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.)
Thursday'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.
Chilly
Air temperature typically 0 to 5C on higher summits. Feeling distinctly chilly on tops when stationary or where exposed to wind. Take appropriate layers.
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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.
Chilly
Air temperature typically 0 to 5C on higher summits. Feeling distinctly chilly on tops when stationary or where exposed to wind. Take appropriate layers.
Viewing Forecast For
The Northwest Highlands
Thursday 5th March 2026
Last updated
Wed 4th Mar 26 at
4:13PM
Summary for all mountain areas
A slow-moving front from the west brings rain and low cloud to western Scotland, turning to snow on tops as colder air arrives; freezing level later below 800m. Patchy rain encroaching further into Cumbria with time. Some heavier thundery bursts possible in Wales. Strong southerlies ease and turn W-NW'ly.
Headline for The Northwest Highlands
Rain and wind; easing, but turning colder
How windy? (On the Munros)
Gusty south-southwesterly 35-45mph. A westerly shift in the morning and wind easing, 20-25mph, briefly lower.
Effect of the wind on you?
Arduous walking early in the day with significant wind chill; an easing trend, may be fairly small for a period, but wind remains a nuisance on high terrain.
How Wet?
Often raining, turning to snow on high terrain; easing trend later
Rain fairly widespread, heaviest falls from Skye towards Ullapool, the rain more patchy to the east but bands passing here too. Precipitation increasingly falls as snow to tops, the snowfall level lowering. Trending drizzly with a breaking trend through afternoon.
Cloud on the hills?
Fairly extensive, may improve later
Most hills shrouded from 600m up from dawn, bases to low Skye slopes early. Higher bases with some variable layers towards the east, though lowering here too as rain passes. Later beginning to lift from the west, increasing chance of high breaks.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
20% rising to 40%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Sunshine unlikely until late in the day. Often poor visibility though locally good out of cloud and rain.
How Cold? (at 900m)
3 or 4C from dawn, soon beginning to lower from west, -1 or -2C afternoon into evening. Feeling like -7 to -10C in the wind.
Freezing Level
Above the summits from dawn, lowering as rain passes, to 600-700m evening, frosts forming in sheltered lower terrain overnight.
Viewing Forecast For
The Northwest Highlands
Friday 6th March 2026
Last updated
Wed 4th Mar 26 at
4:13PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
Southwesterly 15-25mph, strongest west coast; steadily rising, 30-40mph by evening with strong gusts over high ground.
Effect of the wind on you?
Starting small, deteriorating to strenuous walking with wind chill; buffeting in exposure will challenge balance.
How Wet?
Precipitation not expected
Cloud on the hills?
Mostly just Skye and nearby
Cloud comes and goes on the Cuillin from 700m upward, bases higher on north aspects. Inland and northern hills often free of cloud, occasional banks may form around 900-1000m but these fleeting.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
80%; 60% Skye
Sunshine and air clarity?
Extensive sunshine, occasionally some low hills cloud Skye and nearby. Excellent visibility, a distant haze to the west.
How Cold? (at 900m)
-2C rising to 0C, locally higher north, rising further into night. Feeling increasingly cold in wind, to -13C by evening.
Freezing Level
700-800m, though frosts to lower slopes and glens in the morning. Lifting, 900m by evening, above summits overnight.
Viewing Forecast For
The Northwest Highlands
Saturday 7th March 2026
Last updated
Wed 4th Mar 26 at
4:13PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
Southerly 20 to 30mph, but locally risk gusty 35-40mph mainly Cuillin and nearby higher mountains on mainland.
Effect of the wind on you?
Gusty winds in places may affect comfortable walking in exposed western areas. Fairly small further east.
How Wet?
Precipitation not expected
Cloud on the hills?
Hardly any
Rare fragments or patches around some south-facing slopes for a time, mainly near Skye. Otherwise the mountains clear.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
90%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Mostly sunny Visibility excellent.
How Cold? (at 900m)
4C, but some lower slopes colder in the morning.
Freezing Level
Slight frost some glens and sheltered higher areas after dawn, but lifting above freezing to the tops.
Planning Outlook
Higher pressure extends back across the country to bring dry conditions on Saturday, feeling mild in sunshine by day after a chilly start. More cloud by Sunday as weak fronts encroach in from the west, some drizzly rain moving into western Scotland. Patchy rain likely in the west at least early in the new week, likely dropping back just below freezing on the Munros for a time with some snowfall on higher areas. Winds fairly light early week, then a risk of strengthening southwesterlies later in the week; changeable weather conditions with spells of rain coming in from the Atlantic. Remaining old snow cover on Scottish mountains stays largely consolidated with little change, only very patchy snow remains around highest tops in England and Wales.