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.
Snow and hail showers
Periods of bright or sunny conditions mixed with showers or flurries of snow and hail. Visibility may change rapidly from excellent to very poor.
Whiteout
Fog and lying snow over the mountains, possibly with falling or blowing snow, very disorientating. Map and compass essential, beware of unseen hazards.
Very cold
Significant wintry conditions - below freezing from lower elevations up all day, -7 or -8C highest summits, feeling like -20C or below on high tops due to wind chill. Frostbite and hypothermia risk. Substantial protective clothing is required.
Snowdrifts
Considerable lying snow over the mountains, with substantial drifting in places.
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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.
Snow and hail showers
Periods of bright or sunny conditions mixed with showers or flurries of snow and hail. Visibility may change rapidly from excellent to very poor.
Whiteout
Fog and lying snow over the mountains, possibly with falling or blowing snow, very disorientating. Map and compass essential, beware of unseen hazards.
Very cold
Significant wintry conditions - below freezing from lower elevations up all day, -7 or -8C highest summits, feeling like -20C or below on high tops due to wind chill. Frostbite and hypothermia risk. Substantial protective clothing is required.
Snowdrifts
Considerable lying snow over the mountains, with substantial drifting in places.
Viewing Forecast For
The Northwest Highlands
Monday 5th January 2026
Last updated
Sun 4th Jan 26 at
4:15PM
Summary for all mountain areas
Cold northerlies continue; significant chill factor over mountains, though speeds less than recent days. All terrain frozen; snow cover widely in Highlands, substantial in north, further showers of snow and hail. Showers continue to feed into N/W Wales. Largely dry with sun and broken cloud N England/S Scotland.
Headline for The Northwest Highlands
Cold brisk wind, further snow and hail.
How windy? (On the Munros)
Northerly 25-30mph, shifting northwesterly afternoon, squally gusts in showers, and average speeds a little higher for periods through dusk, 35mph many areas onward into the night.
Effect of the wind on you?
Significant wind chill on higher terrain, where walking conditions will be strenuous with buffeting at times in exposure.
How Wet?
Snow and hail showers; snow and west coast rain into night
Snow showers coming in from the north, frequent at times, snow falling to sea level, also hail. Extensive snow cover on the ground with frequent whiteout conditions on tops. Fewer showers toward Great Glen. Drier near Skye around dusk. Then into night, persistent snow (or rain to mid-slopes near west coast) moves in from west.
Cloud on the hills?
Varying over tops, clearer south
Variable cloud base, often capping hills above 800-900m, shafts of cloud to 600m in showers. Some brief breaks to upper slopes though these fleeting, best near Kintail. Becoming more extensive from the north after nightfall.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
20%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Often cloudy with frequently appalling visibility due to snow falling or blowing. Only brief bursts of sun with very good visibility.
How Cold? (at 900m)
-5C. Wind chill feeling like -15 to -18C in exposure on higher tops.
Freezing Level
Terrain widely frozen; at dawn near -10C some inland glens. Nearest the coast, partial thawing in sunlight to 200-300m, rising slightly near Skye overnight.
Viewing Forecast For
The Northwest Highlands
Tuesday 6th January 2026
Last updated
Sun 4th Jan 26 at
4:15PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
Changeable: west-southwesterly 20-35mph, trending northerly afternoon and rising, up to 40mph on high exposed tops.
Effect of the wind on you?
Variable conditions, walking often strenuous with significant wind chill, though some periods of lighter wind possible.
How Wet?
Snow
Showery snow in the west becomes widespread for most of daylight. Increasingly falling as sleet to middle slopes of Skye and the west coast. Breaking back into showers late in the day.
Cloud on the hills?
Extensive
Cloud shrouds the hills to middle or lower slopes for most or all of daylight. Some breaks forming in the north around and after dusk as snow turns showery.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
10%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Sunshine unlikely. Appalling visibility, whiteout conditions soon widespread and persistent.
How Cold? (at 900m)
-2 to -4C, some variability; trending colder into nighttime. Feeling as cold as -18C in the wind.
Freezing Level
Terrain widely frozen from overnight, lifting but variable; up to 700 near Skye, unlikely above 300-400m inland.
Viewing Forecast For
The Northwest Highlands
Wednesday 7th January 2026
Last updated
Sun 4th Jan 26 at
4:15PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
Westerly 15 to 30mph, speed likely to vary during day, a lull may develop, then risk increasing south-southwesterly later.
Effect of the wind on you?
Fairly small, but be prepared for marked wind chill on exposed high terrain, risk more blustery in places at times.
How Wet?
Early local flurries, risk snow/rain arrives
Snow showers or flurries mostly coastal areas toward north in morning, tending to fade, but then a risk of more persistent snow developing, moving in from west, near coast turning to rain to mid heights.
Cloud on the hills?
Patchy cloud, risk lowering west
Varied cloud banks in the morning, mainly higher western slopes, but some lower mist around glens and mid-slopes inland for a time. If precipitation develops, more extensive cloud lowering over hills.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
40%
Sunshine and air clarity?
High cloud may largely cover the sky, some early brightness, overcast skies becoming duller. Visibility very good whilst dry, risk very poor if snow develops.
How Cold? (at 900m)
-3C, lifting to -1C near west coast, then nearer 0C all areas after dark. Feeling around -10C if exposed to wind.
Freezing Level
Near/below freezing glens upward inland; 500m near west coast. Tending to rise after dark, but much terrain inland stays frozen.
Planning Outlook
Freezing conditions widely over the mountains all this week - some changes toward the weekend as Atlantic lows try to circulate further northwards, bringing some variable thawing mainly to England and particularly Wales, whilst Scottish mountains may see brief if any periods of above-freezing conditions even onward into mid-month. Complex weather systems later this week, with potentially a deep low moving across southern Britain by Thursday-early Friday which may bring some snowfalls to Wales and the southern Pennines, accompanied by possibly severe gales. More variable wind speeds for Scotland, trending westerly; some lulls but interspersed with gales. Further accumulating upland snow, mixed with some lowland rain.