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.)
Tuesday's Forecast
Windy, walking impeded
Blustery conditions enough to give buffeting on higher terrain or affect balance on exposed ridges. 25 to 40mph.
Patchy cloud and winter sun
Mostly dry with a mix of cloud and sun, patchy cloud occasionally covering some mountain slopes.
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.
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.
Patchy cloud and winter sun
Mostly dry with a mix of cloud and sun, patchy cloud occasionally covering some mountain slopes.
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.
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
Tuesday 3rd March 2026
Last updated
Mon 2nd Mar 26 at
3:56PM
Summary for all mountain areas
A breezy start in Scotland, particularly in the north, the wind easing to fairly small effects; light wind England and Wales. Dry and sunny for most hills, chilly temperatures. Some light rain affecting south Wales through the day, the associated cloud drifting into north Wales and the south Pennines with time.
Headline for The Northwest Highlands
Blustery early, particularly north, easing; patchy sunshine
How windy? (On the Munros)
Westerly 30-45mph from dawn, strongest speeds to the north. A slow southwesterly shift with time, speeds easing, 20-30mph, lightest speeds around Kintail/Ben Wyvis. Becoming gusty on high terrain.
Effect of the wind on you?
From dawn, very blustery, particularly in the north with strenuous walking, buffeting, and wind chill. Easing with time, effects becoming fairly small on southern hills.
How Wet?
Early patchy precipitation clears
A few spots of light rain in the early morning from the west, falling as snow above 700-800m. Any precipitation soon isolated to the north, very fleeting, and becoming entirely dry.
Cloud on the hills?
Patches some western tops
Thin patchy cloud drifting onto western tops mostly above 1000m, locally may be more frequent north of Ullapool, otherwise well broken. Often clearing inland.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
70%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Broken cloud and sun, locally cloudier for periods in west. Visibility excellent.
How Cold? (at 900m)
-1C rising to +1 or 2C. If exposed to stronger wind, feeling like -5 to -8C, coldest wind chill in the far north early in the day.
Freezing Level
700-800m plus frost in some glens from dawn, rising above 1000m during afternoon.
Viewing Forecast For
The Northwest Highlands
Wednesday 4th March 2026
Last updated
Mon 2nd Mar 26 at
3:56PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
Southerly 35 to 45mph, strongest on and near Skye; very gusty in places around high tops and downslope toward north.
Effect of the wind on you?
Strenuous walking and balance affected on exposed ridges, more challenging in places. Significant wind chill.
How Wet?
Damp near Skye, patchy rain here later
Patchy drizzle occasionally around Skye and Torridon, through morning. Afternoon brings increased chance of patchy rain here and inland, some patches push north.
Cloud on the hills?
Cloud spreads north and east
Cloud banks likely to often roll across the higher Cuillin and nearby mainland hills above 700-800m. Patches more broken northward, more often clear far north/east early, though tending to spread here with time.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
70% north/east, lowering to 30% widely
Sunshine and air clarity?
Sunshine and visibility best toward the north and east, often cloudier around Skye where rather hazy. Cloud spreads north with time.
How Cold? (at 900m)
1 or 2C, locally rising a degree or so higher northern areas. Directly in the wind feeling like -10 to -13C.
Freezing Level
Patchy frost in glens and sheltered higher areas from dawn, otherwise just above freezing to the summits.
Viewing Forecast For
The Northwest Highlands
Thursday 5th March 2026
Last updated
Mon 2nd Mar 26 at
3:56PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
South-southwesterly 35-45mph, gusty early, may be quite powerful. Easing with a generally westerly shift, 20-30mph.
Effect of the wind on you?
Arduous walking early in the day with significant wind chill; an easing trend, may be fairly small for a period.
How Wet?
Often raining
Raining on Skye/nearby coastal hills from before dawn, the rain spreading widely well into the day; greatest risk of heavier falls from Ullapool southward. Turning to snow on high terrain with time.
Cloud on the hills?
Becoming extensive from west
From dawn, extensive from middle slopes upward on Skye and many coastal slopes. Higher bases with some variable layers towards the east, perhaps an odd summit break early. Cloud becomes more extensive for several hours, though may begin to break late in the day.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
20%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Sunshine unlikely. Often poor visibility though locally good out of cloud and rain.
How Cold? (at 900m)
2 or 3C from dawn, soon beginning to lower from west, -1 or -2C by evening. Feeling like -7 to -10C in the wind.
Freezing Level
Above the summits well into the day, lowering into evening, 600-800m.
Planning Outlook
Varying conditions over the next couple of weeks as areas of high pressure build across the British Isles then slip eastwards. Some dry and bright days with light winds mixed with periods of strengthening southerly winds bringing occasional rain coming in from the west - Thursday this week sees rain move increasingly onto northwestern hills. Temperatures will vary, often lifting just above freezing to higher tops, but occasionally dropping back below freezing - chillier air briefly later this week. Some frosts into valleys during clear-sky nights. Remaining old snow cover on Scottish mountains stays largely consolidated with little change, only patchy around highest tops in England and Wales with little impact on walking.