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
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.
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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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.
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
Monday 2nd February 2026
Last updated
Sun 1st Feb 26 at
4:26PM
Summary for all mountain areas
Strong and gusty east-southeasterlies, gale-force in places, speeds generally increasing over England & Wales with time. Snow frequent or persistent for eastern Scottish hills, rain lower ground; whiteout over higher areas with blanket cloud. Largely dry west coasts with higher and more broken cloud.
Headline for The Northwest Highlands
Windy, gusty, strongest north. Some snow east, dry toward Skye.
How windy? (On the Munros)
Southeasterly 25 to 40mph, speeds varying - strongest toward far north in morning, but with time strengthening in the south around Skye too. Gusty, top speeds to 45-50mph on some slopes.
Effect of the wind on you?
Fairly small around Skye early in day, but more strenuous toward north; buffeting gusts developing more widely, in places downslope west of higher tops.
How Wet?
Rain turning to snow east, little if any west
Showery rain drifts into Caithness and Ben Hope area from the east much of the day, snow above 700m later 500m. Some snow flurries reach further inland with time, but west coast from Torridon south largely dry.
Cloud on the hills?
Mostly high terrain, lowest north and east
Cloud caps the high inland and east hills much of the day, lowest bases around Caithness/Ben Hope, to mid-slopes or lower during precipitation. Well broken towards Skye, clearing summits at times.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
30%, to 60% Skye
Sunshine and air clarity?
Most sun on the west coast, particularly Skye, some cloud building with time. Very good visibility out of precipitation, but poorer east and far north.
How Cold? (at 900m)
-1 or -2C. Typically higher on the west coast, 0 or +1C around Skye. Feeling like -10 to -15C in the wind.
Freezing Level
Starting 800 to 1000m, highest in west; dropping during day from east toward 600m, but near west coast staying mostly above 800m. From dusk 400-500m in east.
Viewing Forecast For
The Northwest Highlands
Tuesday 3rd February 2026
Last updated
Sun 1st Feb 26 at
4:26PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
Easterly 35 to 50mph, very gusty in places around higher mountains and downslope west of high terrain.
Effect of the wind on you?
Challenging walking conditions over exposed terrain, gusts knocking you off balance; significant wind chill.
How Wet?
Snow mostly east and north
Snow frequent or persistent eastern hills from Ben Wyvis area up to Ben Hope. Further west, rarer flurries, often dry Skye and coast near Torridon.
Cloud on the hills?
Most persistent east, breaks west
Covering much higher eastern terrain above 600m, 800m further inland, but often higher and more broken westwards, but grazing higher slopes for periods.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
40%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Glimpses of sun mainly near Skye, where visibility mostly good. Very poor if in snow and cloud east/north.
How Cold? (at 900m)
-4C north and east, to -1C near west coast. Wind chill feeling like -15 to -18C.
Freezing Level
300-400m Caithness to Easter Ross, up to 600m more western areas, or locally varied higher up on Skye and nearby coast.
Viewing Forecast For
The Northwest Highlands
Wednesday 4th February 2026
Last updated
Sun 1st Feb 26 at
4:26PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
Easterly 30 to 50mph, very gusty. May start to ease and turn southeasterly.
Effect of the wind on you?
Challenging conditions with frequent buffeting gusts, significant wind chill; possibly improving from south.
How Wet?
Snow mostly east
Snow frequent or persistent over eastern hills from Ben Wyvis area to Caithness and at times Ben Hope, sleet or rain lowest slopes. Patchy flurries westward, often dry much of west coast.
Cloud on the hills?
Most persistent east, breaks west
Cloud covering higher mountains inland above 800m, or to some lower elevations toward eastern coasts. Further west, higher and more broken, best toward Torridon coast and Skye.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
40%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Largely cloudy, dull and misty eastern hills, poor visibility risk whiteout in fog and snow. Brighter toward west coast, local glimpses of sun and good visibility below cloud.
How Cold? (at 900m)
-3C, up to -1C near Skye, rising slightly during day. Wind chill feeling like -12 to -17C.
Freezing Level
300-400m in east, to 600m or locally higher toward west coast. Onward into night may rise variably higher up.
Planning Outlook
Easterly winds prevail this week, strong to gale force over many hills for sustained periods. Freezing levels will vary, but in the Highlands rarely above 800m away from the west coast, at times sub-zero from 400-500m upward. In England and Wales only occasionally dropping below 600m, and at times just above freezing to high tops. Further snow focused on eastern Scottish mountains, with additional accumulations and drifting; very little further west. Some periods of hill snow for England and Wales during midweek. Cold easterly patterns are expected to continue onward into mid February, though higher pressure to the north may see reduced precipitation amounts, always driest with highest cloud in west.