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 40mph.
Patchy rain or drizzle
Rain on and off, or generally drizzly - total amounts small, but may be persistently damp, especially where hills are shrouded in cloud.
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.
Patchy rain or drizzle
Rain on and off, or generally drizzly - total amounts small, but may be persistently damp, especially where hills are shrouded in cloud.
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
Wednesday 4th March 2026
Last updated
Tue 3rd Mar 26 at
4:09PM
Summary for all mountain areas
Windy in Scotland with gale-force gusts over high terrain. Much upper Highlands terrain in cloud, some rain and drizzle (most in the west); best breaks north of major hill groups. Varied cloud early in England and Wales, mostly clearing with increasing sun, though visibility limited by haze. Cool to mild England and Wales.
Headline for The Northwest Highlands
Very windy, strong gusts; most rain and cloud south
How windy? (On the Munros)
Southerly 35 to 45mph, strongest on and near Skye; very gusty in places around high tops and downslope toward north.
Effect of the wind on you?
Strenuous walking and balance affected with significant wind chill. More challenging in places, particularly in exposure and northern aspects with buffeting downslope gusts.
How Wet?
Patchy rain/drizzle arrives in the south
A dry morning, then occasional patchy rain/drizzle arrives around Skye and Torridon. Afternoon brings increased chance of patchy rain here and inland, drizzle lingering on the highest southern tops. Only odd patches push north of Ullapool during daylight.
Cloud on the hills?
Cloud spreads north and east, staying broken inland
Cloud banks likely to often roll across the higher Cuillin and nearby mainland hills above 700-800m. Patches more broken northward, particularly early (Ben Wyvis to Ben Hope start clear). Cloud banks will spread northward with time, staying mostly above 700m, and staying broken inland well into the day.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
70% north/east, lowering to 30% widely
Sunshine and air clarity?
Sunshine and visibility best toward the north and east, often cloudier around Skye where rather hazy. Cloud spreads north with time.
How Cold? (at 900m)
1 or 2C, gradually rising, to 3 or 4C by evening, staying mild on upper slopes overnight. Directly in the wind feeling like -11 to -13C.
Freezing Level
Patchy frost inland glens and sheltered higher areas from dawn, thawing largely above the summits, locally freezing highest tops.
Viewing Forecast For
The Northwest Highlands
Thursday 5th March 2026
Last updated
Tue 3rd Mar 26 at
4:09PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
South-southwesterly 35-45mph, gusty early, may be quite powerful. Easing with a generally westerly shift, 20-30mph.
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.
How Wet?
Often raining, easing trend later
Rain fairly widespread, heaviest falls from Skye towards Ullapool, the rain more patchy to the east but bands passing here too. Trending drizzly with a breaking trend through afternoon.
Cloud on the hills?
Fairly extensive
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, breaks from the west late in the day
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)
2 or 3C from dawn, soon beginning to lower from west, -1 or -2C by evening. Feeling like -7 to -10C in the wind.
Freezing Level
Above the summits from dawn, lowering as rain passes, to 600-800m evening.
Viewing Forecast For
The Northwest Highlands
Friday 6th March 2026
Last updated
Tue 3rd Mar 26 at
4:09PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
Southwesterly 15-20mph, steadily rising, 40-45mph west coast by evening with strong gusts over summits.
Effect of the wind on you?
Starting small, deteriorating to strenuous walking with wind chill; buffeting in exposure will challenge balance.
How Wet?
Likely dry
Small chance of some light rain grazing Skye late in the day, otherwise dry.
Cloud on the hills?
Mostly just Skye and nearby
Cloud comes and goes on the Cuillin from 700m upward, though base generally 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 shrouded on and near Skye by low cloud. Excellent visibility, a distant haze to the west.
How Cold? (at 900m)
-2C from dawn, lifting to 0C, rising further overnight. Feeling increasingly cold in wind, to -15C by evening.
Freezing Level
700-800m, though frosts in sheltered low slopes and glens too. Lifting, 900m by evening, further rising overnight.
Planning Outlook
Thursday into Friday sees a band of rain pass east across most mountains, then a relatively settled weekend for England and Wales, and perhaps east Scotland too. Varying conditions over the next couple of weeks as areas of high pressure build across the British Isles then slip eastwards: dry and bright days with light winds mixed with periods of strengthening south/westerly winds bringing occasional rain from the west. Temperatures will vary, at times lifting just above freezing to high Munro tops, but typically lowering again to high terrain and briefly mid-slopes. Freezing levels will only briefly touch high England and Wales summits, but some frosts into valleys during clear-sky nights. Remaining old snow cover on Scottish mountains stays largely consolidated with little change, any remaining snow in England and Wales will thaw.