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

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Click here to download the latest PDF Last Updated Sat 18th Apr 26 at 4:00PM
View our detailed version Last Updated Sat 18th Apr 26 at 4:00PM

Viewing Forecast For

The Northwest Highlands
Sunday 19th April 2026
Last updated Sat 18th Apr 26 at 4:00PM

Summary for all mountain areas

Fine conditions for many places with patchy cloud and sun. A chilly breeze will be strongest in northern Scotland. Brief showers with snow flurries on hills in northwest Scotland in the morning. Well scattered mostly light showers across Scotland and northern England into afternoon and early evening.

Headline for The Northwest Highlands

Breezy and chilly, a few showers, varied cloud and sun.

How windy? (On the Munros)

Northwesterly 20-25mph early morning, local 30mph Ben Hope; shifting northerly, easing to 15-20mph, lowest Torridon to Kintail.

Effect of the wind on you?

Breezy and feeling chilly in exposure on northern Munros especially early in the day, trending to smaller effects.

How Wet?

Scattered showers/flurries

Scattered showers with soft hail drift in from the northwest through morning, falling as snow flurries above 600m in the morning, this level lifting to summits; local showers mostly in Sutherland afternoon.

Cloud on the hills?

Summits largely clear, only fleeting caps

Cloud banks mostly over west coastal hills above 700m in morning, local mist inland glens. Bases lifting after sunrise, towards high terrain and likely off the tops by midday or earlier. An odd cap may graze highest northern summits.

Chance of cloud free Munros?

50% rising to 80%

Sunshine and air clarity?

A patchwork of cloud and sun. Excellent visibility, occasionally reduced briefly in flurries.

How Cold? (at 900m)

0C rising to 2 or 3C afternoon, mildest Ben Wyvis. Feeling like -5 to -8C directly in the wind.

Freezing Level

900m in the morning, plus frost some inland glens at dawn. Lifting above the summits.

Viewing Forecast For

The Northwest Highlands
Monday 20th April 2026
Last updated Sat 18th Apr 26 at 4:00PM

How windy? (On the Munros)

East or northeasterly, 20 to 25mph, gusty 30mph in places.

Effect of the wind on you?

Rather blustery with considerable wind chill on exposed higher terrain. Gusts may start to feel more noticeable at times.

How Wet?

Scattered showers

Showers with soft hail, also snow falling on hills, to 400-500m in morning, mostly north and east areas, then brief showers forming more widely into the afternoon, but some places remain dry.

Cloud on the hills?

Lifting to tops with breaks

Cloud banks fairly widely above 600-800m in the morning, but better breaks Torridon area. Base rising toward 900m, with breaks forming higher up and increasingly lifting above many tops afternoon.

Chance of cloud free Munros?

40%

Sunshine and air clarity?

Fairly cloudy, local sun mostly west early in day. Some sun breaking through occasionally. Visibility mostly very good, briefly reduced in showers.

How Cold? (at 900m)

0C rising to 3C afternoon. Where exposed to wind, feeling like -5C, to possibly nearer -10C early in day.

Freezing Level

800-900m from dawn, plus frost in some glens. Rising just above freezing to higher tops into the afternoon.

Viewing Forecast For

The Northwest Highlands
Tuesday 21st April 2026
Last updated Sat 18th Apr 26 at 4:00PM

How windy? (On the Munros)

Easterly 20 to 30mph, gusty in places around tops and some passes.

Effect of the wind on you?

Marked wind chill in exposure, some blustery spots affecting ease of walking.

How Wet?

Precipitation rare if any

Substantially dry. Chance of light spots of rain on eastern hills, snow grains on higher slopes.

Cloud on the hills?

Mostly north and east

Cloud banks widely in north and east areas in the morning, to 600m for a time, tending to lift higher. More broken above 700-800m westwards. May break up widely.

Chance of cloud free Munros?

50%

Sunshine and air clarity?

Fairly cloudy, some brighter sunnier moments mostly west. Visibility very good.

How Cold? (at 900m)

0C rising to 3C afternoon. Directly in the wind, feeling as cold as -10C in the morning.

Freezing Level

900m early morning, patchy slight frost some western glens. Rising just above freezing on highest tops.

Planning Outlook

A cool northeasterly wind into Monday brings a scattering of showers, but plenty of dry weather too. High pressure stays nearby to the north of Britain through the week ahead giving a run of dry days with sunshine typically best in the west, but many mountains often free of low cloud. A cool easterly wind prevails for England and Wales, strongest toward the south, whilst Scotland has often lighter winds. Some overnight frosts. Daytime temperatures near average, typically a few degrees above freezing on high tops through midweek. Dry, settled conditions are likely to continue into next week.