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.)
Wednesday's Forecast
Windy, walking impeded
Blustery conditions, enough to give buffeting on higher terrain or affect balance on exposed ridges. 25 to 35mph.
Fine, partly cloudy winter day
Dry winter day with partly cloudy skies, cloud banks covering some mountain slopes.
Very Cold
Very low air temperatures or feeling bitterly cold due to wind chill on the mountains. Difficult conditions. Frostbite and hypothermia risk. Suitable protective clothing is required.
Terrain widely frozen
All ground frozen from lower elevations upward, with hard frost or snow cover. Beware of icy surfaces on lower and higher terrain. Appropriate footwear needed, spikes and crampons may be 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 35mph.
Fine, partly cloudy winter day
Dry winter day with partly cloudy skies, cloud banks covering some mountain slopes.
Very Cold
Very low air temperatures or feeling bitterly cold due to wind chill on the mountains. Difficult conditions. Frostbite and hypothermia risk. Suitable protective clothing is required.
Terrain widely frozen
All ground frozen from lower elevations upward, with hard frost or snow cover. Beware of icy surfaces on lower and higher terrain. Appropriate footwear needed, spikes and crampons may be necessary.
Viewing Forecast For
The Northwest Highlands
Wednesday 6th December 2023
Last updated
Tue 5th Dec 23 at
4:28PM
Summary for all mountain areas
After a hard frost, mostly dry and bright, but feeling increasingly bitterly cold as southeasterly winds strengthen and cloud thicken through the day ahead of a front, which will bring and increasing risk of upland snowfall, in across western mountains toward evening, and then spreading to all parts overnight.
Headline for The Northwest Highlands
Bitter chill in strengthening southeast winds. Snow arriving overnight.
How windy? (On the Munros)
Southeasterly, strengthening through day from 20-30mph after dawn to 30 to perhaps 45mph before dusk.
Effect of the wind on you?
Walking increasingly difficult, in places on lower slopes, and feeling bitterly cold as wind chill becomes significant.
How Wet?
Precipitation unlikely
Very likely dry all day, although in the afternoon increasing threat of patchy snow near Skye - more likely after dark. More widely snow extends northeast overnight.
Cloud on the hills?
Very little
Here and there, cloud above 900m, but most summits are of cloud, aside from some fog patches in the glens in the morning.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
80%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Sunshine may well be extensive, away from fog banks in some glens. Visibility excellent.
How Cold? (at 900m)
-3C, although a little less cold near coast. Will feel as cold as minus 16C directly in the wind.
Freezing Level
Almost all terrain frozen: partial thawing some lower slopes, mainly near the coast.
Viewing Forecast For
The Northwest Highlands
Thursday 7th December 2023
Last updated
Tue 5th Dec 23 at
4:28PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
Very turbulent conditions developing. Southeasterly winds; lifting through day to 50 to 70mph.
Effect of the wind on you?
Be prepared for increasingly very difficult conditions, as turbulent and very powerful winds accelerate over the mountains.
How Wet?
Occasional snow or refrozen rain
Occasional snow. Level to which snow falls varying, to lower slopes in some areas, but upper slopes elsewhere, with some hills seeing refrozen rain.
Cloud on the hills?
Fairly extensive, breaks in northwest.
Be prepared for fairly extensive hill fog in the south and east down to mid slopes. Mainly upper slopes or tops with some breaks, up to Ben Hope and west coast.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
30%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Overcast. Visibility often poor or very poor, good at times in the north and northwest.
How Cold? (at 900m)
Around -3C, will tend to rise to between -2C and plus 1C. Feeling more like -18C in direct exposure to the wind.
Freezing Level
400-600m, highest near west coast. Lifting to 600-1000m; varied across area.
Viewing Forecast For
The Northwest Highlands
Friday 8th December 2023
Last updated
Tue 5th Dec 23 at
4:28PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
East to southeasterly 15 to 25mph, tending to ease through the day.
Effect of the wind on you?
Be prepared for considerable wind chill in the strongest breezes, although tending to ease through the day.
How Wet?
Becoming mostly dry
A few patches of rain, or above 1000m, snow in the morning; mainly in the east. By afternoon, very likely dry.
Cloud on the hills?
Occasional bank but mostly clear W co.ast.
Occasional banks covering some mid to upper slopes in the east, but these tending to break off the hills as day progresses. Very little toward west coast.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
60%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Cloud layers thinning and breaking to reveal some sun, mostly widely west coast. Visibility generally very good.
How Cold? (at 900m)
Around 1C, but feeling closer to -10C initially in the strongest winds before they ease.
Freezing Level
Gradual thaw to upper slopes, with freezing level around 1100m.
Planning Outlook
Unsettled conditions will prevail over the next week to 10 days, with periods of upland gales or severe gales with precipitation frequent, mostly rain, although intermittently snow Scottish Highlands, more rarely elsewhere. Driest conditions (relative to the average) will likely be in the northwest Highlands, given the often backed flow, as the low pressure areas track in.