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.)
Monday's Forecast
Moderate breeze, locally gusty
A noticeable breeze, feeling cool where exposed on tops. Locally may be gusty, but unlikely to affect walking progress. 15-25mph.
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.
Click an icon for more information or click here for a key to all icons.
Moderate breeze, locally gusty
A noticeable breeze, feeling cool where exposed on tops. Locally may be gusty, but unlikely to affect walking progress. 15-25mph.
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
Monday 29th December 2025
Last updated
Sun 28th Dec 25 at
2:58PM
Summary for all mountain areas
Chilly northeasterly winds with extensive cloud with patchy precipitation locally. Best breaks and sun western hills of England and Wales, and western Scotland. As a cold front edges south, cloud may break up more widely later for the Highlands with colder conditions developing on the hills.
Headline for The Northwest Highlands
Cloud banks and a little patchy light rain/snow. Clearer in south and west.
How windy? (On the Munros)
Northeast 15 to 25mph.
Effect of the wind on you?
Mostly small, but considerable wind chill where exposed to the wind.
How Wet?
A little patchy precipitation from cloud
A little patchy light rain or snow grains from the banks of low cloud, most likely as weak cold front edges through late morning period.
Cloud on the hills?
Cloud banks, tops initially clear above.
Cloud banks from 500-1000m, highest tops may be clear for a time, before banks lift onto all higher terrain above 700m. Clearer Skye/Wester Ross.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
70% on and near Skye. 30% elsewhere.
Sunshine and air clarity?
Cloudiest in north and east, will brighten up here following cold front. Clearer with sunny breaks in south and west. Visibility mostly very good, away from any precipitation.
How Cold? (at 900m)
0C lowering to -2C
Freezing Level
Morning frost in glens/corries and little change in temperature with height, but turning colder on tops as freezing level stabilises around 700m by afternoon.
Viewing Forecast For
The Northwest Highlands
Tuesday 30th December 2025
Last updated
Sun 28th Dec 25 at
2:58PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
Northerly 15 to 30mph, strongest up towards Ben Hope.
Effect of the wind on you?
Blustery at times with considerable wind chill.
How Wet?
Snow flurries, mainly north.
A few snow flurries possible in the north. Otherwise, dry.
Cloud on the hills?
Patches or banks, mainly in the north.
Patches or banks of low cloud increasingly on upper slopes from 700m upwards across northern areas and perhaps also on Skye. Little elsewhere.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
40% north, 80% south.
Sunshine and air clarity?
Broken cloud and sun, best sun in the south. Visibility very good, away from any snow flurries.
How Cold? (at 900m)
-3C
Freezing Level
Terrain frozen from lower slopes upwards, with frost into the glens in morning.
Viewing Forecast For
The Northwest Highlands
Wednesday 31st December 2025
Last updated
Sun 28th Dec 25 at
2:58PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
Westerly 25 to 35mph, increasing to 35 to 45mph, risk 50mph late in day toward Ben Hope.
Effect of the wind on you?
Be prepared for increasingly arduous conditions through the day with significant buffeting and wind chill.
How Wet?
Patchy rain or upper slopes snow
Patches of rain and snow increasingly developing. Level to which snow falls tending to vary between 700 and 900m.
Cloud on the hills?
Extensive
Soon after dawn, if not before, low cloud becoming extensive and increasingly to lower slopes toward west coast.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
20%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Increasingly overcast. Becoming increasingly misty and murky, with poor visibility in precipitation.
How Cold? (at 900m)
-1C, lifting to 0C or just above. Feeling more like sub -10C in the strongest winds.
Freezing Level
300-600m, lifting to 800-1000m.
Planning Outlook
Up until end of the year, high pressure still dominates. Significant change from New Year's Day as a cold front introduces, a much colder and strong northerly giving severe wind chill with temperatures well below average for the first week to the New Year with frequent and heavy snow showers moving into northern areas and running down coastal extremities with significant accumulations. Elsewhere, lots of dry and sunny weather, although occasional organised bands of snow will feed south at times in the Arctic airflow. All terrain becoming frozen, with scope for very low valley temperatures over snow cover when northerly flow eases.