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.)
Friday'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.
Cold
Air temperature below 0C all day on higher mountains. Significant chill factor if exposed to strong winds. Suitable protective clothing required.
Click an icon for more information or click here for a key to all icons.
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.
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
Friday 10th April 2026
Last updated
Thu 9th Apr 26 at
3:50PM
Summary for all mountain areas
A few morning snow flurries in west Scotland, then dry and sunny for most. Cloudier in Wales, some light afternoon rain; high cloud gradually weakening the sun more widely. Wind strengthens from the west afternoon, most notably in Scotland where reaching gale-force in exposure by evening, severe in west around dusk.
Headline for The Northwest Highlands
Chilly sunshine; wind strengthens, gales into evening
How windy? (On the Munros)
Westerly 15-25mph at dawn, strongest north and east. Shifting southerly and easing through morning, 10-20mph. Shifting southeasterly and strengthening afternoon, to 40-55mph by evening, strongest Skye. Reaching 70mph soon after dark in west.
Effect of the wind on you?
Fairly small much of morning, some blustery spots in exposure, then a rapid deterioration through afternoon, quickest near Skye, where walking becomes difficult by dusk with severe wind chill.
How Wet?
Mostly dry; some early scattered showers
Well-scattered snow showers at dawn, soon largely confined to southern Munros, nearly entirely dry through afternoon, small chance of an odd shower on Skye. Snow arrives from the southwest after dark, rain on low slopes.
Cloud on the hills?
Patchy cloud early, mostly on Cuillin, lifting for clear Munros afternoon
Some patchy cloud on middle and upper slopes at dawn, this soon dissipating for many cloud-free Munros; banks of cloud come and go on the Cuillin above 700-800m for a time, but these bases will rise too, for substantially clear Munros afternoon.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
40% Cuillin in the morning, rising to 80% widely afternoon
Sunshine and air clarity?
Often sunny, though some fair weather cloud builds afternoon. High cloud also building from the southwest later afternoon. Very good visibility, some early haze.
How Cold? (at 900m)
-2 or -3C, rising to 0C, to +1C from Ben Wyvis to Ben Hope. Later, feeling like -15C or colder in strongest direct wind.
Freezing Level
400-500m early in day, perhaps 600m Cuillin. Lowest well-inland, also some frost in inland glens. Gradually lifting to 800m, though locally 1000m toward Ben Wyvis.
Viewing Forecast For
The Northwest Highlands
Saturday 11th April 2026
Last updated
Thu 9th Apr 26 at
3:50PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
Southerly 30-40mph, quite variable, at times lighter winds east and north. Stronger speeds early and late, 50mph.
Effect of the wind on you?
Strenuous walking with significant wind chill all day. Balance and stability more substantially challenged early and late.
How Wet?
Frequent snow/hail showers
Dawn rain and snow soon clears east, followed by streams of snow and hail showers, mostly Skye and nearby, rain below 500m; a risk of isolated lightning. Showers trending northward afternoon, easing later in the day.
Cloud on the hills?
Mostly early, improving to many clear tops
Most Munros shrouded at dawn from at least 800m and up, lower bases on southern slopes, soon beginning to lift and break from Skye and gradually more widely. Cloud returns to the summits in the south and west in showers, eastern Munros often clear through afternoon.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
30% rising to 80%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Bursts of sunshine increasingly common, perhaps more extensive later. Very good visibility but suddenly very poor in rain/snow.
How Cold? (at 900m)
-1 to 0C, coolest early. May rise locally to +1C. Feeling like -15C in direct wind.
Freezing Level
Variable, around 600-700m, lower frosts in the morning, and tending to rise, perhaps towards 900m.
Viewing Forecast For
The Northwest Highlands
Sunday 12th April 2026
Last updated
Thu 9th Apr 26 at
3:50PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
Southerly, uncertainty about peak speeds, likely varying 30 to 50mph, chance 60mph+ particularly west coast tops.
Effect of the wind on you?
Expect often arduous walking with powerful squally gusts knocking you off balance. Significant wind chill.
How Wet?
Heavy showers, hail, snow
Broadly showery, most frequent all day toward Skye and Torridon, but increasingly widespread north/eastward by afternoon; heavy bursts with hail, snow at times falling toward 600m, risk of isolated thunder.
Cloud on the hills?
Varying, most persistent near Skye
Frequently covering western tops from Wester Ross to Skye above 800m, some patches to 600m or lower in showers, but brief breaks to upper slopes. Better breaks further north/east away from showers.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
20% west, to 40% north/east
Sunshine and air clarity?
Intermittent bright sunshine, but rare around Skye. Visibility changing suddenly from very good to briefly appalling in snow/hail and cloud.
How Cold? (at 900m)
1 or 2C. Wind chill feeling like -10 to -15C.
Freezing Level
Mostly 1000m or above, may be briefly lower, particularly around showers.
Planning Outlook
Showers and sunshine this weekend, windy with gales at times, and cool temperatures bringing snowflakes to some middle slopes. Variable weather regimes next week: Atlantic west-southwesterly winds likely dominant, with low pressure to the northwest of the country, bringing cloud, rain, and mild temperatures, often followed by sun, showers, and cooler temperatures; rain will be increasingly common to the high Munros, but the snowfall level will lower too during periods of cooler weather, and perhaps to high Lakeland fells, though any snow unlikely to accumulate here. Next weekend, indications of high pressure increasingly building, bringing drier and brighter conditions with mild days, though the risk remains of occasional rain and cooler temperatures, notably in Scotland.