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.)
Wednesday's Forecast
Moderate breeze, locally gusty
A noticeable breeze, feeling cool where exposed on tops. Locally may be gusty, but unlikely to affect walking progress. 15-25mph.
Snow flurries
Occasional light snow flurries, sleet or rain lower elevations. Amounts little more than nuisance value, but locally more persistent and reducing visibility for periods.
Cold
Air temperature below 0C all day on higher mountains. Significant chill factor if exposed to strong winds. Suitable protective clothing required.
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Moderate breeze, locally gusty
A noticeable breeze, feeling cool where exposed on tops. Locally may be gusty, but unlikely to affect walking progress. 15-25mph.
Snow flurries
Occasional light snow flurries, sleet or rain lower elevations. Amounts little more than nuisance value, but locally more persistent and reducing visibility for periods.
Cold
Air temperature below 0C all day on higher mountains. Significant chill factor if exposed to strong winds. Suitable protective clothing required.
Viewing Forecast For
The Northwest Highlands
Wednesday 11th November 2026
Last updated
Tue 10th Nov 26 at
3:25PM
Summary for all mountain areas
Many places stay dry all day with sunshine and broken cloud. Below freezing on Scottish tops. A band of rain and hill snow moves into northern Scotland during the day, plus a strengthening northwesterly wind. Easterly winds for Wales, light rain in the south fizzles out, but leaves low cloud and dampness.
Headline for The Northwest Highlands
Chilly wind increases, rain and hill snow arrives from north.
How windy? (On the Munros)
North to northwesterly, 15 to 30mph, speed tending to rise from the north into middle of day onward. Strengthening further into night to 40mph.
Effect of the wind on you?
Starting small, but increasingly blustery conditions and considerable wind chill on high terrain, soonest in the north. Deteriorating into night.
How Wet?
Showery upland snow develops from north, mainly afternoon
A few showers in the far north in the morning, then a more persistent band moves in through middle of day, snow on tops increasingly to 600-700m, moving southwards into afternoon, patchier near Great Glen. A scattering of showers follow, by evening of snow toward some lower slopes in north.
Cloud on the hills?
Mostly little, then forming onto tops
Patchy cloud in morning, but many mountains clear. Then variable banks of cloud above 800m, but patches to 600m for a time in precipitation - filling in for a time on high terrain during afternoon, mostly northern areas.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
50%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Occasional sunshine, but clouding over widely from the north as the day goes on. Visibility very good when dry, but poor if in snow and cloud on tops afternoon.
How Cold? (at 900m)
0 or -1C, dropping to -3C into evening. Feeling like -7 to -10C as wind increases, coldest soonest on northern Munros.
Freezing Level
800-900m, or slightly lower in showers; dropping further into evening. Also frost inland glens in morning.
Viewing Forecast For
The Northwest Highlands
Thursday 12th November 2026
Last updated
Tue 10th Nov 26 at
3:25PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
Northerly 30 to 40mph, strongest areas from Ben Hope to Ben Wyvis.
Effect of the wind on you?
Strenuous walking in exposure, more arduous north and eastern areas, frequent buffeting. Significant wind chill.
How Wet?
Snow and hail showers
A feed of snow showers coming in from the north, locally frequent at times, some hail mixed in; rain lower slopes, to 600-700m near coast. Fewer toward the Great Glen.
Cloud on the hills?
Varying over higher tops
Banks of cloud drifting across high terrain, mostly above 800-900m, briefly lower in showers near to coasts, but breaking toward or above many tops for periods too, best toward Kintail.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
40%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Sunshine mostly toward Great Glen, but breaking through at times elsewhere. Some coastal haze, but visibility excellent inland; suddenly poor in snow showers.
How Cold? (at 900m)
0 to -2C. Feeling like -10 to -15C directly in the wind.
Freezing Level
700-800m, or 900m Skye and nearby coastal tops. Frost widely in glens early morning, all day out of sunlight.
Viewing Forecast For
The Northwest Highlands
Friday 13th November 2026
Last updated
Tue 10th Nov 26 at
3:25PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
Northwest soon turning westerly, 20-25mph rising during day to 30-35mph, or 40mph on northern mountains afternoon.
Effect of the wind on you?
Increasingly affecting ease of walking, becoming strenuous, frequent buffeting and significant wind chill develops in north.
How Wet?
Snow showers then rain mostly west
Showers moving inland from the west coast, falling as snow initially to 500m or briefly lower inland, then mostly above 800m by afternoon. Risk of steadier rain for west coastal areas with time, snow then confined to highest tops.
Cloud on the hills?
Increasingly covering western tops
Patchy cloud mostly western mountains in the morning above 800-900m, likely to increasingly cover high terrain more frequently during day. Better breaks inland and eastward, but patches likely to come and go on tops.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
40%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Glimpses of sun, mostly eastern areas. Visibility often excellent, but reducing in precipitation, occasionally poor if in snow.
How Cold? (at 900m)
-1C rising to +1C. Wind chill feeling increasingly like -10C, or later colder on northern summits.
Freezing Level
Near the west coast, 600-700m, rising to 1000m or above. Inland slower to rise, and frost in the morning in many glens.
Planning Outlook
Chillier in the second half of this week with frost widely, but much clearer conditions for all with sunshine. Into the weekend, as the wind shifts west then southwesterly, less cold air drifts in from the Atlantic bringing more cloud onto western hills - some rain mainly in western Scotland, whilst England and Wales may remain largely dry for the weekend. A changeable outlook into next week with varying temperatures, stronger wind at times, rain and some upland snow possible. Unsettled patterns are more likely to prevail beyond mid-month.