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
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.
Heavy snow and hail showers, isolated lightning
Showery precipitation, often heavy, may merge to become constant for periods. A mix of snow and hail often falling to lower slopes. Risk of very localised thunder and lightning.
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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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.
Heavy snow and hail showers, isolated lightning
Showery precipitation, often heavy, may merge to become constant for periods. A mix of snow and hail often falling to lower slopes. Risk of very localised thunder and lightning.
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
Friday 27th March 2026
Last updated
Thu 26th Mar 26 at
3:10PM
Summary for all mountain areas
Wind strengthens across Scottish mountains to gale-force, significant chill factor. A dry morning central-eastern Highlands, but snow showers in the west develop widely and become heavier with hail. Early rain clears southeastward over England, cloud lifts and breaks; slower to improve southward across Wales.
Headline for The Northwest Highlands
Upland gales, later severe; squally hail and snow showers.
How windy? (On the Munros)
West to southwesterly, 40 to 55mph, generally strengthening in the morning, sudden squally gusts over 60mph around showers. By dusk onward sustained speeds reaching 60-70mph, soonest in north.
Effect of the wind on you?
Arduous walking with significant wind chill, increasingly difficult, making balance challenging with powerful gusts able to knock you off your feet.
How Wet?
Frequent snow and hail showers, risk thunder
From dawn, showers from the west, snow to 600m at first, but lowering to 300-400m, increasingly hail too. Showers soon push inland in morning, heavier falls for several afternoon hours; chance of isolated lightning.
Cloud on the hills?
Variable, lowest and most persistent west
Cloud comes and goes all day above 700-800m, most persistent along the west coast and as low as 600m during showers. Well-broken inland early, more frequent during afternoon showers.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
50% inland, to 30% west coast
Sunshine and air clarity?
Bursts of bright sunshine, mostly inland, rare along the west coast. Variable visibility, intermittently good, but poor or appalling during snow showers.
How Cold? (at 900m)
-1C, gradually lowering, -3C late afternoon. Feeling like -15 to -18C directly in the wind.
Freezing Level
Lowering from overnight, 700-800m at dawn, falling to 600m through the day.
Viewing Forecast For
The Northwest Highlands
Saturday 28th March 2026
Last updated
Thu 26th Mar 26 at
3:10PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
Westerly 45 to 60mph, strongest toward the north and in morning, powerful squalls. Gales likely strengthen again into night.
Effect of the wind on you?
Challenging conditions over the mountains, mobility difficult particularly morning. Significant-to-severe wind chill.
How Wet?
Hail and snow, fewer showers later
Showery morning, frequent to more constant precipitation for a time western mountains, hail and snow falling to some lower elevations. With time becoming fewer and less heavy showers and mostly rain below 600m.
Cloud on the hills?
Lifting and breaking higher during day
Often covering higher slopes above 600-800m in the morning, lowest and most persistent toward west coast. Base tending to rise, breaks to higher slopes for periods into afternoon.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
20% rising to 40%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Sun breaking through more often as the day progresses. Visibility very poor in showers, then more often becoming very good.
How Cold? (at 900m)
-3C rising to 0C. Wind chill feeling like -15 to -20C.
Freezing Level
600m in morning, rising to 800-900m afternoon.
Viewing Forecast For
The Northwest Highlands
Sunday 29th March 2026
Last updated
Thu 26th Mar 26 at
3:10PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
Southwest at first, soon westerly, 70-80mph around dawn, then near 50mph all day, sudden squally gusts.
Effect of the wind on you?
Severe conditions at first, remaining difficult over the mountains all day, mobility often challenging. Severe wind chill.
How Wet?
Heavy rain, snow, then showery hail
A swathe of heavy rain from before dawn, a more intense band soon moving through early morning, abruptly turning to snow to mid-elevations. Then showery hail, and snow falling increasingly toward 400m.
Cloud on the hills?
Varied over tops
Cloud base constantly changing, 600 to 900m, lowest near west coast in showers, patches at times inland. Briefly breaking to above higher slopes.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
30%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Brief bursts of sun, mainly in east. Visibility changing quickly, at times very poor in snow, intermittently very good.
How Cold? (at 900m)
+1C at first, dropping to -1C or later -2C. Wind chill feeling like -15 to -18C.
Freezing Level
Briefly just above freezing to upper slopes around dawn, but soon lowering again, to 700-800m by noon, later 600m.
Planning Outlook
Changeable westerlies prevail onward into early next week, continuing gales over most high terrain. Below freezing on Scottish mountains above 700-800m into Monday with snow showers; higher freezing level further south, above the tops in Wales with mostly drizzly rain here. Milder air lifts above freezing to all tops into Tuesday with low cloud, drizzle and rain, most persistent west-northwest Scotland. Mixed conditions likely continue, but some windows of better weather mid-late in the week - temperatures vary above and just below freezing on Scottish tops. Potential for cold conditions again early April, but drier conditions possibly more common by then.