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
Severe gale or storm, mobility very difficult
Severe conditions on the mountains, any movement very challenging, you may be blown over. 55-70mph+
Snow flurries
Occasional light snow flurries, sleet or rain lower elevations. Amounts little more than nuisance value, but locally more persistent and reducing visibility for periods.
Hazy, some fog banks
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Visibility reduced around cloud banks, hazier on some lower slopes. Locally some improvements possible out of cloud.
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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Severe gale or storm, mobility very difficult
Severe conditions on the mountains, any movement very challenging, you may be blown over. 55-70mph+
Snow flurries
Occasional light snow flurries, sleet or rain lower elevations. Amounts little more than nuisance value, but locally more persistent and reducing visibility for periods.
Hazy, some fog banks
Visibility reduced around cloud banks, hazier on some lower slopes. Locally some improvements possible out of cloud.
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 27th January 2026
Last updated
Mon 26th Jan 26 at
4:20PM
Summary for all mountain areas
Severe conditions - storm-force winds on mountains, damaging gusts to some lower terrain. Extensive hill snow for N England & S Scotland, snow setting in heavier with time for southern Highlands; blizzard conditions widely, rain only lower slopes. Showery bursts follow in Wales with risk of hail and thunder.
Headline for The Northwest Highlands
Increasingly severe gales. Patchy snow east, largely dry west.
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 eastern hills
Snow on and off on eastern slopes from Ben Wyvis to Ben Hope, persistent at times, though small amounts. 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 west coast, though a general haze most areas, 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. Rising variably to 800m or above evening-night.
Viewing Forecast For
The Northwest Highlands
Wednesday 28th January 2026
Last updated
Mon 26th Jan 26 at
4:20PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
Southeasterly 30 to 50mph - strongest toward west coast, may ease further.
Effect of the wind on you?
Risk of challenging conditions particularly Skye, less further east, but blustery and gusty in places. Significant wind chill.
How Wet?
A little rain or sleet fading
Rain for a few hours around dawn, some snow on high tops mainly inland. Soon fading, leaving most of day dry.
Cloud on the hills?
Mostly east, clearer west coasts
Covering eastern hills much of day to mid-slopes. More broken and higher across most western mountains, some hills largely clear. Patches may drift onto south Cuillin.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
40%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Sun mostly west coast, weak at times through high cloud. Visibility very good west, more haze toward east coast.
How Cold? (at 900m)
0 or +1C. Wind chill feeling like -10 to -13C.
Freezing Level
800 to 1000m, but just above freezing on many west coastal higher slopes. Patchy frost some glens from dawn.
Viewing Forecast For
The Northwest Highlands
Thursday 29th January 2026
Last updated
Mon 26th Jan 26 at
4:20PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
East to southeasterly 35 to 45mph, very gusty in places downslope toward west.
Effect of the wind on you?
Challenging walking on exposed higher terrain, buffeting gusts locally lower down. Significant wind chill.
How Wet?
Occasional snow mostly northeast
Snow flurries mostly over hills from Ben Hope to Easter Ross, sleet or rain on lower slopes toward coast. Rare light flurries or spots of rain elsewhere.
Cloud on the hills?
Often covering eastern tops, breaks west
Fairly persistent cloud banks over eastern hills, bases mostly above 800m inland with breaks higher up Wester Ross and Skye.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
30%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Occasional sun mostly near west coast around Torridon where visibility good. Hazier further east and north.
How Cold? (at 900m)
-1C inland and east, up to +1C locally nearest to west coast and on Skye. Wind chill feeling like -12 to -15C.
Freezing Level
700 to 800m, or slightly lower toward Caithness. Higher toward west coast, just above freezing on some upper slopes.
Planning Outlook
Strong east or southeasterly winds likely to prevail onward into early 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.