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
Windy, walking impeded
Blustery conditions enough to give buffeting on higher terrain or affect balance on exposed ridges. 25 to 40mph.
Patchwork of cloud and sun
Dry most or all day. A mix of cloud and sunshine. Occasional cloud banks drifting over higher slopes, lifting above the tops.
Clear over snow cover
Excellent or superb visibility, but be aware that paths over the mountains may be obscured by lying snow.
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.
Terrain widely frozen
All ground frozen from lower elevations upward, at least in morning, with hard frost or snow cover. Beware of icy surfaces on lower and higher terrain. Appropriate footwear needed, crampons may be necessary on mountains.
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Windy, walking impeded
Blustery conditions enough to give buffeting on higher terrain or affect balance on exposed ridges. 25 to 40mph.
Patchwork of cloud and sun
Dry most or all day. A mix of cloud and sunshine. Occasional cloud banks drifting over higher slopes, lifting above the tops.
Clear over snow cover
Excellent or superb visibility, but be aware that paths over the mountains may be obscured by lying snow.
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.
Terrain widely frozen
All ground frozen from lower elevations upward, at least in morning, with hard frost or snow cover. Beware of icy surfaces on lower and higher terrain. Appropriate footwear needed, crampons may be necessary on mountains.
Viewing Forecast For
The Northwest Highlands
Monday 6th April 2026
Last updated
Sun 5th Apr 26 at
4:28PM
Summary for all mountain areas
Gusty southerly winds, strongest on west coastal mountains in Scotland. A chilly start with frost, notably chilly at first in the Highlands, gradually warming up to rise above freezing later to all tops. Generally dry, with sun and a veil of high cloud, but most hills clear. A little rain may graze western Scotland later.
Headline for The Northwest Highlands
Gusty wind, to gale force Skye. Mostly dry, a little rain later west.
How windy? (On the Munros)
Southwest then southerly, 25 to 40mph, strongest on Skye, locally lower speeds Sutherland in the morning.
Effect of the wind on you?
Affecting ease of walking and balance on western ridges, particularly Cuillin with frequent buffeting here. Notably gusty some downslopes to north. Smaller eastern areas.
How Wet?
Light rain or drizzle mostly Skye afternoon
Many places dry all day. A little patchy rain or drizzle mostly Skye and nearby mainland - later afternoon into evening becoming more generally damp in cloud on Cuillin. Substantial fresh snow cover across the mountains, a covering to lower elevations.
Cloud on the hills?
Mostly around Skye, little if any north/east
Patchy cloud banks over west coastal hills, most persistent on Skye where risk filling in to lower elevations for periods, especially on south Cuillin afternoon onward. Many tops toward the north and east of the region clear all day.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
40% Skye, to 90% north/east areas.
Sunshine and air clarity?
Sun mostly weak through high cloud, very good visibility inland, north and east. Thicker overcast skies likely around Skye where hazier, risk often poor visibility.
How Cold? (at 900m)
-2C from dawn, rising to +2C locally +4C afternoon. Feeling like -8 to -12C directly in wind.
Freezing Level
Hard frost inland glens in morning, much mountain terrain frozen all day, but air temperature rising above freezing to tops by late in day.
Viewing Forecast For
The Northwest Highlands
Tuesday 7th April 2026
Last updated
Sun 5th Apr 26 at
4:28PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
Southerly 30 to 50mph, locally very variable, typically strongest Skye; powerful gusts on some downslopes to north.
Effect of the wind on you?
Challenging conditions over the Cuillin; variable but sudden buffeting gusts also elsewhere, not necessarily on tops.
How Wet?
Rain later west
Patchy rain pushing onto west coastal areas in afternoon, mostly spots from high cloud, possibly an odd burst of rain forming mainly later in the day. By evening onward, more persistent rain setting in west, patchy inland and east.
Cloud on the hills?
Little if any much of day
Patchy mist some glens at first. The mountains generally clear much of the day, but later some cloud banks form on and near Skye, mainly south Cuillin, filling in further by evening onward into night.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
80%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Sun best early in day, becoming fairly weak through high-level cloud, tending to thicken to cover the sky. Visibility excellent; Skye may be hazier.
How Cold? (at 900m)
6C rising to 10C, locally warmer north. Directly in the stronger wind, feeling below freezing, in places nearer to -5C.
Freezing Level
Above the summits. Possible slight frost some sheltered inland glens at dawn.
Viewing Forecast For
The Northwest Highlands
Wednesday 8th April 2026
Last updated
Sun 5th Apr 26 at
4:28PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
South to southwesterly 20 to 35mph, strongest toward west coast, tending to strengthen during day, later 40-50mph.
Effect of the wind on you?
Fairly small eastern areas for many hours, but more blustery west, likely to become more gusty and challenging with time.
How Wet?
Rain or summit snow more likely later
A little patchy rain, an odd showery burst possible, small amounts. Later in day, more persistent rain likely returns from the west. Some sleet or snow falling above 800m.
Cloud on the hills?
Some patches, lowering later west
Patchy cloud around some slopes at varied heights from dawn, becoming confined to higher tops, tending to break up. Then later in day, likely lowering more extensively from west, filling in soonest on Skye.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
50%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Occasional sun mostly morning in northern areas; a veil of high cloud thickens again. Visibility excellent, reducing later if rain develops west.
How Cold? (at 900m)
1 or 2C, slightly warmer toward east. Feeling like -10C directly in the wind, risk later nearer -15C.
Freezing Level
Likely close to freezing on higher tops around 1000-1100m.
Planning Outlook
Quite warm by Tuesday, but strong to gale force southerly winds widely, very gusty in places, not just over the highest tops; dry for many, rain encroaching into western Scotland, thawing of recent snow. Staying warm on Wednesday for England & Wales at least, becoming cooler over western Scotland, then more widely cooler Thursday; milder by Friday, then likely chilly again by weekend - cooler spells will drop sub-zero on Scottish tops. A changeable mix of weather with some rain and showers with snow or hail on the hills, and often windy late week into the weekend in Scotland, whilst England & Wales will be generally drier and less windy in the outlook.