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
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.
Patchy cloud and winter sun
Mostly dry with a mix of cloud and sun, patchy cloud occasionally covering some mountain slopes.
Cold
Air temperature below 0C all day on higher mountains. Significant chill factor if exposed to strong winds. Suitable protective clothing required.
Winter kit required on higher terrain
Snow cover over higher mountains. Safe progress over some terrain will require suitable footwear - possibly crampons and ice-axe where necessary.
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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.
Patchy cloud and winter sun
Mostly dry with a mix of cloud and sun, patchy cloud occasionally covering some mountain slopes.
Cold
Air temperature below 0C all day on higher mountains. Significant chill factor if exposed to strong winds. Suitable protective clothing required.
Winter kit required on higher terrain
Snow cover over higher mountains. Safe progress over some terrain will require suitable footwear - possibly crampons and ice-axe where necessary.
Viewing Forecast For
The Northwest Highlands
Monday 26th January 2026
Last updated
Sun 25th Jan 26 at
4:15PM
Summary for all mountain areas
Gale-force and very gusty southeasterly winds Scottish mountains, tending to strengthen. Patchy snow and low cloud affects the eastern Highlands; largely dry and clearer toward west/northwest. Some cloud breaks for the Lakes. Rain and upland gales moves into Wales from the west in the afternoon.
Headline for The Northwest Highlands
Upland gales, gusty. Largely dry, cloud breaks west coast.
How windy? (On the Munros)
East-southeasterly 35 to 45mph, powerful gusts downslope to some lower ground in west; generally strengthening, sustained 50-60mph into afternoon-evening.
Effect of the wind on you?
Walking soon becomes challenging with buffeting gusts making balance difficult in exposure, generally deteriorating to become widely difficult. Severe wind chill.
How Wet?
Local light snow, largely dry west
Patchy light snow will drift into Caithness with some spots in the wind drifting further west. Some patches may reach Kintail as well. The west coast likely remains dry.
Cloud on the hills?
Higher bases and broken west coast
Cloud often shrouding the high terrain of Easter Ross and Caithness, bases reaching middle slopes during snow. More broken toward west coast and Skye, mostly just patches on high terrain, clearing tops for periods.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
30%, up to 70% nearest west coast.
Sunshine and air clarity?
Often bright or sunny along the west coast, high cloud arriving to the south with time. Very good visibility here too, poorer east where in cloud/snow.
How Cold? (at 900m)
-2 or -3C. Feeling like -15 to -20C in direct wind.
Freezing Level
400-500m, up to 600m Skye/Torridon or slightly higher some coastal slopes. Local frost in some inland glens in the morning as well.
Viewing Forecast For
The Northwest Highlands
Tuesday 27th January 2026
Last updated
Sun 25th Jan 26 at
4:15PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
East-southeasterly 55-65mph, soon rising, reaching sustained speeds of 70-80mph, with powerful gusts downslope.
Effect of the wind on you?
Widely difficult conditions - mobility likely only by crawling in full force of wind and gusts. Severe wind chill.
How Wet?
Snow inland and east slopes
Snow on and off on eastern slopes from Ben Wyvis to Ben Hope. Only wind-blown snow reaching Wester Ross and Skye, very little if any towards the coast.
Cloud on the hills?
Breaks to high terrain near west coast
Cloud shrouds high terrain from Ben Wyvis to Ben Hope most or all day, and likely Skye too - bases reaching to middle slopes during snow. Higher bases and often broken towards coastal Wester Ross, some summits may see clear periods.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
20% inland/east, up to 40% west.
Sunshine and air clarity?
Mostly cloudy, some bright periods on low western terrain. Good visibility, though suddenly poor during snowfalls.
How Cold? (at 900m)
-3C, locally near 0C Skye/west coast slopes. Feeling like -18 to -23C in strongest wind.
Freezing Level
400-500m. Locally much more variable near west coast, above freezing point to some higher elevations.
Viewing Forecast For
The Northwest Highlands
Wednesday 28th January 2026
Last updated
Sun 25th Jan 26 at
4:15PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
Southeasterly 40 to 60mph - some uncertainty, peak speeds varying, generally strongest toward west coast.
Effect of the wind on you?
Difficult conditions with powerful gusts to some lower slopes. Significant wind chill. Chance of local improvements.
How Wet?
Patchy rain, sleet/snow some tops
Rain may be frequent or more persistent for a few hours, some snow on high tops mainly inland.
Cloud on the hills?
Varied, clearer northwest coasts
Covering eastern hills and south Cuillin much of day to mid-slopes. More broken and higher in west north of Torridon.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
30%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Glimpses of sun mainly coastal areas near Ullapool. Visibility good, though some haze near coast, poorer if in rain.
How Cold? (at 900m)
0 or +1C. Wind chill feeling like -10 to -15C.
Freezing Level
800 to 1000m, but just above freezing on many west coastal higher slopes. Patchy frost some glens from dawn.
Planning Outlook
Powerful southeasterlies prevail across Scotland this week and many indications favour strong east or southeasterly winds onward into the first half of February. Scottish mountains are expected stay below freezing in the extended range, fresh heavy snowfalls giving substantial depths and drifts across south and eastern areas, much less snow northwestward. Hills in England and Wales will see varying freezing levels, sub-zero for periods to 600m or lower, but intermittently lifting just above the tops - a mix of rain and upland snowfall. A generally unsettled pattern with Atlantic lows continuing to frequently circulate over Britain on a southerly track, whilst high pressure resides away to the north.