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.
Hazy, some fog banks
.jpg "Hazy, some fog banks"){kind=icon}
Distant views reduced by haze, locally foggy for a time in valleys and some hill 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.
Bright sunshine
Beware of sunburn from bright spring sunshine, despite feeling cool in any breeze on higher terrain.
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.
Hazy, some fog banks
Distant views reduced by haze, locally foggy for a time in valleys and some hill 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.
Bright sunshine
Beware of sunburn from bright spring sunshine, despite feeling cool in any breeze on higher terrain.
Viewing Forecast For
The Northwest Highlands
Friday 20th March 2026
Last updated
Thu 19th Mar 26 at
3:00PM
Summary for all mountain areas
Southwesterly winds over the Highlands will be gusty in places, strongest toward far northwest where locally up to gale-force. Cloud banks near Scottish west coast, otherwise largely clear with strong early spring sunshine, beware sunburn. Early areas of fog clearing. Light winds England and Wales.
Headline for The Northwest Highlands
Windy, gusty around tops. Sun and patchy cloud west.
How windy? (On the Munros)
Southwesterly 25 to 30mph, becoming gusty 35mph some slopes, locally over 40mph at times north of Ullapool.
Effect of the wind on you?
Blustery in exposure, affecting comfortable walking and balance on exposed ridges, suddenly gusty not just on highest terrain. Marked wind chill.
How Wet?
Precipitation unlikely
Mostly by evening, a little fine drizzle may develop near to west coast.
Cloud on the hills?
Some west coast cloud, mostly clear elsewhere
Varied banks of cloud drift onto west coastal aspects, most common around Skye, may linger for periods, but high tops at times above the cloud. Otherwise patchy fog in glens at first lifting briefly into patchy cloud on some slopes, then largely dispersing.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
70% west coast, to above 90% inland.
Sunshine and air clarity?
Sunshine best away from west coast. Visibility very good many areas, hazier in west.
How Cold? (at 900m)
4 or 5C, small change with added height. Feeling like -5 to -8C if directly in the wind.
Freezing Level
Above the summits, but slight frost some sheltered glens at dawn.
Viewing Forecast For
The Northwest Highlands
Saturday 21st March 2026
Last updated
Thu 19th Mar 26 at
3:00PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
Southwesterly 15 to 25mph, may reach 30mph occasionally around some tops. Increasing evening-night to 35-50mph.
Effect of the wind on you?
Fairly small during day, but in exposure at times starting to affect ease of walking and balance. Marked wind chill.
How Wet?
A little rain
Patchy rain and drizzle mostly over western hills, locally more persistent over a few hours, but amounts small.
Cloud on the hills?
Fairly extensive, most persistent west
Covering some western mountains much of day, lowest bases toward west coast, from 600 to 800m upward, in places lower for a time in rain. Bases may then tend to rise and some breaks forming, best east.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
20% west, 40% east.
Sunshine and air clarity?
Fairly cloudy, some haze toward west. Glimpses of sun east and perhaps further north at times, good visibility where dry.
How Cold? (at 900m)
1 to 3C, coolest north of Ullapool. Feeling like -5C directly in the wind.
Freezing Level
Close to freezing around 1000m toward the north, otherwise above the higher summits.
Viewing Forecast For
The Northwest Highlands
Sunday 22nd March 2026
Last updated
Thu 19th Mar 26 at
3:00PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
Westerly 30 to 40mph, squally gusts around showers, may reach 50mph in northern areas.
Effect of the wind on you?
Very blustery, walking strenuous, affecting balance on exposed ridges, buffeting gusts at times. Significant wind chill.
How Wet?
Early rain, then snow showers
A brief band of rain moving southwards most likely in morning, steady rain mixed with showery moments, turning to snow flurries on tops, followed by showers with snow and later hail falling to 500-600m.
Cloud on the hills?
Early cloud rising with breaks
Covering hills fairly widely around dawn, lowest bases in west 600 to 800m. Likely to lift and break, mostly above 900m, clearing higher tops for periods, but varied patches returning in showers.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
20% rising to 60%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Occasional sunshine breaking through. Visibility soon often very good as rain clears, but reduced in showers, briefly poor.
How Cold? (at 900m)
+2C up to dawn, but soon dropping to 0C, then -2C by middle of day onward. Feeling like -10 to -15C directly in wind.
Freezing Level
Above the summits just up to dawn, but soon lowering, to 700-800m before noon, dropping slightly further by dusk.
Planning Outlook
High pressure slowly retreats over the weekend to allow west-southwesterly winds to move into Scotland, bringing more cloud to the northwest and some drizzle on Saturday, though most places remain dry. By Sunday, stronger westerly winds and a front passing eastwards with a spell of rain followed by lowering temperatures and showers with snow and hail over the hills in Scotland. A chilly start to the new week, near or below freezing over higher mountains, particularly Scotland. Changeable westerlies during next week, windy for all at times, showery conditions most common in western Scotland. High pressure to the south rebuilds at times to settle things again.