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.)
Today's Forecast
Windy, walking impeded
Blustery conditions enough to give buffeting on higher terrain or affect balance on exposed ridges. 25 to 40mph.
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.
Very cold
Significant wintry conditions - below freezing from lower elevations up all day, -7 or -8C highest summits, feeling like -20C or below on high tops due to wind chill. Frostbite and hypothermia risk. Substantial protective clothing is required.
Snowdrifts
Considerable lying snow over the mountains, with substantial drifting in places.
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Windy, walking impeded
Blustery conditions enough to give buffeting on higher terrain or affect balance on exposed ridges. 25 to 40mph.
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.
Very cold
Significant wintry conditions - below freezing from lower elevations up all day, -7 or -8C highest summits, feeling like -20C or below on high tops due to wind chill. Frostbite and hypothermia risk. Substantial protective clothing is required.
Snowdrifts
Considerable lying snow over the mountains, with substantial drifting in places.
Viewing Forecast For
The Northwest Highlands
Sunday 4th January 2026
Last updated
Sat 3rd Jan 26 at
3:29PM
Summary for all mountain areas
Snow, hail, and wind continues driving into northern Scotland with showers passing into central and western areas; snow coverage fairly widespread in the Highlands. Southern Scotland and England mostly sunny, blustery in exposure. More snow and hail showers for Wales, pushing further east afternoon. Widely very cold.
Headline for The Northwest Highlands
Frequent snow and hail; bitterly cold in the wind
How windy? (On the Munros)
North to northwesterly 30 to 40mph, squally gusts in showers. Speeds trending towards the lower end of the range with time, though stronger gusts will still occur.
Effect of the wind on you?
Severe wind chill over the mountains. Arduous walking on snow cover with frequent buffeting in exposure much of the day, though slightly easing with time.
How Wet?
Near-constant snow and hail
An ongoing stream of heavy snow showers coming in from the north, falling and accumulating to sea level. Some hail near coasts with risk isolated thunder. Frequent whiteout on the tops.
Cloud on the hills?
Most tops shrouded, variably lowering, most persistently north
Cloud base constantly changing, often capping hills near coasts above 800-900m, shafts of cloud to 600m in showers. Brief breaks to upper slopes mostly toward Great Glen/Ben Wyvis.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
20%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Brief bursts of sun, most likely from Kintail to Ben Wyvis. Most other areas remain mostly cloudy. Visibility often appalling due to snow falling or blowing and where also in cloud; but intermittently very good.
How Cold? (at 900m)
-7C (to -9C on the high summits). Generally staying a degree higher on Skye/slopes nearest to the coast. Wind chill feeling as cold as -22C in exposure on tops.
Freezing Level
Terrain widely frozen, staying sub-zero from glens upward. Nearest the coast, partial thawing in sunlight, up to 200m Skye.
Viewing Forecast For
The Northwest Highlands
Monday 5th January 2026
Last updated
Sat 3rd Jan 26 at
3:29PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
Northerly 25-30mph, shifting northwesterly afternoon, risk a brief periods of stronger wind in exposure.
Effect of the wind on you?
Significant wind chill, severe on high exposed tops where walking conditions will be strenuous with buffeting.
How Wet?
Very frequent snow showers
An ongoing stream of snow showers coming in from the north, snow to sea level; extensive snow cover on the ground with frequent whiteout conditions on high ground. Risk some hail into Sutherland.
Cloud on the hills?
Most tops shrouded, variably lowering
Variable cloud base, often capping hills above 800-900m, shafts of cloud to 600m in showers. Some brief breaks to upper slopes though these fleeting. Becoming more extensive from the north after nightfall.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
20%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Often cloudy with frequently appalling visibility due to snow falling or blowing. Only brief bursts of sun with very good visibility.
How Cold? (at 900m)
-5C (-8C at dawn in the glens and high tops). Wind chill feeling like -20C in exposure on tops.
Freezing Level
Terrain widely frozen. Nearest the coast, partial thawing in sunlight to 200-300m, rising slightly near Skye overnight.
Viewing Forecast For
The Northwest Highlands
Tuesday 6th January 2026
Last updated
Sat 3rd Jan 26 at
3:29PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
Changeable: west-southwesterly 20-35mph, trending northerly afternoon and rising, up to 40mph on high exposed tops.
Effect of the wind on you?
Variable conditions, walking often strenuous with significant wind chill, though some periods of lighter wind possible.
How Wet?
Snow
Showery snow in the west becomes widespread for most of daylight. Increasingly falling as sleet to middle slopes of Skye and the west coast. Breaking back into showers late in the day.
Cloud on the hills?
Extensive
Cloud shrouds the hills to middle or lower slopes for most or all of daylight. Some breaks forming in the north around and after dusk as snow turns showery.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
10%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Sunshine unlikely. Appalling visibility, whiteout conditions soon widespread and persistent.
How Cold? (at 900m)
-2 to -4C, some variability; trending colder into nighttime. Feeling as cold as -18C in the wind.
Freezing Level
Terrain widely frozen from overnight, lifting but variable; up to 700 near Skye, unlikely above 300-400m inland.
Planning Outlook
Monday stays cold with terrain widely frozen; sunshine inland with continued snow showers along coasts. The weather then turns more variable: fronts begin to approach the country on Tuesday, with cloud gradually becoming widespread on high terrain from the north, an area of snow arriving widely into Scotland and tracking south into England and Wales overnight into Wednesday. Most terrain will stay frozen but a brief local lifting of freezing levels in western areas. Some sunny breaks and snow showers will follow this system. Beyond Wednesday, confidence in forecast detail is significantly lower, but another weather system is indicated for Thursday into Friday, this possibly bringing a swathe of snow, rain, and strong winds to the south and perhaps more widely.