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.)
Saturday'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
Continuous or almost constant heavy snowfall, large flakes falling to low elevations. Beware of near-zero visibility from falling or blowing snow, risk of blizzard conditions.
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.
Winter kit required on higher terrain
Snow cover over higher mountains. Safe progress over some terrain will require suitable footwear - possibly crampons and ice-axe where necessary.
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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
Continuous or almost constant heavy snowfall, large flakes falling to low elevations. Beware of near-zero visibility from falling or blowing snow, risk of blizzard conditions.
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.
Winter kit required on higher terrain
Snow cover over higher mountains. Safe progress over some terrain will require suitable footwear - possibly crampons and ice-axe where necessary.
Viewing Forecast For
The Northwest Highlands
Saturday 4th April 2026
Last updated
Fri 3rd Apr 26 at
4:23PM
Summary for all mountain areas
A fine start for much of Highlands, a lull in wind, but snow moving in from south, setting in widely afternoon; snow to low elevations, then abruptly rain to tops in southern Highlands later. Rapidly strengthening gales for England & Wales, becoming stormy, extending across Scotland afternoon into evening.
Headline for The Northwest Highlands
Coastal showers, many hills clear. Snow and gales later in day.
How windy? (On the Munros)
West-southwesterly 25-35mph at first, strongest in north at dawn. Easing for a few hours, turning south-southeasterly up to noon, then increasing easterly afternoon to 40-50mph, very variable by dusk, suddenly west-northwesterly 70-80mph+ after dark.
Effect of the wind on you?
Blustery start, lessening for a few hours, but deteriorating with time, by late in the day any mobility increasingly difficult. Significant wind chill. Risk damaging gusts to lower slopes onward into night.
How Wet?
Snow showers west, later snow setting in widely
A few showers mostly near west coast early in day, with snow falling to some lower slopes for a time. Fading, but then during afternoon quickly more persistent hill snow falling to lower slopes arrives from south, setting in heavy for several hours into evening with whiteout, sleet or rain only lower coastal slopes. Snow continues into night.
Cloud on the hills?
Patches west, otherwise little until late
Patchy cloud over western mountains, likely to break up largely, many mountains clear for a good part of the daytime, but later in day lowering widely from south as precipitation develops, lowest bases more eastern hills.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
70% much of day, then 20% up to dusk.
Sunshine and air clarity?
Sun in morning weakens as high cloud builds, later increasingly overcast skies. Visibility very good away from showers, then later very poor, appalling in snow.
How Cold? (at 900m)
-3C, briefly rising slightly. Feeling like -15C in early wind, then even colder later.
Freezing Level
Frost inland glens at dawn, 600m by noon, up to 800m briefly northern areas, but then lowering sharply as snow arrives, to widely 300-400m evening onward.
Viewing Forecast For
The Northwest Highlands
Sunday 5th April 2026
Last updated
Fri 3rd Apr 26 at
4:23PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
Stormy conditions overnight lessen before dawn, then westerly 40 to 55mph, squally gusts; briefly less in morning.
Effect of the wind on you?
Frequent buffeting, walking challenging on higher exposed terrain. Possibly still severe at first. Severe wind chill.
How Wet?
Frequent hail and snow; risk lightning
A succession of heavy hail and snow showers, more constant precipitation at times over western areas; snow falling to lower elevations early in day at least. Isolated thunder & lightning.
Cloud on the hills?
Varying over tops
Cloud base constantly changing, often capping higher slopes above 800m in western areas; patches to 600m or lower at times, whilst briefly clearing higher up.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
20%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Brief bursts of sun and very good visibility, but suddenly appalling in cloud and snow or hail, temporary whiteout.
How Cold? (at 900m)
-2 to -4C, rising slightly afternoon. Feeling like -15 to -18C in the wind.
Freezing Level
400 to 600m in morning, rising to 700m afternoon, but lowering briefly again around showers.
Viewing Forecast For
The Northwest Highlands
Monday 6th April 2026
Last updated
Fri 3rd Apr 26 at
4:23PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
Southwest then southerly, 25 to 40mph, strongest on Skye, locally lower speeds Sutherland in the morning.
Effect of the wind on you?
Affecting ease of walking and balance on western ridges, smaller eastern areas; notably gusty some downslopes to north.
How Wet?
Light rain or drizzle mostly Skye
A little patchy rain or drizzle mostly Skye and nearby mainland - possibly becoming more generally damp in cloud on Cuillin. Very little if any rain elsewhere.
Cloud on the hills?
Mostly around Skye, little north/east
Patchy cloud banks over west coastal hills, most persistent on Skye where risk filling in to lower elevations for periods, especially on south Cuillin. Many tops toward the north and east of the region often clear.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
30% Skye, to 80% north/east areas.
Sunshine and air clarity?
Sun mostly weak through high cloud, very good visibility inland, north and east. Thicker overcast skies likely around Skye where hazier, risk often poor visibility.
How Cold? (at 900m)
-2C from dawn, rising to +2C locally +4C afternoon. Feeling like -8 to -12C directly in wind.
Freezing Level
Frost in glens in morning, much mountain terrain frozen all day, but air temperature rising above freezing to tops by late in day.
Planning Outlook
Winter mountain conditions for Easter Sunday - all mountain tops sub-zero all day, above 600-700m in Scotland, 800m in England and Wales - hail and snow showers with gales bringing severe chill factor. Milder southerlies develop during Monday, dry and many hills clear with hazy sun, but gusty wind, risk of gales mainly west coastal mountains of Scotland. Quite warm by Tuesday, but strong to gale force south-southeasterly winds; dry for many, rain encroaching into western Scotland, thawing of recent snow. Scotland likely remains changeable, often windy later in the week, rain at times, varying temperatures, at times below freezing on higher Munros. Often drier and lighter winds for England and Wales.