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
Windy, walking impeded
Blustery conditions enough to give buffeting on higher terrain or affect balance on exposed ridges. 25 to 40mph.
Snow and rain mix
Precipitation falling mostly as snow on higher terrain, rain on low-to-middle elevations, may turn to sleet or rain higher up.
Poor visibility
Murky conditions with areas of fog shrouding the hills, making navigation challenging. Map and compass essential.
Cold
Air temperature below 0C all day on higher mountains. Significant chill factor if exposed to strong winds. Suitable protective clothing required.
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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 rain mix
Precipitation falling mostly as snow on higher terrain, rain on low-to-middle elevations, may turn to sleet or rain higher up.
Poor visibility
Murky conditions with areas of fog shrouding the hills, making navigation challenging. Map and compass essential.
Cold
Air temperature below 0C all day on higher mountains. Significant chill factor if exposed to strong winds. Suitable protective clothing required.
Viewing Forecast For
The Northwest Highlands
Sunday 10th May 2026
Last updated
Sat 9th May 26 at
4:00PM
Summary for all mountain areas
Increasingly windy across the Highlands, rain and some sleet or snow on high tops moving in from the northwest, becoming persistent. By late in the day, snow falling in northern areas to lowering elevations. Chilly NE'ly wind England & Wales tends to ease, a largely fine day, early light rain east Wales.
Headline for The Northwest Highlands
Cold and windy. Rain sets in, cloud lowers, later snow showers.
How windy? (On the Munros)
Westerly strengthening from 20mph or briefly less at dawn, to 30-35mph during morning into middle of day, reaching 40mph in north, more widely for a time during afternoon hours, gusts 50mph on tops. Switching northerly 25mph evening onward.
Effect of the wind on you?
Prepare for considerable wind chill, more significant by afternoon. Walking becoming strenuous, challenging in exposure over higher terrain, affecting balance on tops and ridges with buffeting gusts.
How Wet?
Showers, becoming wetter, sleet tops, later snow showers
Showers coming in from the northwest, falling as snow flurries on the Munros. Becoming more frequent during morning, merging into constant rain throughout the afternoon, falling as sleet or some wet snow on higher Munros. Then into evening turning to showers; snow falling to lowering heights in north late in day or evening.
Cloud on the hills?
Lowering over western hills, becoming extensive
Clear breaks to tops inland and east early in day. Patchy cloud over higher western slopes forming more widely, tending to fill in and lower in steady rain over western mountains above 600-800m. Some breaks into evening.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
70% dropping to 20% by midday.
Sunshine and air clarity?
Early sun mostly toward east, soon largely cloudy, increasingly overcast. Visibility starts excellent, reducing in precipitation, becoming poor; late in day may improve away from showers.
How Cold? (at 900m)
-1C rising to +1 or 2C, but into evening falling quickly from north toward -2C. Feeling much colder as wind increases, around -12C directly in wind afternoon.
Freezing Level
800m plus frost inland glens at dawn. Up to 1100m afternoon, but late in day a rapid drop from north to 600m, locally below 500m northeast areas from dusk.
Viewing Forecast For
The Northwest Highlands
Monday 11th May 2026
Last updated
Sat 9th May 26 at
4:00PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
North-northwesterly 15-20mph, occasionally less; turning westerly, tending to increase to 30-35mph later in day.
Effect of the wind on you?
Fairly small for a time, but distinctly chilly over the mountains. Likely becoming more blustery, more strenuous walking later.
How Wet?
Snow flurries fade, rain later
Brief showers early in day, snow flurries over the hills, falling to some lower elevations, fading. Then drizzly rain in west gradually up to higher slopes, steadier rain develops from the west during afternoon.
Cloud on the hills?
Patches lifting, lowering later west
Patchy cloud banks over higher slopes in morning, but lifting above most tops. Toward evening, cloud lowering from west onto coastal tops, tending to fill in near the coast up to dusk, banks extending inland.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
80%, dropping to 20% west evening.
Sunshine and air clarity?
Patchy sun in morning, giving way to thickening high cloud from west afternoon. Visibility excellent, then reducing later in day from west.
How Cold? (at 900m)
-3C at first, rising to +2C afternoon, or slightly milder by evening into night. Feeling colder as wind increases.
Freezing Level
600m around dawn, or lower north/east, gradually rising, toward 1100m afternoon, then later in day lifting above many tops.
Viewing Forecast For
The Northwest Highlands
Tuesday 12th May 2026
Last updated
Sat 9th May 26 at
4:00PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
Westerly 30 to 45mph, squally gusts around showers.
Effect of the wind on you?
Frequent buffeting across the hills, challenging walking at times in exposure. Significant wind chill.
How Wet?
Showery, hail and snow on tops
Frequent showers, mostly toward west early in day, but soon more widely; some heavy bursts, snow falling at times to 700m, also hail to lower slopes. Risk of isolated thunder and lightning.
Cloud on the hills?
Varied on tops, lifting higher with breaks
Cloud frequently changing, covering tops above 800m for periods, but tending to rise higher in afternoon, with time only occasionally capping tops.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
40%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Brief bursts of sun. Visibility often very good, but intermittently very poor during showers.
How Cold? (at 900m)
0 to 2C. Feeling like -10 to -15C directly in the wind on tops..
Freezing Level
900 to 1100m, highest toward Great Glen afternoon.
Planning Outlook
Notably chilly across the hills for this time of year during the week ahead as air from the north-northwest prevails. Frequently near or below freezing over Scottish Munros, and at times dropping to freezing on high tops in England and Wales. Wind speed will vary, but increasing at times to gale force on hills, giving significant chill factor. Broadly showery, heavy bursts with hail and thunder in places, also often falling as snow on higher mountains, at least in Scotland, intermittently elsewhere. Some more persistent precipitation especially northwest Scotland. Also some drier windows - varying locally day-to-day - away from showers cloud will lift above hills and visibility will be very good.