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.)
Wednesday'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 rain mix
Precipitation falling mostly as snow on higher terrain, rain on low-to-middle elevations, may turn to sleet or rain higher up.
Whiteout
Fog and lying snow over the mountains, possibly with falling or blowing snow, very disorientating. Map and compass essential, beware of unseen hazards.
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 rain mix
Precipitation falling mostly as snow on higher terrain, rain on low-to-middle elevations, may turn to sleet or rain higher up.
Whiteout
Fog and lying snow over the mountains, possibly with falling or blowing snow, very disorientating. Map and compass essential, beware of unseen hazards.
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
Wednesday 1st April 2026
Last updated
Tue 31st Mar 26 at
4:22PM
Summary for all mountain areas
Rain spreads across Scottish Highlands from the northwest, turning to snow as temperature sharply drops. Strong, variable wind here with gale-force gusts. Early hill cloud England and Wales lifts, best breaks east for some sun glimpses. Patchy rain into Snowdonia, Lakeland, and N Pennines late in the day.
Headline for The Northwest Highlands
Heavy rain turns to snow; gales, gusty and variable
How windy? (On the Munros)
Southwesterly 45-55mph at dawn with strong gusts. Through morning, a sudden shift to northerly wind, a brief easing of speed, but suddenly strengthening again, gusting 50mph for a time, but tending to ease towards 30-35mph into evening.
Effect of the wind on you?
Difficult conditions from dawn, balance constantly challenged with significant wind chill. Highly variable for a periods, an easing trend later in the far north, but walking likely remains strenuous.
How Wet?
Rain sets in, turns to snow, breaks late in the day
Rain arrives to Skye and the west coast by dawn, spreading widely through morning, turning to snow on high northern tops soon; heavy falls likely. Snowfall lowers towards middle slopes, at least, an easing trend from the west later afternoon. Some showers from the north follow as night falls.
Cloud on the hills?
Extensive, may improve late in the day
Soon covering the mountains widely as precipitation sets in, often to low slopes, from coastal cliffs up in west. Local bases up to 700m Ben Wyvis early. Later afternoon, bases rising variably as snow turns to showers, breaks may form higher up late in the day.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
Below 10%, rising to 30% northern Munros
Sunshine and air clarity?
Overcast, dull, poor visibility in rain, very poor in snow and cloud, possible whiteout for periods on high terrain over snow cover. Some improvement late in the day as snow breaks to showers but with a risk returning to very poor.
How Cold? (at 900m)
3 or 4C at and before dawn, soon sharply dropping from the north to 0C, the colder air spreading widely, most areas -2 or -3C by mid-afternoon. Feeling like -10C in exposure to wind.
Freezing Level
Above summits at and before dawn, soon lowering onto high tops from north, rapidly dropping from the north through morning towards 600m, locally lower with time.
Viewing Forecast For
The Northwest Highlands
Thursday 2nd April 2026
Last updated
Tue 31st Mar 26 at
4:22PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
Variable 10mph early, turning southerly, rising to 25-35mph afternoon; strongest Skye, risk gusts to 50mph.
Effect of the wind on you?
Small in the morning, gradually deteriorating, walking becomes strenuous-to-arduous west with wind chill.
How Wet?
Rain/snow from the west afternoon
Dry through morning. Through afternoon, rain arriving from the west, snow above 600-700m, spreading more widely across south and western Munros into the evening.
Cloud on the hills?
Summits often clear
Some variable cloud patches at several heights from before dawn, these lifting and mostly dissipating for clear hills. Occasional cloud patches will drift over the high tops, but clear periods likely as well. Increasing risk of cloud over the Cuillin ridge afternoon, spreading more widely into evening.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
70%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Often sunny, some high cloud at times weakening the sunshine. Very good visibility.
How Cold? (at 900m)
-3C lifting to -1C. Feeling as cold as -10C in wind later in the day.
Freezing Level
Most terrain frozen at dawn, through locally 300-400m Skye. Rising, approaching 700-800m.
Viewing Forecast For
The Northwest Highlands
Friday 3rd April 2026
Last updated
Tue 31st Mar 26 at
4:22PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
Variable, generally southwesterly 35-50mph with powerful gusts, but may be more variable and lighter for periods.
Effect of the wind on you?
Challenging conditions likely on the hills, balance will be difficult and feeling chilly. Some variability is probable.
How Wet?
Periods of snow/rain
Snow and rain affecting all areas much of the day, snow down to 400m, but perhaps to higher slopes briefly. A mix of showers and longer periods of precipitation, heavy at times, notably Skye.
Cloud on the hills?
Likely extensive, may break somewhat
Blanket cloud shrouds most hills to middle slopes most or all day, to the lower slopes near the west coast. May briefly lift higher during cessations in precipitation, and more frequently broken late in the day, but detail is uncertain.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
10%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Mostly overcast and dull, perhaps an odd glimpse of weak sun, best chance late in the day. Mostly poor visibility in fog and rain.
How Cold? (at 900m)
0 to -2C early, likely rising, up to +2C though timing/detail very uncertain. Feeling like -10 to -15C in direct wind.
Freezing Level
600-800m from overnight, likely lifting for a period, to or above the summits, lowering again later; timing and detail uncertain.
Planning Outlook
A brief lull in unsettled weather on Thursday with mostly dry, sunny conditions and lighter wind. Atlantic weather patterns and west-southwesterly winds follow behind on Friday and into the Easter weekend, but day-to-day detail is uncertain. Temperature and wind will be variable, periods of gales and possibly often cold over the mountains with snow and hail showers at times to lower elevations at least in Scotland, sometimes more widely. Precipitation generally most frequent west and northwest, though bands of heavy rain will sweep east at times. Some brief windows of drier and brighter conditions, as well as milder days in England and Wales, occasionally milder Scotland too, but soon followed by more Atlantic low pressure.