid-elevations upward, or to lower slopes in eastern Scotland. Further snow will affect eastern mountains, with additional accumulations and drifting. Some periods of hill snow for England and Wales into midweek. Cold easterly patterns are expected to continue onward into mid February, though higher pressure to the north may see reduced precipitation amounts, always driest with highest cloud in west.