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.)
Viewing Forecast For
The Northwest Highlands
Monday 18th January 2021
Last updated
Sunday 17th January 2021 at
2:38 PM
Summary for all mountain areas
Scotland: Westerly winds will drive showers across the country; snow above 500m. Cloud covering the hills extensively. England and Wales: Occasional showers; snow higher tops. Hill fog extensive on higher areas. Rain becoming more frequent toward dusk.
Headline for The Northwest Highlands
Windy with snow showers; sometimes frequent. Extensive hill fog.
How windy? (On the Munros)
Westerly 35 to occasionally 45mph.
Effect of the wind on you?
Extensive considerable buffeting and wind chill where exposed on higher areas.
How Wet?
Showers; sometimes frequent
Showers, of snow above 500m. There may be one or two periods when the precipitation is almost constant over a couple of hours.
Cloud on the hills?
Very extensive
Higher areas extensively covered; typical cloud base 500 to 800m, generally lowest near the coast. However, the base likely to lower further where precipitation becomes frequent.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
20%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Glimpses of sunshine. Hazy at best; and very poor visibility in snow.
How Cold? (at 900m)
-1C, will feel closer to -20C in direct exposure to the strongest winds.
Freezing Level
750m
Viewing Forecast For
The Northwest Highlands
Tuesday 19th January 2021
Last updated
Sunday 17th January 2021 at
2:38 PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
Southwesterly 15 to 25mph at first, but becoming variable 10 to 15mph or less.
Effect of the wind on you?
Becoming mostly negligible.
How Wet?
Snow showers, mostly in far west.
Dry for most areas, but a few snow showers will drift in across western hills in the morning before tending to fade.
Cloud on the hills?
Cloud banks tops, may clear.
Banks of cloud from dawn shrouding higher tops, these fairly extensive across western hills. However, increasingly good breaks developing through the day.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
50%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Rare patches of sun, but mostly cloudy. Visibility good or very good, but very poor in snow showers.
How Cold? (at 900m)
Around -4C
Freezing Level
300-500m
Viewing Forecast For
The Northwest Highlands
Wednesday 20th January 2021
Last updated
Sunday 17th January 2021 at
2:38 PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
Direction varying 5-10mph or less, but during the afternoon may become northerly 15 to 25mph.
Effect of the wind on you?
Mostly negligible, but considerable wind chill may occur later in the day.
How Wet?
Dry for many hours, snow showers later.
Dry for many hours across the area, bar the odd snow shower in the west. Later in the afternoon, risk clusters of snow showers moving in across northern areas.
Cloud on the hills?
Fog banks some glens and tops.
Cloud banks some higher tops; drifting around slowly, whilst some hills clear for many hours. Patchy fog some glens from dawn. Later risk extensive fog in snow.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
50%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Patches of sunshine, especially in the morning. Visibility excellent away from fog, risk later very poor should snow develop.
How Cold? (at 900m)
-4C
Freezing Level
Most terrain frozen from lowest slopes up after a hard frost overnight.
Planning Outlook
Precipitation will fall at some stage most days over the next week or two; mostly falling as snow on the mountains - although rain England and Wales early next week. On the Scottish Highlands, terrain will be persistently frozen. Often windy with extensive upland gales.