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.)
Today's Forecast
Windy, walking impeded
Blustery conditions enough to give buffeting on higher terrain or affect balance on exposed ridges. 25 to 40mph.
Patchy cloud and winter sun
Mostly dry with a mix of cloud and sun, patchy cloud occasionally covering some mountain slopes.
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.
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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Windy, walking impeded
Blustery conditions enough to give buffeting on higher terrain or affect balance on exposed ridges. 25 to 40mph.
Patchy cloud and winter sun
Mostly dry with a mix of cloud and sun, patchy cloud occasionally covering some mountain slopes.
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.
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
Tuesday 20th January 2026
Last updated
Mon 19th Jan 26 at
4:30PM
Summary for all mountain areas
Strong southeasterlies, gusting gale-force Scottish mountains, strengthening widely. Gales all day for Wales, severe on high tops, increasingly northern England also. Some light rain and hill snow flurries, mostly eastern Scotland, fading with rising cloud base. Heavier rain develops in south Wales.
Headline for The Northwest Highlands
Windy, strengthening. Largely dry, patchy cloud.
How windy? (On the Munros)
Southeasterly 25 to 35mph, tending to strengthen around Skye, often 40mph high tops, very gusty in places including downslope to north. By dusk onward widely reaching 50mph.
Effect of the wind on you?
Affecting comfortable walking and making balance challenging on exposed ridges, particularly Skye; marked wind chill. Deteriorating further up to and beyond dusk.
How Wet?
Often dry, rare light rain, snow on tops
Small amounts of patchy of rain moving northwards, snow flurries mostly above 800-900m. Small amounts most western areas north of Torridon, often dry all day.
Cloud on the hills?
Varied, better northwest
Banks of cloud persistent over hills inland, toward east and the Great Glen, often above 800m, some patchy lower banks. Best breaks near to coasts Ullapool north, many hills often clearing.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
30%, to 70% northwest
Sunshine and air clarity?
Glimpses of weak sun mostly northwest coastal areas. Visibility good toward north/northwest, hazier around Skye.
How Cold? (at 900m)
0 to 2C. Wind chill feeling near -10C, later in day nearer -15C.
Freezing Level
900 to 1000m, higher northwards. Patchy slight frost some lower slopes.
Viewing Forecast For
The Northwest Highlands
Wednesday 21st January 2026
Last updated
Mon 19th Jan 26 at
4:30PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
Southeasterly 40 to 50mph, in places 60mph, powerful gusts downslope to some lower terrain in the west.
Effect of the wind on you?
Challenging conditions widely, walking difficult in exposure on high terrain. Significant wind chill.
How Wet?
Rain most frequent eastern hills
Rain mostly over eastern areas, snow falling above 800-900m. Intermittent rain extending westwards, but small amounts much of the west coast.
Cloud on the hills?
Most persistent east, breaks west coast
Often covering eastern hills from Ben Hope to Ben Wyvis, from some mid-slopes up; patchier cloud westwards, but capping tops on and off at least; clearer near Torridon.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
50%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Glimpses of weak sun mostly near west coast, where visibility very good, reduced around rain further east.
How Cold? (at 900m)
0 to 2C, highest near west coast. Wind chill feeling like -10 to -15C where exposed on higher areas.
Freezing Level
900 to 1000m, but likely just above freezing to higher tops near west coast.
Viewing Forecast For
The Northwest Highlands
Thursday 22nd January 2026
Last updated
Mon 19th Jan 26 at
4:30PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
East to southeasterly 50 to 60mph, in places 70mph around high mountains; powerful gusts downslope toward west.
Effect of the wind on you?
Difficult conditions, mobility challenging and gusts may knock you over not just on highest terrain. Severe wind chill.
How Wet?
Snow mostly northeast
In eastern areas, snow to increasingly lower elevations, frequent or may be persistent Easter Ross up to Ben Hope. Further west, odd spots or flurries in the wind, but often dry toward Skye.
Cloud on the hills?
Fairly extensive, more broken west
Low cloud banks likely to cover many eastern hills, some drifting over higher slopes further westwards, best breaks toward Skye and coastal Wester Ross.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
30%
Sunshine and air clarity?
A little weak sun west coast, good visibility toward Skye, cloudier north and east and rather hazy, poor visibility if in snow.
How Cold? (at 900m)
-2C in east and north, but some upper slopes near west coast up to +2C. Wind chill feels as cold as -15 to -20C.
Freezing Level
Variable in west, just above freezing to tops near coast, but 600-800m inland and east, may drop widely below 600m.
Planning Outlook
Strong east to southeasterlies continue beyond midweek, sustained gales over most mountains with powerful gusts downslope toward west. Near or just below freezing on higher tops - colder air is likely to move into Scotland at least late in the week, much mountain terrain then frozen with severe chill factor. Scope for substantial snowfalls over eastern Scottish hills later this week. Sleet or snow mostly higher tops in England and Wales, may fall lower over the weekend. Low cloud often covering many hills across Britain, clearer and drier toward western coasts. Circulating low pressure and cold air likely into next week, with further snowfalls likely.