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
Gale force, walking arduous
Considerable buffeting, walking into the wind will be strenuous on exposed terrain, stronger gusts may knock you off your feet. 40 to 55mph.
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.
Hazy, some fog banks
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Distant views reduced by haze, locally foggy for a time in valleys and some hill slopes.
Cold
Air temperature below 0C all day on higher mountains. Significant chill factor if exposed to strong winds. Suitable protective clothing required.
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Gale force, walking arduous
Considerable buffeting, walking into the wind will be strenuous on exposed terrain, stronger gusts may knock you off your feet. 40 to 55mph.
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.
Hazy, some fog banks
Distant views reduced by haze, locally foggy for a time in valleys and some hill slopes.
Cold
Air temperature below 0C all day on higher mountains. Significant chill factor if exposed to strong winds. Suitable protective clothing required.
Viewing Forecast For
The Northwest Highlands
Thursday 12th November 2026
Last updated
Wed 11th Nov 26 at
12:26PM
Summary for all mountain areas
Low freezing level in briefly very cold northerly wind: widely gale force Scottish Highlands. A little less windy south into N England and Wales. Hail and snow showers northern and coastal NW Highlands, a few flurries elsewhere, albeit much of upland Britain fine and sunny.
Headline for The Northwest Highlands
Upland gales slowly easing. Snow adn hail showers, mainly north.
How windy? (On the Munros)
Northerly 35 to 45mph post dawn easing slowly through daylight to 25 to 35mph, least wind in the ranges will be toward the west coast.
Effect of the wind on you?
Strenuous walking in exposure, more arduous north and eastern areas, frequent buffeting. Significant wind chill.
How Wet?
Snow and hail showers; very few reaching southern mountains on mainland
A feed of mostly brief snow showers coming in from the north, some hail; mostly rain only lowest slopes. Few showers, perhaps only flurries, on mainland mountains south from Torridon.
Cloud on the hills?
Varying over higher tops
Banks of cloud drifting across high terrain, mostly above 800-900m, briefly lower in showers near to coasts, but breaking toward or above many tops, widely so on mainland south from Torridon.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
20% Sutherland and Wester Ross to 80% south of Torridon
Sunshine and air clarity?
Sunshine mostly toward Great Glen, but breaking through at times elsewhere. Some coastal haze, but visibility excellent inland; suddenly poor in snow showers.
How Cold? (at 900m)
-2C. Feeling like -10 to -15C directly in the wind.
Freezing Level
700m, a little higher Skye and nearby coastal tops. Frost widely in glens morning, all day out of sunlight.
Viewing Forecast For
The Northwest Highlands
Friday 13th November 2026
Last updated
Wed 11th Nov 26 at
12:26PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
Westerly, 20-25mph rising during day to 30-35mph, or 40mph on northern mountains afternoon.
Effect of the wind on you?
Increasingly affecting ease of walking, becoming strenuous, frequent buffeting and significant wind chill develops in north.
How Wet?
Snow showers; rain lower slopes
Showers moving inland from the west coast, falling as snow initially to 500m or briefly lower inland, then mostly above 800m by afternoon. Risk of steadier rain for west coastal areas with time, snow then confined to highest tops.
Cloud on the hills?
Increasingly covering western tops
Low cloud extensive western mountains above 600m. Higher cloud base progressively eastward, but patches still likely to come and go on tops.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
20%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Glimpses of sun, mostly eastern areas. Visibility often excellent, but reducing in precipitation, occasionally poor if in snow.
How Cold? (at 900m)
-1C. Wind chill feeling increasingly like -10C, or later colder on northern summits.
Freezing Level
Near the coast, 600-700m, rising marginally through day. particularly near coast. Some glens frosty all day out of sunlight.
Viewing Forecast For
The Northwest Highlands
Saturday 14th November 2026
Last updated
Wed 11th Nov 26 at
12:26PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
West or southwesterly between 30 and 40mph.
Effect of the wind on you?
Increasing buffeting and wind chill becoming considerable with increasing height. Expect balance sometimes to be difficult.
How Wet?
Rain or higher up snow on and off
Local detail uncertain as areas of frequent showery rain - or above 450 later 750m snow, interspersed with dry areas drift across region. Wettest near the coast, very little easternmost areas (e.g. Ben Wyvis).
Cloud on the hills?
Most mountains persistently foggy. Cloud base progressively higher eastwards.
Near the coast, cloud base typically 400 to 600m, whilst well inland 450 to 750m, and perhaps reaching 900m Ben Wyvis.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
10%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Sunshine now and again, mainly lower slopes well inland. Persistently hazy, or foggy, particularly western mountains.
How Cold? (at 900m)
-1C. Will feel as cold as minus 12C directly in the wind.
Freezing Level
500 to 700m, tending to rise to 800 to 1000m. Highest freezing level near the coast.
Planning Outlook
The present extensively dry and often relatively windless weather will end over the next few days as low pressure envelopes Britain. Showery conditions (snow on higher areas) will arrive on western mountains (mainly W & NW Scotland) on Saturday, before the threat of widespread rain - or snow higher areas of the Highlands - on Sunday. There may also be upland gales (although as yet considerable uncertainty for Sunday). Next week, frequent precipitation, low cloud and bouts of upland gales.