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.
Heavy snow and hail showers, isolated lightning
Showery precipitation, often heavy, may merge to become constant for periods. A mix of snow and hail often falling to lower slopes. Risk of very localised thunder and lightning.
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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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.
Heavy snow and hail showers, isolated lightning
Showery precipitation, often heavy, may merge to become constant for periods. A mix of snow and hail often falling to lower slopes. Risk of very localised thunder and lightning.
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 13th April 2026
Last updated
Sun 12th Apr 26 at
4:20PM
Summary for all mountain areas
Heavy showers with hail from dawn in northwest Scotland, snow falling as low as middle-slopes. Hail showers become widespread afternoon, a risk of isolating lightning. Cloud above most hills between showers. Chilly temperatures, slightly rising in sun, but suddenly chilly again around showers and also gusty.
Headline for The Northwest Highlands
Hail showers increasingly widespread, risk isolated lightning
How windy? (On the Munros)
At dawn, southwesterly 25-35mph, shifting southerly and easing from the south to around 15-25mph, though may reach 30mph at times west Skye. Frequent sudden gusts around showers.
Effect of the wind on you?
Fairly small, but more noticeably blustery on some exposed tops, particularly morning and on Skye, giving considerable wind chill. Sudden gusts may briefly affect stability.
How Wet?
Hail showers, most widely afternoon
Showers mostly coastal areas near Skye morning, though more widely at and before dawn. A scattering forming inland into afternoon, more widespread later afternoon, briefly heavy with hail and snow falling as low as 600m. Risk isolated thunder & lightning. May continue around Skye well into night.
Cloud on the hills?
Often above hills, varied in showers, lingering longer Skye
Patches of cloud forming around some upper slopes in the morning, briefly quite extensive near the coast south of Ullapool. Soon lifting above many tops, clearest hills east. Then occasional banks forming over hills during and after showers. The Cuillin more often covered above 700m through morning, best breaks here afternoon.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
30% Skye in morning, otherwise 70%.
Sunshine and air clarity?
Sunshine mostly inland and north in morning, but high cloud around, tending to build as the day goes leaving only bursts of sun. Visibility excellent, but briefly very poor in showers.
How Cold? (at 900m)
-1C rising to +1C, locally 2C easternmost hills, and may stay near 0C Skye. Dropping a few degrees in showers. Wind chill feeling like -7C to near -10C early in day on tops.
Freezing Level
800m at first, also frost in some sheltered inland glens to the south; rising above 1000m into middle of day and afternoon.
Viewing Forecast For
The Northwest Highlands
Tuesday 14th April 2026
Last updated
Sun 12th Apr 26 at
4:20PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
South to southeasterly 15-20mph, gradually strengthening, later 35-45mph, strongest Skye, approaching 50mph dusk.
Effect of the wind on you?
Increasingly blustery, particularly western mountains; later arduous, significant wind chill, balance and stability challenged.
How Wet?
Late patchy rain from the southwest
Through afternoon, a rising risk of patchy rain onto Skye and nearby. Patches will slowly spread more widely as evening approaches, perhaps more frequent into night.
Cloud on the hills?
Little if any
Fragments of cloud around some slopes early morning, also mist in some glens at first. Dispersing to leave hills generally clear well into the day. Fleeting patches return to high terrain of Skye later, more widely into night.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
90%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Sunny morning, then patchwork of cloud and sun, high cloud gradually builds later. Visibility excellent.
How Cold? (at 900m)
0C rising to 4C; a degree milder north. Feeling colder as wind increases, later in day risk chill factor feels like -10C.
Freezing Level
900-1000m early in day, light frost inland glens around dawn. Soon rising above tops, then further above tops later in day.
Viewing Forecast For
The Northwest Highlands
Wednesday 15th April 2026
Last updated
Sun 12th Apr 26 at
4:20PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
Southerly 45-60mph, very gusty, not just at high elevations, locally variable direction, and may strengthen for a time.
Effect of the wind on you?
Challenging conditions with significant wind chill in exposure all day; constant chaotic gusts making it difficult to stay on your feet.
How Wet?
Frequently raining
Rain fairly widespread in the morning, local heavy falls, trending patchier to the east and north, staying drizzly on southern high terrain. Rain more persistent on Skye. Rain may set in again later in the day.
Cloud on the hills?
Fairly extensive, some improvement inland/north
Widely extensive to mid-slopes from dawn, to lower slopes in many places, particularly south Cuillin. A lifting trend in bases, perhaps higher terrain Ben Wyvis to Ben Hope, an odd summit break. Skye stays well shrouded, and later more widely shrouded again.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
20%
Sunshine and air clarity?
A few glimpses of weak afternoon sun, but otherwise mostly cloudy. Mixed visibility, often poor in cloud/drizzle but very good where out of cloud.
How Cold? (at 900m)
6 or 7C, mildest north, and may rise a degree north of Ullapool. Feeling as cold as -10C in direct wind.
Freezing Level
Above the summits all day, lowering to around 1000m overnight.
Planning Outlook
Tuesday starts largely dry and temperatures trend milder than prior days, but rain and strengthening south-southwesterly winds return from the west later. Milder into mid-late week, but Scottish high tops above 1200m close to freezing at times. Wednesday through Friday sees unsettled conditions with showers, occasionally more persistent rain, accompanied by strong gusty winds, gales over mountains for periods, but also brighter spells between rain. With strengthening sunshine, temperatures will tend to rise several degrees during daylight, often becoming warm in the valleys; slopes north of major hill groups often milder. Higher pressure gradually builds through next weekend, bringing fewer showers and lighter winds; chilly overnight, but fairly mild spring days.