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.)
Tuesday'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.
Patchy cloud and winter sun
Mostly dry with a mix of cloud and sun, patchy cloud occasionally covering some mountain slopes.
Clear over snow cover
Excellent or superb visibility, but be aware that paths over the mountains may be obscured by lying snow.
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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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.
Patchy cloud and winter sun
Mostly dry with a mix of cloud and sun, patchy cloud occasionally covering some mountain slopes.
Clear over snow cover
Excellent or superb visibility, but be aware that paths over the mountains may be obscured by lying snow.
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
Tuesday 17th February 2026
Last updated
Mon 16th Feb 26 at
3:52PM
Summary for all mountain areas
Early snow showers in northern Scotland and north Wales, these easing to dry and sunny conditions across the country. Lying snow remains on most slopes above 700-800m, locally lower. A blustery morning, particularly eastern areas where powerful gusts will reach gale force, but easing to fairly small effects widely.
Headline for The Northwest Highlands
A few coastal snow showers; cold winter sunshine, blustery early
How windy? (On the Munros)
A gusty northerly 25 to 35mph at first, soon beginning to drop from the west, to 10mph or less and variable direction.
Effect of the wind on you?
Prepare for considerable wind chill in the morning, blustery conditions for a few hours at least, but improving to small or negligible impacts in the afternoon.
How Wet?
Early snow showers or flurries, dying out
At and before dawn, snow showers in Sutherland and near the coast to the south (a risk of hail); the risk of showers lessens with time, though a small risk an odd shower affecting coastal slopes.
Cloud on the hills?
Becoming confined to higher areas and increasingly clearing
Patchy cloud in the morning on higher slopes of Sutherland and near the west coast, patchy at best elsewhere and southern inland hills largely clear. By afternoon, patches isolated above 900m near north and west coast, and the hills mostly clear.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
Rising to 80% by afternoon
Sunshine and air clarity?
Patchwork of cloud and bright sunshine, the sunshine most consistent inland. Excellent visibility, reduced around early showers.
How Cold? (at 900m)
-5C, may rise a degree, most likely near the west coast. Early in day, feeling like -15C directly in the wind, colder on high tops, easing.
Freezing Level
300m but most terrain frozen, including inland glens; slight rise toward coast, partial thawing lowest sunlit slopes inland, then re-freezing after sunset.
Viewing Forecast For
The Northwest Highlands
Wednesday 18th February 2026
Last updated
Mon 16th Feb 26 at
3:52PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
South-southeasterly 20-30mph; strengthening, 25-40mph, strongest south and west with powerful gusts.
Effect of the wind on you?
Strenuous-to-arduous walking with significant wind chill - strong gusts at many elevations constantly affecting stability.
How Wet?
No precipitation expected
Cloud on the hills?
Likely little
Cloud caps will graze the high summits from Ullapool northward to Ben Hope from time to time, but the Munros otherwise free of cloud.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
90%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Mostly sunny, some high cloud around. Excellent visibility.
How Cold? (at 900m)
-4 or -3C, highest temperature in the coastal northwest, locally -2C. Feeling like -10 to -15C in strongest wind.
Freezing Level
Most terrain frozen from dawn, low sun-exposed slopes thawing, up to 500m west and northern coasts.
Viewing Forecast For
The Northwest Highlands
Thursday 19th February 2026
Last updated
Mon 16th Feb 26 at
3:52PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
Generally southerly, some variability, 35-45mph; strong gusts, approaching 55mph or higher Skye.
Effect of the wind on you?
Walking arduous with severe wind chill; buffeting in exposure making it challenging to stay on your feet.
How Wet?
Some patchy coastal precipitation
Patchy snow affecting west coastal slopes in the afternoon, rain below 500m; a marginal risk of spreading more widely into evening.
Cloud on the hills?
Little expected
The hills otherwise largely cloud free. Later in the day, cloud moves in from the west to graze high terrain.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
90%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Often sunny but weakened by high cloud, which may thicken with time. Very good visibility.
How Cold? (at 900m)
Between -3 to -1C, local variability and only little change with added height.
Freezing Level
Terrain widely frozen from dawn, lifting though spatially variable, 400-600m, perhaps higher to the far north and west.
Planning Outlook
Much terrain frozen midweek, frost into valleys and glens. Strengthening wind on Wednesday with considerable gustiness, gales likely in Wales; possible snow moving into Wales as well, which may move further north but detail is uncertain. Late in the week and through next weekend, a switch to southwesterly winds is expected, bringing a change to milder conditions - lifting above freezing to tops in England and Wales, and generally higher freezing levels in Scotland; periods of thawing likely to Munro summits, though some further snowfall at times on higher Munros during periods of cooler northwesterly wind. Rain most frequent over western hills. Generally windy with upland gales.