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
Severe gale or storm, mobility very difficult
Severe conditions on the mountains, any movement very challenging, you may be blown over. 55-70mph+
Heavy snow and hail showers, isolated lightning
Showery precipitation, often heavy, may merge to become constant for periods. A mix of snow and hail often falling to lower slopes. Risk of very localised thunder and lightning.
Whiteout
Fog and lying snow over the mountains, possibly with falling or blowing snow, very disorientating. Map and compass essential, beware of unseen hazards.
Cold
Air temperature below 0C all day on higher mountains. Significant chill factor if exposed to strong winds. Suitable protective clothing required.
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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Severe gale or storm, mobility very difficult
Severe conditions on the mountains, any movement very challenging, you may be blown over. 55-70mph+
Heavy snow and hail showers, isolated lightning
Showery precipitation, often heavy, may merge to become constant for periods. A mix of snow and hail often falling to lower slopes. Risk of very localised thunder and lightning.
Whiteout
Fog and lying snow over the mountains, possibly with falling or blowing snow, very disorientating. Map and compass essential, beware of unseen hazards.
Cold
Air temperature below 0C all day on higher mountains. Significant chill factor if exposed to strong winds. Suitable protective clothing required.
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 29th March 2026
Last updated
Sat 28th Mar 26 at
4:00PM
Summary for all mountain areas
Widely difficult conditions - extensive gales across the hills, often severe on higher terrain; a few hours of storm-force winds moving southward accompanied by a swathe of heavy rain, some snow on high tops. Colder air follows across Scotland, with frequent showery hail and snow, periods of whiteout on mountains.
Headline for The Northwest Highlands
Gales, severe tops, powerful squalls, frequent hail & snow.
How windy? (On the Munros)
Southwesterly at first, soon westerly, 70-80mph around dawn, stronger gusts at first light. Then around 50mph all day, 60mph higher tops at times, sudden squally gusts toward 70mph in west.
Effect of the wind on you?
Severe conditions at first, remaining difficult over the mountains all day, mobility often challenging, powerful gusts could knock you off your feet. Severe wind chill.
How Wet?
Heavy rain, snow, then showery hail, risk thunder
A swathe of heavy rain from before dawn, some snow on high tops, torrential bursts soon moving through early morning. Then showery hail, and abruptly snow falling to mid-elevations, increasingly toward 400m afternoon. Risk of isolated thunder & lightning.
Cloud on the hills?
Varied over tops
Cloud base constantly changing, 600 to 900m, lowest near west coast in showers, patches at times inland. Briefly breaking to above higher slopes out of showers.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
30%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Brief bursts of sun, mainly in east. Visibility changing quickly, at times very poor, appalling at least temporarily in snow, intermittently very good.
How Cold? (at 900m)
+1C at dawn, dropping before midday to -2C, later -4C high tops. Wind chill feeling like -15 to -18C.
Freezing Level
Briefly just above freezing to upper slopes around dawn, but soon lowering again, to 700-800m before noon, then 500-600m during the afternoon, soonest in north.
Viewing Forecast For
The Northwest Highlands
Monday 30th March 2026
Last updated
Sat 28th Mar 26 at
4:00PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
West to northwesterly, 45 to 60mph, strongest toward north and in the morning, gusts over 70mph high tops.
Effect of the wind on you?
Challenging conditions, very difficult mobility especially morning, gusts could knock you over. Significant wind chill.
How Wet?
Snow & hail showers
Showery snow, also hail in the morning, frequent over western mountains. Tending to ease to lighter and more scattered showers afternoon, by then mostly rain below 500-600m. Rain and drizzle in west into night.
Cloud on the hills?
Most persistent western tops
Likely to cover higher western areas widely in morning, bases 600-800m, tending to rise. Breaks forming higher with time. Will then lower from southwest into night.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
30% rising to 60% inland
Sunshine and air clarity?
Occasional sun, most common east. Visibility good out of showers, but some haze in west, intermittently poor in snow.
How Cold? (at 900m)
-2C rising to 0 or +1C afternoon, then higher after dark. Wind chill feeling like -15 to -18C.
Freezing Level
600-700m from dawn, rising to 900-1000m afternoon, then lifting above the summits into night.
Viewing Forecast For
The Northwest Highlands
Tuesday 31st March 2026
Last updated
Sat 28th Mar 26 at
4:00PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
West to southwesterly, 30 to 40mph, very gusty in places around exposed high tops and ridges.
Effect of the wind on you?
Very blustery in exposure, making balance difficult on ridges, sudden buffeting in places. Considerable wind chill.
How Wet?
Drizzly rain particularly west
Drizzly over western mountains much of the day, some steadier but mostly light rain at times. Combined with some snow melt, rock surfaces will be very slippery. Smaller amounts of occasional drizzle further eastwards.
Cloud on the hills?
Extensive, lowest in west
Blanket low cloud across the mountains, from lower elevations upward near to west coast in the morning. Tending to rise a little during day, but likely to shroud many hills all day above 600-800m, local breaks east.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
10%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Cloudy and misty, some brighter moments may emerge mainly inland and east, where visibility good if below cloud, but generally poor over the hills.
How Cold? (at 900m)
3 or 4C. Feeling like -7 to -10C directly in the wind.
Freezing Level
Above freezing up to all summits.
Planning Outlook
Milder air across all areas by Tuesday, with drizzly rain and low cloud particularly in the west. A drop of temperature returns to Scotland at least during Wednesday, with a belt of rain expected to move slowly southwards, followed by showers turning to snow again on higher areas, possible hail. Uncertain southward extent of rain and colder air beyond midweek - lower confidence in forecast detail toward Easter - high pressure toward the east and south brings some drier weather, but Atlantic weather systems may continue to move near to the northwest of Britain bringing further spells of strong wind and rain, plus fluctuating temperatures in Scotland, whilst further south likely stays milder.