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.
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.
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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.
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.
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.
Viewing Forecast For
The Northwest Highlands
Tuesday 21st April 2026
Last updated
Mon 20th Apr 26 at
4:00PM
Summary for all mountain areas
Brisk easterly winds for all areas will give considerable chill factor across the mountains; very gusty toward the west. A little patchy rain at first, otherwise a generally dry day. Cloud banks over the hill early in the day, particularly in the east, but increasingly breaking up to leave clear hills and sunshine.
Headline for The Northwest Highlands
Blustery, gusty spots. Cloud breaking, sunshine.
How windy? (On the Munros)
Easterly 25 to 30mph, gusty 35mph in places around tops and some passes, locally downslope to the west, likely strongest near and north of Ullapool in the morning.
Effect of the wind on you?
Marked wind chill in exposure, some blustery spots affecting ease of walking, local buffeting gusts for a time, mainly northern areas in morning.
How Wet?
Early local dampness fades
Around or just before dawn, local light spots of rain mostly on eastern hills, a local snow flurry above 600m. Fading out to leave dry conditions.
Cloud on the hills?
Mostly north and east early in day, clearing
Cloud banks widely in north and east areas in the morning, to 600m for a time, tending to lift higher. More broken above 800m westwards. Tending to break up to leave hills largely clear by afternoon or sooner.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
50% rising above 90% afternoon.
Sunshine and air clarity?
Fairly cloudy start, some brighter sunnier moments mostly west; increasingly sunny. Visibility very good then excellent.
How Cold? (at 900m)
0 or -1C in morning, rising to 3C afternoon. Directly in the wind, feeling as cold as -10C in the morning, -5C afternoon.
Freezing Level
800-900m early morning, patchy slight frost some western glens. Rising just above freezing on highest tops.
Viewing Forecast For
The Northwest Highlands
Wednesday 22nd April 2026
Last updated
Mon 20th Apr 26 at
4:00PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
Easterly 15-20mph, but risk local gusty spots 25mph, mainly western mountains.
Effect of the wind on you?
Fairly small, but locally gusts may feel uncomfortable, not just on higher slopes. Feeling chilly in exposure.
How Wet?
No precipitation expected
Cloud on the hills?
Hardly any west, patchy cloud east
West coastal mountains likely clear all day. Cloud banks inland and mainly further east in morning, base around 600m, whilst highest tops may poke above the cloud. Tending to thin, but patches may linger in east.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
90% west, 60% east/northeast.
Sunshine and air clarity?
Sunshine all day Skye and much of west coast, broken cloud further east. Visibility excellent.
How Cold? (at 900m)
0 to 3C north and east, typically warmer west coast, up to locally 6C afternoon. Feeling sub-zero directly in the wind.
Freezing Level
Around freezing on higher slopes mainly in north and east in the morning, also frost some glens. Lifting above all tops.
Viewing Forecast For
The Northwest Highlands
Thursday 23rd April 2026
Last updated
Mon 20th Apr 26 at
4:00PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
East or southeasterly 10-15mph, locally variable lower speeds.
Effect of the wind on you?
Small.
How Wet?
No precipitation expected
Cloud on the hills?
None expected
Some ribbons of fog mostly in eastward draining glens early morning, brief fragments may drift upslope, but the mountains generally clear all day.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
Above 90%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Widely sunny, possibly thin high cloud. Visibility excellent.
How Cold? (at 900m)
4C rising to 8C, locally warmer western areas by afternoon.
Freezing Level
Frost inland glens and some sheltered higher areas at dawn. Otherwise above freezing to the summits.
Planning Outlook
Staying dry through the remainder of this week and likely into the weekend as high pressure centred to the north stays nearby. Strong and gusty easterly winds tending to lessen later in the week to leave mostly light winds onward into the weekend. Temperatures generally a few degrees above freezing on higher tops, though often some frost in valleys and sheltered higher terrain at dawn. Western areas generally sunniest and warmest, some low cloud banks over eastern hills in the mornings, early fog patches some valleys. Commonly dry weather likely into next week too, chance of local showers occasionally.