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.)
Sunday's Forecast
Moderate breeze, locally gusty
A noticeable breeze, feeling cool where exposed on tops. Locally may be gusty, but unlikely to affect walking progress. 15-25mph.
Patchy cloud and winter sun
Mostly dry with a mix of cloud and sun, patchy cloud occasionally covering some mountain slopes.
Cold
Air temperature below 0C all day on higher mountains. Significant chill factor if exposed to strong winds. Suitable protective clothing required.
Click an icon for more information or click here for a key to all icons.
Moderate breeze, locally gusty
A noticeable breeze, feeling cool where exposed on tops. Locally may be gusty, but unlikely to affect walking progress. 15-25mph.
Patchy cloud and winter sun
Mostly dry with a mix of cloud and sun, patchy cloud occasionally covering some mountain slopes.
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
Sunday 30th November 2025
Last updated
Sat 29th Nov 25 at
4:30PM
Summary for all mountain areas
A fine day for many places, sunshine and broken cloud. Much terrain frozen in the Highlands, where a lull in wind, later strengthening southerlies in west. Strong northwesterlies for England and Wales tend to drop. Some local showers move inland from the Irish Sea. Deteriorating all areas into night.
Headline for The Northwest Highlands
Light wind, but increasing with time. Sun then high cloud thickens.
How windy? (On the Munros)
Variable 10-15mph or less. Tending to strengthen southerly, reaching 30mph Skye up to dusk, widely increasing to 50mph into night.
Effect of the wind on you?
Small much of daylight inland, but becoming more blustery in west with time; deteriorating into night.
How Wet?
Largely dry, isolated flurries; rain/snow into night
Dry most places all day. Local light showers or snow flurries mainly north coast areas in morning. From dusk, light rain moves onto Skye, then widely 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 form on south Cuillin as wind increases.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
70%, later 30% Skye.
Sunshine and air clarity?
Winter sunshine and some thin high cloud, which thickens with time from west. Visibility excellent.
How Cold? (at 900m)
-1 to -3C, coldest inland, where also small variation with height. Rising into night. Feeling like -10C if exposed to increasing wind later; colder after dark.
Freezing Level
Much inland terrain frozen, frost in glens all day out of sunlight. Only partly frozen below 600-700m near west coast. Then rising into night eventually to upper slopes.
Viewing Forecast For
The Northwest Highlands
Monday 1st December 2025
Last updated
Sat 29th Nov 25 at
4:30PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
South or southwesterly; overnight gales ease, typically to 25-30mph during daytime, may drop less for periods.
Effect of the wind on you?
Expect blustery conditions over higher mountains, giving marked wind chill in exposure; sometimes smaller effects.
How Wet?
Showers, later risk rain and hill snow
Overnight hill snow finishing mainly as rain toward higher slopes, fading before dawn. A few showers near west coast, then risk further persistent rain moving in from south, turning back to snow on tops. Showers into night with hail.
Cloud on the hills?
Varied, some breaks away from coast
Patchy cloud at various heights from dawn, some breaks toward upper slopes in the morning, best in north/eastern areas, but west coast hills often capped. Lowering widely if rain/snow returns, soonest Skye.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
40%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Sun mostly obscured by high cloud, but likely bright with good visibility in morning; later dull overcast skies, visibility poor in rain/snow.
How Cold? (at 900m)
2C, later 0C. Feeling like -10C or below if exposed to stronger winds.
Freezing Level
Rising from before dawn, likely just above freezing up to most higher slopes. Tending to drop after dark to around 900-1000m.
Viewing Forecast For
The Northwest Highlands
Tuesday 2nd December 2025
Last updated
Sat 29th Nov 25 at
4:30PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
South to southwesterly 25 to 35mph, squally gusts over 40mph west coast hills in showers; tending to strengthen.
Effect of the wind on you?
Affecting comfortable walking and balance on exposed ridges and tops, at times more challenging. Considerable wind chill.
How Wet?
Frequent hail showers Skye
Showery bursts most frequent on and near Skye, with hail, at times snow above 900m, risk isolated thunder. Fewer showers inland and north, around Ben Wyvis more often dry.
Cloud on the hills?
Most persistent Skye, breaks north/east
Covering higher slopes of the Cuillin most of the day, bases varied 600 to 900m. Wester Ross tops also often covered above 800m, some brief breaks to 1000m. Clearer tops more often north/east.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
30% west, to 50% north/east.
Sunshine and air clarity?
Occasional sun mostly Sutherland, where visibility often very good. Toward west coast hazier, visibility poor in heavy showers.
How Cold? (at 900m)
1C. Wind chill feeling around -10C.
Freezing Level
1000m
Planning Outlook
Areas of low pressure circulating to the west and north will dominate the weather pattern in the week ahead, bringing generally unsettled weather. Southwesterly air and briefly milder into Monday, with rain for most places at times, but prolonged heavier rain for England and Wales. Then typically cooler with showery conditions - higher mountains near or just below freezing point likely for the remainder of the week - some snow on tops, occasional hail. Wind speed likely to vary, some squally gusty spells, but also some lulls possible during the week.