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 hail showers
Periods of bright or sunny conditions mixed with showers or flurries of snow and hail. Visibility may change rapidly from excellent to very poor.
Whiteout
Fog and lying snow over the mountains, possibly with falling or blowing snow, very disorientating. Map and compass essential, beware of unseen hazards.
Cold
Air temperature below 0C all day on higher mountains. Significant chill factor if exposed to strong winds. Suitable protective clothing required.
Terrain widely frozen
All ground frozen from lower elevations upward, with hard frost or snow cover. Beware of icy surfaces on lower and higher terrain. Appropriate footwear needed, crampons may be 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 and hail showers
Periods of bright or sunny conditions mixed with showers or flurries of snow and hail. Visibility may change rapidly from excellent to very poor.
Whiteout
Fog and lying snow over the mountains, possibly with falling or blowing snow, very disorientating. Map and compass essential, beware of unseen hazards.
Cold
Air temperature below 0C all day on higher mountains. Significant chill factor if exposed to strong winds. Suitable protective clothing required.
Terrain widely frozen
All ground frozen from lower elevations upward, with hard frost or snow cover. Beware of icy surfaces on lower and higher terrain. Appropriate footwear needed, crampons may be necessary.
Viewing Forecast For
The Northwest Highlands
Thursday 20th November 2025
Last updated
Wed 19th Nov 25 at
3:00PM
Summary for all mountain areas
Staying cold as northerly winds continue, speeds starting to lessen gradually Scotland. Snow/hail showers in N Scotland, slowly fading. Showers also Cheviots, locally N/W Wales. Mostly sunny elsewhere. All terrain frozen; extensive snow cover over mountains, most substantial NW Highlands & Cairngorms.
Headline for The Northwest Highlands
Bitter wind lessening. Snow and hail showers becoming fewer.
How windy? (On the Munros)
Northerly 25 to 35mph, squally gusts in showers, over 40mph at first; speeds gradually lowering during day, before starting to strengthen westerly later into night.
Effect of the wind on you?
Comfortable walking and balance affected on higher exposed terrain, significant wind chill; improving a little during day.
How Wet?
Snow showers, hail, easing with time
Ongoing succession of heavy snow and hail showers coming in from north overnight into morning, chance isolated lightning early morning. Intensity and frequency of showers easing during day. Snow lying to many lower slopes.
Cloud on the hills?
Fairly extensive, some breaks form
Cloud base continues to vary, but often shrouding north-facing mountains above 600-800m, some lower shafts of cloud in showers. Cloud tending to become more broken. Staying clearest toward Kintail.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
30%, to 50% Kintail/Great Glen.
Sunshine and air clarity?
Brief bursts of sun, mostly inland. Visibility at times appalling when in cloud and snow, but intermittently very good, more often excellent afternoon.
How Cold? (at 900m)
-4C, rising marginally. Wind chill feeling like -15C.
Freezing Level
Terrain frozen from glens upward, partial thawing only lowest sunlit slopes, up to 500m coastal slopes.
Viewing Forecast For
The Northwest Highlands
Friday 21st November 2025
Last updated
Wed 19th Nov 25 at
3:00PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
West then southwesterly, strengthening possibly rapidly, soonest near coast, to be in range 35 to 50mph.
Effect of the wind on you?
Expect conditions to deteriorate perhaps quickly in the morning, to give difficult walking and significant wind chill.
How Wet?
Snow becoming rain from west
Snow likely to push inland across western mountains, becoming persistent. Increasingly rain to higher elevations in west coastal areas, may set in heavy. Turning to rain higher up inland later.
Cloud on the hills?
Patchy, then more extensive
Prior to snow/rain, just patchy cloud on various slopes, some clearer areas. With time, cloud lowering and filling in across the hills, soonest toward Skye.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
60% dropping to 20%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Any weak early sun soon obscured by thickening high cloud, becoming overcast. Visibility may start excellent, but reducing to poor in rain, very poor in snow.
How Cold? (at 900m)
-2C, rising from west to +1C, or slightly higher near coast later. In stronger wind feeling like -15C.
Freezing Level
Terrain frozen inland to lower slopes, but a gradual rise of freezing level toward 800m, or higher later; most rapid west coast.
Viewing Forecast For
The Northwest Highlands
Saturday 22nd November 2025
Last updated
Wed 19th Nov 25 at
3:00PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
Westerly 20 to 25mph. May become more variable toward and beyond dusk.
Effect of the wind on you?
Feeling noticeably breezy with marked wind chill; may start to affect balance on the most exposed ridges.
How Wet?
Showery rain west coast, snow inland tops
Showery conditions most frequent near to western coasts, here mostly rain toward higher slopes, but showers that push inland falling as snow above 800-900m.
Cloud on the hills?
Fairly extensive, lowest west
Covering higher mountains most or all day, often shrouding western areas above 800m, sometimes 600m on and near Skye. Highest breaks around Ben Wyvis.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
30%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Brief glimpses of sun mostly east. Visibility very good locally below cloud and where dry, but reduced in showers, poor if in snow or constant rain.
How Cold? (at 900m)
0 or 1C inland, up to 2C coasts and Skye. Feeling like -7C directly in the wind.
Freezing Level
900 to 1100m, typically highest near to west coast; some lower terrain furthest inland may remain partly frozen.
Planning Outlook
Winter conditions over the mountains - snow coverage to lower slopes in Scotland, snow and ice cover varied for England & Wales, but much terrain frozen; hard frost into inland valleys and glens into Friday. A front moving into Scotland from the west on Friday brings gales and snow, turning to rain lower down - arriving in England & Wales Friday evening-night. Less cold into the weekend, but higher mountains stay near or just below freezing, particularly Scotland; showers or locally more frequent upland snow over several days forward. Later next week looks at least briefly milder.