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.)
Thursday'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 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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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 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
Thursday 5th February 2026
Last updated
Wed 4th Feb 26 at
4:39PM
Summary for all mountain areas
Gale-force easterly winds, up to storm-force over the tops of the Highlands with severe wind chill; powerful gusts downslope into the glens. Further snowfalls over E & SE Highlands, sleet or rain lower down; low cloud and whiteout over hills. England and Wales: Rain and upland snow focused east Wales and into Pennines.
Headline for The Northwest Highlands
Easterly gales with snow and hill fog focused in northeast. Best breaks Skye.
How windy? (On the Munros)
East to southeasterly 45 to 60mph, powerful gusts around higher mountains and downslope to the west.
Effect of the wind on you?
Difficult mobility, violent gusts may knock you over in places. Sudden ferocious gusts running downslope into some glens. Severe wind chill.
How Wet?
Snow northeast tops
Snow flurries mostly eastern hills near and north of Dornoch Firth, more frequent snow at times on tops, initially rain below 500m, becoming snow lower down with time. Substantially or completely dry west coast, particularly Skye.
Cloud on the hills?
Mostly east, breaks west
Cloud banks persistent inland and toward east & north above 600 to 800m, lowest near North Sea. Higher and more broken cloud westwards, patches mostly on high tops, often clearer Skye and south of Torridon.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
40%, but 70% on and near Skye.
Sunshine and air clarity?
Sun mostly west coastal hills toward Skye with very good visibility. Cloudier inland, hazier north and east, poor visibility in precipitation.
How Cold? (at 900m)
0 to -2C, coldest north/east, tending to lower more widely during day. Wind chill feeling like -12 to -15C.
Freezing Level
700m dropping to 500m with time in east; locally varied to 900m or above for a time toward west coast and on Skye.
Viewing Forecast For
The Northwest Highlands
Friday 6th February 2026
Last updated
Wed 4th Feb 26 at
4:39PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
Easterly 40 to 55mph, powerful gusts around higher mountains and downslope to the west.
Effect of the wind on you?
Difficult mobility on high terrain, buffeting gusts knocking you off balance some lower slopes. Severe wind chill.
How Wet?
Snow mostly east and north
Frequent snow over eastern hills from Ben Wyvis area to Caithness and at times Ben Hope, sleet or rain only lowest slopes. Flurries extend west to Ullapool, but few if any coastal Wester Ross to Skye.
Cloud on the hills?
Lowest and most persistent east
Covering mountains above 600-800m in east, or lower nearest the North Sea. Fairly extensive above 800-1000m in west, some breaks toward Torridon and Skye.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
20%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Largely cloudy, glimpses of sun mostly toward Torridon coast. Hazy, visibility poor in snow, whiteout in cloud on tops.
How Cold? (at 900m)
-4C north and east, to -2C toward west coast and on Skye. Wind chill feeling like -15 to -20C.
Freezing Level
300-400m east and northern areas, up to 600m further westward, or variably higher up nearest to west coast around Skye.
Viewing Forecast For
The Northwest Highlands
Saturday 7th February 2026
Last updated
Wed 4th Feb 26 at
4:39PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
Easterly 25 to 40mph, perhaps higher in the morning around Ben Hope.
Effect of the wind on you?
Walking fairly arduous with significant buffeting and wind chill, most marked toward Ben Hope.
How Wet?
Patchy precipitation mainly in the east.
Patchy snow or flurries, rain below 300m later 700m; mainly hills near and east of A836 from Tongue to Lairg. West of Ben Hope and down to Skye, very little if any.
Cloud on the hills?
Extensive, but good breaks west coast and Skye.
Extensive coverage across hills from Ben Hope, east of A836 toward coast, where bases around 500-700m. Higher bases further west, best breaks to tops Skye.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
30%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Patchy sun toward west coast in an otherwise overcast atmosphere. Hazy, best visibility west coast, poor or very poor in snowfall.
How Cold? (at 900m)
-4C lifting to near freezing in the afternoon.
Freezing Level
400-600m, lifting to 800-900m from south.
Planning Outlook
Cold east or southeasterly winds prevail, but less cold widely over the weekend as freezing level lifts somewhat from the south, rising just above freezing point in Scotland toward 1000m. Colder air then likely returns from east next week. Further snowfalls mostly over eastern hills in Scotland, occasionally hills in England & Wales, mixed with rain here. Indications of less precipitation and lower wind speeds for periods during next week. Highest cloud breaks west & northwest Scotland, where terrain will be very dry toward west coast.