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.)
Friday'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 and hail showers, isolated lightning
Showery precipitation, often heavy, may merge to become constant for periods. A mix of snow and hail often falling to lower slopes. Risk of very localised thunder and lightning.
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 and hail showers, isolated lightning
Showery precipitation, often heavy, may merge to become constant for periods. A mix of snow and hail often falling to lower slopes. Risk of very localised thunder and lightning.
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
Friday 3rd April 2026
Last updated
Thu 2nd Apr 26 at
3:45PM
Summary for all mountain areas
Cold with showery snow in the Highlands, also hail in north. Varied winds, blustery in northern Scotland, moderating for a time central Highlands. In England & Wales, a swathe of gales likely affects the mountains, but still some uncertainty about the northward extent; rain and drizzle, plus low cloud covering many hills.
Headline for The Northwest Highlands
Chilly, brisk winds. Heavy showery hail and snow.
How windy? (On the Munros)
West-southwesterly, overnight gales ease by dawn, then typically in range 25 to 35mph during day, briefly less at times southern areas, but squally gusts in showers.
Effect of the wind on you?
Blustery with considerable wind chill, some buffeting gusts, making walking uncomfortable in exposure, affecting balance on ridges.
How Wet?
Frequent snow and hail, chance lightning
Clusters of showers throughout the day and night, with hail, and snow often falling to 300-400m. Some longer periods of precipitation, heavy at times, notably Skye. Chance of isolated thunder & lightning in heavier showers.
Cloud on the hills?
Fairly extensive, some breaks east
Covering western mountains above 800m most of the time, banks to 600m near coast for periods. Briefly lifting higher when dry, bases more frequently rising around Ben Wyvis, occasionally clearing high tops afternoon.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
20%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Largely cloudy, occasional bursts of sun mostly in east. Visibility varying - appalling for periods with moments of whiteout in cloud and snow, intermittently very good.
How Cold? (at 900m)
-2 or -3C. Feeling like -12C in direct wind.
Freezing Level
Up to 800m in overnight hours, but dropping to 500-600m before dawn and then little change all day, slightly higher near Great Glen afternoon.
Viewing Forecast For
The Northwest Highlands
Saturday 4th April 2026
Last updated
Thu 2nd Apr 26 at
3:45PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
Westerly 25-35mph at first, easing S-SE'ly up to noon, then increasing afternoon to 50mph, by dusk onward 60-80mph+.
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.
How Wet?
Snow showers, later snow / rain setting in
A few showers mostly near west coast early in day, with snow falling to some lower slopes for a time. Fading, but then later more persistent hill snow, possibly to mid-lower slopes, likely only briefly rain higher up by evening.
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.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
70%
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, may rise toward 0C briefly later, soon dropping again into night. Feeling like -15C in early wind, then even colder later.
Freezing Level
Frost inland glens at dawn, 600m by noon. Then varying later, may stay 400-600m, only briefly rising higher by evening.
Viewing Forecast For
The Northwest Highlands
Sunday 5th April 2026
Last updated
Thu 2nd Apr 26 at
3:45PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
Stormy conditions overnight lessen toward dawn, but still near 70mph at first, then westerly 40 to 55mph, squally gusts.
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
A succession of heavy hail and snow showers, risk constant precipitation for a few hours from dawn; snow falling to lower elevations early in day at least. Risk 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 possible.
How Cold? (at 900m)
-4C rising to -2C afternoon. Feeling like -15 to -18C in the wind.
Freezing Level
400-500m from dawn, rising to 700m afternoon.
Planning Outlook
A storm system moves across Britain over the Easter weekend, bringing severe conditions increasingly widely - severe gales over the mountains advancing northwards into Scotland by later Saturday daytime. Rain and hill snow also sweeps northward - a substantial snowfall develops particularly in northern Scotland later Saturday. Colder for all by Sunday with all mountains sub-zero, above 600-700m in Scotland, 800m in England and Wales - hail and snow showers with gales bringing severe chill factor. Milder southerlies develop for Monday, dry for most, but risk of gales especially in the west. A changeable weather regime is expected to continue next week, possibly turning chillier again later in the week.