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.)
The Northwest Highlands
Tuesday 6th January 2026
Last updated
Mon 5th Jan 26 at
4:30PM
Intermittent snowfall to lower slopes pushes widely eastwards, increasingly more prolonged and heavier snow from the west across the Highlands, though near the west coast becoming sleet or rain to mid-heights. Hill snow and rain lower down setting in for England and Wales from the west afternoon. Wind varied, but tending to strengthen.
Heavy snow setting in. Varied but increasing wind.
Changeable: west-southwesterly 20-35mph, trending northerly afternoon and rising, up to 40mph on high exposed tops, by evening 50-60mph.
Variable conditions, walking often strenuous with significant wind chill, though some periods of lighter wind possible.
Snow increasingly heavy by late morning, showery later in day.
Patchy snow soon becomes widespread for most of daylight, heavy sustained snowfall widely. Increasingly falling as sleet to middle slopes of Skye and the west coast for a time. Breaking back into showers late in the day.
Extensive
Cloud shrouds the hills to middle or lower slopes for most or all of daylight. Some breaks forming in the north around and after dusk as snow turns showery.
10%
Sunshine unlikely. Appalling visibility, whiteout conditions soon widespread and persistent.
-1 to -4C, some variability; trending colder into nighttime. Feeling as cold as -18C in the wind.
Terrain widely frozen from overnight, lifting briefly, up to 800m near Skye, then lowering back to 400-600m afternoon west coast. Unlikely above 300-400m inland.
The Northwest Highlands
Wednesday 7th January 2026
Last updated
Mon 5th Jan 26 at
4:30PM
Northwest then westerly, 30mph or risk stronger up to dawn, easing to 15mph, or less afternoon; then increasing into night.
Be prepared for marked wind chill on exposed high terrain, risk more blustery at first, becoming smaller during day.
Local snow showers
Snow showers or flurries mostly coastal areas and toward north, tending to fade. Into night, risk patchy snow developing mainly around Skye, turning to sleet.
Patchy cloud
Varied cloud banks in the morning, mainly higher western slopes. Tending to break up into patches and clear some tops inland.
40%
Mix of cloud and sun. Visibility very good.
-3C, up to -1C near west coast. Feeling like -10 to -15C in the wind early in day.
Near/below freezing glens upward inland; up to 500m near west coast and on Skye.
The Northwest Highlands
Thursday 8th January 2026
Last updated
Mon 5th Jan 26 at
4:30PM
Direction and speed likely to vary: mostly south or southwesterly, 10 to 25mph.
Fairly small.
Patchy light snow
Occasional snow flurries, mostly western areas, sleet or rain lower coastal slopes.
Varied cloud mostly higher areas
Patchy cloud around upper slopes and corries, most common toward west coast. Some mist lower down inland.
50%
Mostly cloudy, some glimpses of sun. Visibility very good where dry, reducing in showers. Beware difficult navigation if in fog over snow cover on tops.
-4C, up to -1C Skye and nearest coast.
Most terrain frozen and snow covered, some glens stay sub-zero. In places just above freezing to 400m, mostly coasts.
Freezing conditions persist this week - some changes by the weekend as Atlantic lows try to circulate further northwards, bringing a period of thawing mainly to England and particularly Wales, whilst Scottish mountains may see brief if any periods of above-freezing conditions even onward into mid-month. Complex weather systems, with potentially a deep low moving across southern Britain by Thursday-early Friday this week which may bring some snowfalls to Wales and the southern Pennines. Often lighter winds in Scotland for a few days, but another low may track further north later in weekend bringing widespread gales, and mostly rain to England and Wales, snow and lowland rain to Scotland.