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
Severe gale or storm, mobility very difficult
Severe conditions on the mountains, any movement very challenging, you may be blown over. 55-70mph+
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.
Poor visibility
Murky conditions with areas of fog shrouding the hills, making navigation challenging. Map and compass essential.
Cold
Air temperature below 0C all day on higher mountains. Significant chill factor if exposed to strong winds. Suitable protective clothing required.
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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+
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.
Poor visibility
Murky conditions with areas of fog shrouding the hills, making navigation challenging. Map and compass essential.
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 28th November 2025
Last updated
Thu 27th Nov 25 at
4:30PM
Summary for all mountain areas
Stormy conditions over Scottish mountains, easing only toward dusk; frequent or persistent rain and hill snow, heaviest western mountains. Severe gales high tops England & Wales, squally stormy gusts for a time with heavy bursts of rain. Risk of hail and isolated thunder, mainly western areas.
Headline for The Northwest Highlands
Stormy mountain winds in morning. Heavy rain, hail, snow tops.
How windy? (On the Munros)
Southwesterly 70 to 80mph, stronger gusts in the morning. Turning westerly afternoon, tending to drop to 30-40mph, soonest in west, or less evening into night.
Effect of the wind on you?
Extensively very difficult conditions with severe wind chill and buffeting in the morning - any mobility challenging mid-heights upward. Strong gusts into glens. Some improvement afternoon.
How Wet?
Frequent showers, snow higher slopes, risk thunder
Showers most frequent over Torridon to Skye, snow above 800-900m. A more persistent swathe of showery rain, hail and snow on high tops moves in from the west across all parts during middle of day. Chance isolated lightning.
Cloud on the hills?
Varied, but extensive western tops
Bases varying rapidly, but generally around 700-1000m. Lowest bases in the west where at times in showers patches down to 500m. Best breaks in northeast.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
30%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Fleeting bursts of sun, mainly in the east. Visibility sometimes poor due to rain, or on upper slopes snow.
How Cold? (at 900m)
0 or 1C, to 2C nearest west coast. Wind chill feeling like -15 to -20C.
Freezing Level
900 to 1100m, highest near west coast.
Viewing Forecast For
The Northwest Highlands
Saturday 29th November 2025
Last updated
Thu 27th Nov 25 at
4:30PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
Northerly, 15 to 25mph, may increase to 30mph through day.
Effect of the wind on you?
Be prepared for significant wind chill in the north wind and some buffeting, which may increase through day.
How Wet?
Scattered snow and hail showers
Scattered snow and hail showers, becoming increasingly confined to the north and west coast.
Cloud on the hills?
Varying, covering tops fairly widely.
Cloud cover variable across area, but scope for fairly extensive coverage across the tops above 800-1000m, with the best breaks in the south.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
30%
Sunshine and air clarity?
A mix of cloud and patchy sun; the latter mostly in the south. Visibility excellent, but poor or very poor in showers.
How Cold? (at 900m)
-2C
Freezing Level
600-700m, highest around Skye.
Viewing Forecast For
The Northwest Highlands
Sunday 30th November 2025
Last updated
Thu 27th Nov 25 at
4:30PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
Variable 10-15mph or less. Tending to strengthen southerly, risk 20-30mph Skye before dusk, widely 40-50mph into night.
Effect of the wind on you?
Likely small possibly much of daylight, but possibly becoming more blustery in west with time; deteriorating into night.
How Wet?
Largely dry, isolated flurries
Dry most places all day. Risk of local light showers or snow flurries mainly north coast areas in morning. From dusk, light rain likely west, risk then heavier with hill snow inland into night.
Cloud on the hills?
Local patches, otherwise clear
Fragments of cloud around some slopes and corries, some mist possible in the valleys. Greater risk of patchy cloud in north early in day. Later, cloud banks may form on south Cuillin if wind increases.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
70%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Winter sunshine and some thin high cloud, which may start to thicken from west. Visibility excellent.
How Cold? (at 900m)
-1 to -3C, coldest inland, where also small variation with height. Feeling like -10 to -15C later if wind increases.
Freezing Level
Much inland terrain frozen, frost in glens all day out of sunlight. Only partly frozen below 600m near to coasts.
Planning Outlook
Colder over the weekend with the mountains near or below freezing point, including frost into glens in Scotland by Saturday night. A small scale low on Saturday most likely affects England and Wales bringing rain, upland snow and a core of strong winds for a time. Sunday then mostly dry, bright and cold. Next week, Atlantic lows passing across or just north of Britain will bring frequent rainfall to western mountains together with upland gales. A mix of chilly westerly air and some milder southwesterlies. Freeze-thaw cycles, with periods of fresh snow mostly for Scottish hills, briefly high tops elsewhere.