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.)
Monday'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.
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.
Snowdrifts
Considerable lying snow over the mountains, with substantial drifting in places.
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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.
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.
Snowdrifts
Considerable lying snow over the mountains, with substantial drifting in places.
Viewing Forecast For
The Northwest Highlands
Monday 16th March 2026
Last updated
Sun 15th Mar 26 at
4:21PM
Summary for all mountain areas
Snow and hail showers affect most areas in the morning, frequent over western hills. A brief easing, then several hours of rain arrives to Wales, moving north and east into England and Scotland through afternoon and into evening. A notable rise in temperature with arrival of rain. Strong wind all day, a slight easing for a few hours.
Headline for The Northwest Highlands
Snow and hail showers, gales; rain afternoon into evening
How windy? (On the Munros)
Westerly 50 to 60mph most of morning. Then gradually easing to around 35-40mph for several afternoon hours and shifting southwesterly, then strengthening again into evening, notably gusty to lower slopes.
Effect of the wind on you?
Difficult walking most of the day with severe wind chill. A brief improvement of conditions but this followed by a rapid deterioration, with considerable buffeting reaching lower slopes.
How Wet?
Frequent snow and hail showers, rain later
Shower after shower falling as snow above 300m, later 600m. Hail mixed in as well, small risk of odd thunder near the coast in the morning. Rain arrives on Skye afternoon, spreading north and east widely into evening, risk some freezing rain at first.
Cloud on the hills?
Variable, to lower slopes in precipitation, most extensive south
Cloud base will vary: near precipitation forming below 450m, sometimes 300m. Otherwise, cloud base 600m morning, to 800-1000m Sutherland and eastern summits elsewhere, some eastern summit breaks for a time. Late in the day, cloud filling in widely from the south.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
30%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Glimpses of sun only - mainly lower slopes well inland, more widely cloudy late in the day. Persistent haze at best; appalling visibility in precipitation, whiteout conditions over lying snow.
How Cold? (at 900m)
-3C, slowly rising to 0C afternoon, sharply rising towards 3C around or after dusk, likely rising further overnight. Will feel as cold as minus 18C due to wind chill.
Freezing Level
500m (nearer 600m Skye), gradually rising, 800m afternoon, later sharply rising above the summits with arrival of rain.
Viewing Forecast For
The Northwest Highlands
Tuesday 17th March 2026
Last updated
Sun 15th Mar 26 at
4:21PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
Southwesterly 50 to 70mph, strongest west coast. Powerful gusts over high terrain, and possibly lower slopes too.
Effect of the wind on you?
Mobility widely difficult with significant wind chill; you could be blown over in powerful gusts, in places on lower slopes.
How Wet?
Raining Skye and nearby
Frequent or incessant rain and drizzle onto Skye and nearby mainland. Elsewhere, largely dry, just a little drizzle in wind - though possibly steadier rain edging inland afternoon. May break late in the day.
Cloud on the hills?
Blanket fog Skye, higher and broken north inland areas
Persistent fog Skye and nearby mainland, covering some south facing coastal cliffs, to widely 200-400m. In rain, patches of fog from lower slopes up, but most cloud above 750 to perhaps sometimes 1000m. well inland and north.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
10% Skye; 30% elsewhere
Sunshine and air clarity?
Dull and murky Skye and nearby. Pockets of sun here and there inland and north; visibility good or sometimes excellent.
How Cold? (at 900m)
5C most of the day, dropping to 2C from the west late in the day. Feeling like -10C or colder in direct wind.
Freezing Level
Above the summits, lowering to 1000m late in the day.
Viewing Forecast For
The Northwest Highlands
Wednesday 18th March 2026
Last updated
Sun 15th Mar 26 at
4:21PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
Southwesterly 25-40mph early, lowest speed south; easing and trending westerly, 15-25mph.
Effect of the wind on you?
Starting arduous with considerable buffeting and significant wind chill in exposure, improving to fairly small.
How Wet?
Some light showers, most hills dry
A few light showers affecting west coastal hills, falling as snow flurries from 750m up at first, the snowfall level rising.
Cloud on the hills?
Most extensive high western terrain
West coast slopes often in cloud above 800-900m, lowering periodically, particularly during showers where may reach 600m. Higher bases inland though with similar variability, likely breaks off tops towards Ben Wyvis.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
40%
Sunshine and air clarity?
A patchwork of cloud and sunshine, best sun breaks in the east. Very good visibility, an offshore haze to the northwest.
How Cold? (at 900m)
0C lifting to around 2C, some variability, staying cooler near the west coast. Feeling like -10 to -15C in early wind.
Freezing Level
900m from dawn, lifting to 1100m or higher.
Planning Outlook
Areas of low cloud, drizzly rain and strong winds will continue to affect mainly western mountains until Wednesday, the rain at times heavy in western Scotland. Pressure begins to quickly rise on Wednesday, providing fairly widely settled conditions across the country. Some cloud and spotty light rain lingers in north England/south Scotland for a few days, elsewhere becoming mostly sunny. England, Wales, and southwest Scotland seeing milder temperatures, mostly light wind but the occasional stronger breeze. Elsewhere in Scotland stays cooler, some overnight frosts possible under clear-sky nights. Over the weekend, first indications of a cool easterly wind building across all areas, perhaps some periods of rain south, but further detail currently uncertain.