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.)
Saturday's Forecast
Windy, walking impeded
Blustery conditions enough to give buffeting on higher terrain or affect balance on exposed ridges. 25 to 40mph.
Snow flurries
Occasional light snow flurries, sleet or rain lower elevations. Amounts little more than nuisance value, but locally more persistent and reducing visibility for periods.
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.
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.
Click an icon for more information or click here for a key to all icons.
Windy, walking impeded
Blustery conditions enough to give buffeting on higher terrain or affect balance on exposed ridges. 25 to 40mph.
Snow flurries
Occasional light snow flurries, sleet or rain lower elevations. Amounts little more than nuisance value, but locally more persistent and reducing visibility for periods.
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.
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
Saturday 7th February 2026
Last updated
Fri 6th Feb 26 at
3:00PM
Summary for all mountain areas
Continuing with the east to south-easterly airflow with hills shrouded in extensive low cloud with widely murky conditions. Patchy snow across the Highlands tending to ease, best breaks again toward the northwestern coasts of Scotland. Showery rain extending north through Wales into northern England.
Headline for The Northwest Highlands
Strong, cold easterly winds. Patchy snow in northeast. Dry, best breaks, in west.
How windy? (On the Munros)
Easterly 25 to 40mph, perhaps higher in the morning around Ben Hope.
Effect of the wind on you?
Walking fairly arduous with significant buffeting and wind chill, most marked toward Ben Hope.
How Wet?
Patchy precipitation mainly in the east.
Patchy snow or flurries, rain below 300m later 700m; mainly hills near and east of A836 from Tongue to Lairg. West of Ben Hope and down to Skye, very little if any.
Cloud on the hills?
Extensive, but good breaks west coast and Skye.
Persistent fog nearly everywhere above 300 to 450m. Again, higher cloud base in places breaking completely westernmost summits south from Wester Ross.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
10%, but 60% on and near Skye.
Sunshine and air clarity?
Patchy sun toward west coast in an otherwise overcast atmosphere. Hazy, best visibility west coast, poor or very poor in snowfall.
How Cold? (at 900m)
Around -1C.
Freezing Level
Poorly defined: 600 to 900m, but locally 1100m westernmost summits: generally only slow temperature drop with height.
Viewing Forecast For
The Northwest Highlands
Sunday 8th February 2026
Last updated
Fri 6th Feb 26 at
3:00PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
Between east and south typically 15 to 25mph, although possibly below 15mph near Skye.
Effect of the wind on you?
Mostly small
How Wet?
Little or no precipitation
Rain, or above 600 to 900m snow here and there, mostly amounting to very little, although particularly Sutherland and Ben Wyvis, possibly widespread precipitation at dawn clearing only slowly north during day.
Cloud on the hills?
Most mountains persistently covered. May clear some western hills.
Persistent fog most of region, but by afternoon perhaps breaks to 600m and here and there higher slopes briefly clearing or between cloud layers. Again on westernmost areas, cloud may sometimes or fleetingly clear, revealing higher slopes or summits.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
10%, but 50% west coast and Skye.
Sunshine and air clarity?
Glimpses of sunshine here and there - possibly bright sun for an hour or two near Skye. Widely misty or murky, possibly very good visibility westernmost hills.
How Cold? (at 900m)
0 or 1C
Freezing Level
800 to 1050m. although terrain down to lower slopes (except close to west coast) mostly frozen.
Viewing Forecast For
The Northwest Highlands
Monday 9th February 2026
Last updated
Fri 6th Feb 26 at
3:00PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
South-easterly 20 to 30mph, perhaps 35-40mph at times on and near Skye.
Effect of the wind on you?
Blustery and gusty for periods, especially on and near Skye, where perhaps fairly arduous. Considerable wind chill.
How Wet?
Patchy precipitation in northeast
Patches of rain, or above 700 to 900m snow, affecting hills near and east of Ben Hope running down to Ben Wyvis. Further west, very likely dry once again.
Cloud on the hills?
Extensive higher terrain, clearer west coast.
Extensive across higher terrain, 700-900m, lowest bases east of Ben Hope where down to 500m. More broken toward west coast with best breaks.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
20% in the east, 60% in the west.
Sunshine and air clarity?
Mostly cloudy, but breaks in the cloud with intermittent sun toward west coast. Best visibility west coast, marked haze further inland, very poor in any snow.
How Cold? (at 900m)
0 to 1C
Freezing Level
800 to 1050m. although terrain down to lower slopes (except close to west coast) mostly frozen.
Planning Outlook
Overall little change in conditions over the coming week: the mountains extensively foggy, precipitation from time to time (again concentrated on eastern Scotland and southern and eastern Wales) and often strong southeast or easterly wind. However, a slight rise in temperature will result in thawing of lying snow from southern Scotland southwards and some thawing up to around 900, sometimes 1050m Scottish Highlands - although the return of low freezing level toward the middle of next week.