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
Gale force, walking arduous
Considerable buffeting, walking into the wind will be strenuous on exposed terrain, stronger gusts may knock you off your feet. 40 to 55mph.
Frequent or persistent rain
Steady rain fairly persistent, occasionally heavy, rather wet underfoot.
Poor visibility
Murky conditions with areas of fog shrouding the hills, making navigation challenging. Map and compass essential.
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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Gale force, walking arduous
Considerable buffeting, walking into the wind will be strenuous on exposed terrain, stronger gusts may knock you off your feet. 40 to 55mph.
Frequent or persistent rain
Steady rain fairly persistent, occasionally heavy, rather wet underfoot.
Poor visibility
Murky conditions with areas of fog shrouding the hills, making navigation challenging. Map and compass essential.
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
Monday 24th March 2025
Last updated
Sun 23rd Mar 25 at
4:08PM
Summary for all mountain areas
Westerly winds strengthening, reaching gale force over tops in the Highlands. Rain moves into northwest Scotland, setting in heavier during afternoon; patchy rain extending southeastwards later. Dry all daylight for England, Wales and southern Scotland, with good amounts of sunshine.
Headline for The Northwest Highlands
Increasingly gales on tops. Rain moving in, heavy in west afternoon.
How windy? (On the Munros)
West to southwesterly, strengthening in morning toward 35 to 50mph, strongest toward the north.
Effect of the wind on you?
Walking becoming arduous or increasingly difficult and wind chill significant where exposed.
How Wet?
Rain developing, setting in
Dry start, but rain moving onto west coast during morning, becoming persistent middle of day, heavier and more widespread into afternoon.
Cloud on the hills?
Confined to higher tops, becoming extensive afternoon
Morning: Cloud base typically 700m near west coast, occasionally clearing to higher tops, patchier eastwards. Afternoon: Fog filling in across the hills in rain, forming on lowest slopes near west coast.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
30%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Patches of sun will give way as cloud thickens from west. Excellent visibility in morning then becoming poor in rain.
How Cold? (at 900m)
2C, rising slowly through the day to 5C. Wind chill feeling as cold as -10C as speeds increase.
Freezing Level
Above the summits.
Viewing Forecast For
The Northwest Highlands
Tuesday 25th March 2025
Last updated
Sun 23rd Mar 25 at
4:08PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
Westerly 25 to 40mph, strongest on northern mountains around Ben Hope.
Effect of the wind on you?
Affecting balance and comfortable walking. Frequent buffeting on northern tops. Considerable wind chill.
How Wet?
Light showers in morning
Occasional brief showery rain in the breeze, mostly west coastal mountains in the morning; sleet on highest tops at first.
Cloud on the hills?
Varied over western tops
Patches of cloud likely to come and go on western hills above 700 to 900m, tending to rise higher with time. Breaks most common over eastern hills.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
40%
Sunshine and air clarity?
A little sunshine in and out, most common eastern areas. Visibility very good, slight haze near coast.
How Cold? (at 900m)
2C. Wind chill feeling like -7 to -10C.
Freezing Level
Just above highest summits.
Viewing Forecast For
The Northwest Highlands
Wednesday 26th March 2025
Last updated
Sun 23rd Mar 25 at
4:08PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
Southwesterly, strengthening 35 to 50mph, risk 60-70mph higher mountains later afternoon.
Effect of the wind on you?
Deteriorating to make walking increasingly difficult on higher terrain, wind chill becoming significant.
How Wet?
Risk rain later
Dry start, spots of rain developing, then later in the day risk of more persistent rain moving in from the west.
Cloud on the hills?
Varied low cloud, filling in later
Banks of cloud on some slopes in the morning, higher tops may be above cloud for a time. Cloud lifting onto the tops, some breaks toward east. Then thickening to become extensive, lowest near Skye.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
50% dropping to 20%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Largely cloudy, a little sun through high cloud occasionally. Visibility good, but reducing later in rain.
How Cold? (at 900m)
1 to 3C. Wind chill feeling like -10C, nearer -15C as speeds increase.
Freezing Level
Close to freezing some higher slopes above 900m at dawn; otherwise above the summits.
Planning Outlook
A mixed westerly regime for the next week to ten days - fronts coming in from the west bringing spells of rain, interspersed with better days under ridges of high pressure. Rain most frequent in western Scotland. Frequently windy, periods of gale force wind over the mountains. Temperature varied, sometimes just below freezing on higher Scottish summits, with some showers of snow at times on the Munros - chillier more widely by Friday into Saturday as wind turns northwesterly for a time.