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.
Cloud and some sun, snow cover on tops
Mostly dry with a mix of cloud and sun, patchy cloud occasionally covering some mountain slopes. Snow covering higher terrain.
Clear over snow cover
Excellent or superb visibility, but be aware that paths over the mountains may be obscured by lying snow.
Cold
Air temperature below 0C all day on higher mountains. Significant chill factor if exposed to strong winds. Suitable protective clothing required.
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.
Cloud and some sun, snow cover on tops
Mostly dry with a mix of cloud and sun, patchy cloud occasionally covering some mountain slopes. Snow covering higher terrain.
Clear over snow cover
Excellent or superb visibility, but be aware that paths over the mountains may be obscured by lying snow.
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
Saturday 15th November 2025
Last updated
Fri 14th Nov 25 at
4:20PM
Summary for all mountain areas
High fog banks in the east Scottish Highlands, dry with sunshine west; windy early but easing. A thin layer of snow blankets the summits. Early gales in England and north Wales ease but remaining blustery. Rain here too, also easing though lingering south Pennines. Flood risk in Wales and south Pennines.
Headline for The Northwest Highlands
Strong gusty wind early, easing; often sunny particularly west
How windy? (On the Munros)
Easterly 25 to 40mph from dawn, strongest and gusty Skye and Kintail. Easing with time, particularly north where speeds will drop to 15mph or lower, nearer 20-25mph south.
Effect of the wind on you?
Making balance challenging in places with turbulent gusts down western slopes at first, particularly south where conditions will be arduous - significant wind chill. Impacts lessening with time.
How Wet?
Largely dry, flurries north/east
Most western areas dry all day. Chance of local brief snow flurries north and eastern mountains, will amount to very little.
Cloud on the hills?
High banks north and east, little west
Patchy cloud over high terrain mainly in Sutherland, mostly eastern slopes above 900-1000m that at times locally more extensive. Well broken westwards particularly toward Skye, Torridon and Kintail where mountains likely substantially clear.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
40% north, to 80% Wester Ross-Skye.
Sunshine and air clarity?
Often sunny in west coastal areas. Sun more patchy north and east where cloud may fill in for several hours. Visibility excellent.
How Cold? (at 900m)
-1 or -2C (to -4C highest summits in the morning). Slight rise during day, particularly high terrain. Wind chill early in day feeling like -15C, improving.
Freezing Level
Around 800m with some local variations - some lower well-inland slopes near freezing in morning. May rise a little during day.
Viewing Forecast For
The Northwest Highlands
Sunday 16th November 2025
Last updated
Fri 14th Nov 25 at
4:20PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
Northerly 15 to 25mph. Shifting northwesterly and rising for a few hours during precipitation.
Effect of the wind on you?
Prepare for noticeable wind chill; fairly small effect on walking, but blustery on a few exposed slopes.
How Wet?
Band of rain, snow tops, moving south
Showery rain, or snow mostly above 800m, may briefly turn wetter higher up, mostly northern areas in the morning, moving southwards in a more frequent band through middle of day into afternoon.
Cloud on the hills?
Most frequent north, lowering at times
Patchy cloud mostly on upper slopes, becoming more extensive above 700m in precipitation in the north for periods. Areas toward Kintail starting clearer, then banks drifting onto high ground at times into afternoon.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
20% north, to 50% south.
Sunshine and air clarity?
Occasional sun mostly Skye to the Great Glen in morning, clouding over from north. Visibility excellent for periods, but reduced to very poor if in snow for a time.
How Cold? (at 900m)
0 or +1C. Feeling like -7C in exposure to wind.
Freezing Level
Frost many inland glens from dawn, mid-slopes above freezing; near or just below freezing all day above 900-1000m.
Viewing Forecast For
The Northwest Highlands
Monday 17th November 2025
Last updated
Fri 14th Nov 25 at
4:20PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
Northwesterly 20-30mph, stronger gusts in northern areas. An easing trend in the west later.
Effect of the wind on you?
Comfort of walking affected, particularly north where strenuous at times with buffeting. Significant wind chill.
How Wet?
Frequent coastal snow showers
Frequent snow showers drift onto slopes of the north and west coasts - snow down to middle slopes. Well inland southern areas may be substantially dry, including Ben Wyvis.
Cloud on the hills?
Coming and going on high terrain
Cloud comes and goes around 900m or up throughout the day - well inland southern areas will see extended breaks. Coastal aspects towards the north may be more often shrouded.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
30% coastal tops, 60% inland tops
Sunshine and air clarity?
A patchwork of cloud and sun, though at times more cloudy. Variable visibility - excellent though turning very poor in cloud and snow.
How Cold? (at 900m)
-3C. Feeling as cold as -13C in strongest wind.
Freezing Level
500-600m, though frosts likely widespread into the glens at dawn.
Planning Outlook
Rain eases in Wales and the southern Pennines though flood risk may linger for another day. Winds shift widely northerly as the weekend turns into next week, drawing cold air widely across the country; staying below freezing over higher mountains most likely throughout the next week to 10 days. Snow flurries move in on this northerly wind on slopes exposed to coasts; snow most frequent toward north of the Highlands with some locally more substantial accumulations over higher terrain; some accumulating upland snow possible more widely during Tuesday as a front drifts southward. Elsewhere, sunny breaks will occur at times frequent and prolonged. Winds often strong, at times gale force; significant wind chills likely.