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.)
Tuesday'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.
Patchy rain or drizzle
Rain on and off, or generally drizzly - total amounts small, but may be persistently damp, especially where hills are shrouded in cloud.
Chilly
Air temperature near or just above freezing on higher summits. Feeling distinctly chilly on tops when stationary or where exposed to wind. Take appropriate layers.
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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.
Patchy rain or drizzle
Rain on and off, or generally drizzly - total amounts small, but may be persistently damp, especially where hills are shrouded in cloud.
Chilly
Air temperature near or just above freezing 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 January 2025
Last updated
Mon 20th Jan 25 at
4:00PM
Summary for all mountain areas
Below freezing on Scottish tops. Noticeably chilly in the breeze. A cluster of showers with hill snow moves across the Highlands early in the day, but clears to be often dry and bright. Showers continue near to western coasts, some moving inland. A slow-moving front over England & north Wales brings grey and damp conditions.
Headline for The Northwest Highlands
Chilly, breezy. Showers and low cloud mostly toward Skye.
How windy? (On the Munros)
Southwesterly 20 to 25mph, at times 30mph on western mountains, strongest sustained speeds on Skye.
Effect of the wind on you?
Affecting comfortable walking on exposed higher terrain, some buffeting on western ridges impacting balance. Considerable wind chill.
How Wet?
Showers mostly west near Skye
Showery rain and upland snow early morning passing east across most areas, soon clearing to be often dry inland and toward the north and east. Showers with sleet on tops will come and go all day around Skye to Torridon.
Cloud on the hills?
Most persistent west, breaks east/north
Banks of cloud across many higher slopes early in the day, lifting with some breaks to summits in the east and far north. Nearer to western coasts, tops more often covered, frequently above 700m on and near to Skye.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
10% Skye, 40% further north/east.
Sunshine and air clarity?
Some glimpses of sun in the east and north, more often cloudy west. Visibility often good, very good in east; reduced in showers.
How Cold? (at 900m)
0 or -1C. Wind chill feeling like -10C.
Freezing Level
800 to 900m, slightly higher near coast.
Viewing Forecast For
The Northwest Highlands
Wednesday 22nd January 2025
Last updated
Mon 20th Jan 25 at
4:00PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
Generally southeasterly, though direction variable. 10mph and under.
Effect of the wind on you?
Little to none
How Wet?
Mostly dry, coastal showers
A few isolated snow showers possible along coastal hills, particularly near Skye, rain below 600m. Likely dry inland and north.
Cloud on the hills?
High tops often capped, clearer inland
High tops near the west coast often capped, with bases sometimes reaching towards terrain below 900m. More often clear inland, though tops occasionally capped.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
40%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Intermittent sun during hill cloud breaks. Good visibility, poor where in showers.
How Cold? (at 900m)
-1C, some pockets of slightly cooler air inland.
Freezing Level
800m
Viewing Forecast For
The Northwest Highlands
Thursday 23rd January 2025
Last updated
Mon 20th Jan 25 at
4:00PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
Southerly turning west-southwesterly; speeds likely increasing 25 to 40mph, risk 50mph for a time, suddenly squally.
Effect of the wind on you?
Walking becoming impeded with increasing buffeting on higher terrain, risk difficult where exposed. Significant wind chill.
How Wet?
Risk of snow/rain mainly Skye-Kintail
Initially just a few showers near Skye, snow flurries above 600m. Elsewhere likely dry for a few hours. Increasing risk with time of heavy rain and upland snow developing from southwest; little may reach far north.
Cloud on the hills?
Varied, clearest far northwest
Patchy cloud banks on south or southeast facing slopes early in day. Western hills north from Wester Ross may be clear for a few hours. Banks of cloud forming on Skye increasingly, lowering widely in rain/snow.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
50%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Glimpses of weak sun giving way to thickening high cloud. Visibility very good, reducing where rain/snow develops.
How Cold? (at 900m)
-1 or -2C. Wind chill feeling like -10 to -15C.
Freezing Level
Locally varied 600 to 800m, tending to lower during the day.
Planning Outlook
Deteriorating later this week - a series of storm systems coming in from the Atlantic through late January bringing frequently severe conditions to the mountains. Thursday sees winds reach gale force on many tops with a spell of heavy rain and upland snow developing from the west. By Friday, severe conditions from lower elevations upward, hurricane-force winds over the mountains, plus extensive rain and hill snow. Gales continue into Saturday, severe for the Highlands. Snow is likely to accumulate over Scottish mountains during the next week or so with only brief thawing. More variable temperatures for England and Wales with cycles of freeze and thaw. Atlantic patterns likely prevail into early February.