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.
Patchwork of cloud and sun
Dry most or all day. A mix of cloud and sunshine. Occasional cloud banks drifting over higher slopes, lifting above the tops.
Chilly
Air temperature typically 0 to 5C on higher summits. Feeling distinctly chilly on tops when stationary or where exposed to wind. Take appropriate layers.
Click an icon for more information or click here for a key to all icons.
Windy, walking impeded
Blustery conditions enough to give buffeting on higher terrain or affect balance on exposed ridges. 25 to 40mph.
Patchwork of cloud and sun
Dry most or all day. A mix of cloud and sunshine. Occasional cloud banks drifting over higher slopes, lifting above the tops.
Chilly
Air temperature typically 0 to 5C on higher summits. Feeling distinctly chilly on tops when stationary or where exposed to wind. Take appropriate layers.
Viewing Forecast For
The Northwest Highlands
Wednesday 8th April 2026
Last updated
Tue 7th Apr 26 at
4:09PM
Summary for all mountain areas
Light wind and warm England and Wales; mostly clear hills and often sunny; some haze weakens visibility, notably Pennines. Some hill-cloud lingers in Lakeland. Morning cloud and summit drizzle west/central Scotland, cloud moves east but an improving trend; wind strengthens northwest, cooler here too.
Headline for The Northwest Highlands
Morning cloud and drizzle, breaking; windy later
How windy? (On the Munros)
Southwesterly 15 to 25mph, strongest west coast and strengthening through the day to 25-40mph, stronger gusts right along the west coast, up to 50mph high Cuillin terrain later.
Effect of the wind on you?
Fairly small eastern areas for many hours, but more blustery west, likely to become more gusty and challenging with time, maintaining stability becoming difficult along the west coast into evening.
How Wet?
Some morning drizzle, dry afternoon
Through morning, some fine drizzle drifting around the high tops, this gradually easing, likely dry by noon. A chance of some light patchy rain reaching Skye as night falls, then rain overnight.
Cloud on the hills?
Extensive early, lifting and breaking with time
From dawn, a fairly extensive layer of cloud from at least the middle slopes upward, likely to low slopes of the south Cuillin. A rising trend with time, breaks to summits forming afternoon, though cloud likely lingers over the high tops on Skye and nearby, only clearing later afternoon.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
20%, rising to 70%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Overcast in the morning, sun gradually breaking out as hill cloud clears, but high cloud will weaken the sun's strength. Visibility excellent.
How Cold? (at 900m)
2 to 5C, coolest near the west coast; little change with added height in the morning. May warm a degree. Later, feeling as cold as -8 to -10C in strongest wind.
Freezing Level
Above the summits.
Viewing Forecast For
The Northwest Highlands
Thursday 9th April 2026
Last updated
Tue 7th Apr 26 at
4:09PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
West-southwesterly 20-30mph, a risk of stronger wind later in the day with a slight northwesterly shift, up to 40mph.
Effect of the wind on you?
Walking inconvenienced in exposure, feeling chilly with occasional stability challenges, particularly later.
How Wet?
Morning rain followed by showers
A band of rain passes east across all areas through morning, locally heavy early, soon followed by showers, falling as snow to 500m, some hail mixed in too, mostly in southern areas.
Cloud on the hills?
Coming and going on high terrain
Extensive from dawn to at least middle slopes, lower in the west. As rain eases, cloud lifts and breaks to mostly above 800m, clear summits at times, but returning in showers; west coastal hills most often covered, locally to 600m in showers.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
Rising to 50%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Bursts of bright sunshine between showers; cloudier early in the day. Very good visibility.
How Cold? (at 900m)
Around 0C most of the day, but trending towards -1C west, occasionally milder east. Feeling like -10C in direct wind.
Freezing Level
Lowering from overnight, 900-1100m at dawn, gradually lowering further, to 700-800m.
Viewing Forecast For
The Northwest Highlands
Friday 10th April 2026
Last updated
Tue 7th Apr 26 at
4:09PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
Southwesterly 20-30mph at dawn, shifting southerly and strengthening to 50-65mph by evening, strongest Skye.
Effect of the wind on you?
Walking increasingly difficult with severe wind chill; you may struggle to stay on your feet in exposure near the west coast.
How Wet?
Patchy rain/snow
Scattered patchy precipitation drifts from the south, mostly coastal slopes, falling as snow to 300m or lower at dawn, but this level rising. A risk of more extended falls around Skye and nearby afternoon, snowfall level approaching 800m.
Cloud on the hills?
Mostly high Cuillin, often clear inland; deteriorating
The Cuillin often shrouded above 700-800m, odd higher breaks possible in the morning; inland mountains often clear of cloud. Cloud becomes more persistent on the Cuillin with time, bases lowering to middle slopes, with cloud grazing most tops (at least) by dusk.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
40% Cuillin, 70% inland, all lowering later
Sunshine and air clarity?
Sun through high cloud, brighter inland and north. Trending cloudier afternoon west. Good visibility.
How Cold? (at 900m)
-2 or -3C, rising to +1C, staying lifted for a few hours into night. Later, feeling as cold as -15C in wind.
Freezing Level
400-600m, lowest well-inland, also some light frosts in inland glens. Gradually lifting, to 900-1000m.
Planning Outlook
Variable weather regimes in the extended forecast. Atlantic west-southwesterly winds will be dominant, with low pressure to the northwest of the country, brining cloud, rain, and mild temperatures, often followed by sun, showers, and cooler temperatures; rain will be increasingly common to the high Munros, but the snowfall level will lower too during periods of cooler weather, and perhaps to high Lakeland fells too, though any snow unlikely to accumulate here. In the longer term, indications of high pressure increasingly building from the southwest, brining drier, brighter, and milder conditions to England and Wales and occasionally Scotland too, though the risk of occasional rain and cooler temperatures remains.