Mountain weather

Northwest Highlands

Northwest Highlands Mountain weather forecast table

Confidence

High for Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday. Low for extent of precipitation later in the week.

Sunrise:
Sunset:

This evening forecast

Dry with thinning cloud. Freezing level lowering to 900 metres.

Sunrise:
Sunset:
Mountain hazards

Mountain weather hazards

Hazards apply at or above 300m, reflecting the more severe conditions which can occur at altitude.

hazard Gales
Gale force winds (gusts over 50mph) make walking difficult and strenuous with a potential to be blown over by gusts. There is often a marked increase in winds through cols or on exposed ridges and summits. Distances can take longer to cover and compass bearings become harder to follow accurately.
hazard Poor Visibility
Poor visibility presents challenging route finding conditions. Visibility could be significantly less than 50 metres in all directions with few or no visual references, especially on featureless moors or plateaux. Distances become hard to judge and cliff or cornice edges can be difficult to recognise. These conditions require good navigational skills. There is a risk of white-out conditions when mist or fog is combined with extensive snow cover.

hazard Severe Chill Effect
Wind significantly lowers the ‘feels-like’ temperature relative to the actual temperature, with even moderate winds significantly adding to the chilling effect. Strong winds can result in a severe and debilitating wind chill many degrees below the actual temperature. This effect will be enhanced in rain or wet snow. Without protection, prolonged exposure could result in frost nip or frostbite on exposed parts of the body and/or hypothermia.
hazard Strong Sunlight
Harmful UV levels from sunlight increase with altitude giving a greater risk of sunburn and eye damage, even on some overcast days. On breezy days, the cooling effect of wind on exposed skin may disguise any feeling of sunburn until it is too late. If there is snow cover, glare increases the effect of UV rays especially on the eyes. It is advisable to wear sun block, protective clothing such as a long-sleeved top and hat and have good quality eye protection.

Mountain weather forecast

Dry start, cloud and rain spreading east. Summit gales developing.

Time 00:00 03:00 06:00 09:00 12:00 15:00 18:00 21:00
Weather
(at 800m)
Partly cloudy (night) Partly cloudy (night) Cloudy Cloudy Heavy rain Heavy rain Heavy rain Heavy rain
Chance of precipitation
(at 800m)
00% 00% 00% 10% 30% 50% 60% 60%

Wind direction and speed (mph)
Altitude above mean sea level
Time 00:00 03:00 06:00 09:00 12:00 15:00 18:00 21:00
1000m SW
12
SW
22
SW
28
SW
35
SW
38
SW
37
SW
32
SW
24
900m SW
11
SW
21
SW
28
SW
32
SW
36
SW
34
SW
29
SW
21
600m SW
7
SW
11
SW
16
SW
24
SW
28
SW
24
SW
19
SW
14
300m SW
1
SW
2
SW
5
SW
8
SW
11
SW
7
SW
4
SW
3
Glen NE
1
W
3
SW
5
SW
10
S
12
S
7
S
5
SW
6
Wind gust (mph)
Altitude above mean sea level
Time 00:00 03:00 06:00 09:00 12:00 15:00 18:00 21:00
1000m 14 27 36 43 49 47 40 31
900m 13 27 35 41 46 44 38 28
600m 9 17 24 32 38 33 28 21
300m 9 16 22 29 35 29 22 17
Glen 3 8 15 20 24 17 15 14

Altitude above mean sea level
Time 00:00 03:00 06:00 09:00 12:00 15:00 18:00 21:00
1000m
-1°
-2°
-1°
900m
-1°
600m
300m
Glen
10°
Freezing Level
600m
900m
2,100m
2,100m
2,400m
2,500m
2,400m
2,200m

Altitude above mean sea level
Time 00:00 03:00 06:00 09:00 12:00 15:00 18:00 21:00
1000m
-6°
-8°
-9°
-8°
-7°
-6°
-4°
-2°
900m
-5°
-7°
-8°
-7°
-6°
-4°
-2°
600m
-1°
-3°
-4°
-2°
-2°
-1°
300m
Glen

Additional weather information

Met Office Aberdeen meteorologist's view

Hill fog will lead to navigational difficulties especially during the afternoon as cloud lowers. Winds will also strengthen during the afternoon with a risk of gales on the highest tops during the afternoon.

Weather

A dry start although fog will shroud summits across Skye, western Sutherland, northern Lochaber and Wester Ross. Rain will reach the west coast by midday and extend inland through the afternoon although rain patchy towards the Great Glen and Easter Ross. Rain persisting into the evening and becoming heavier across the west.

Chance of cloud-free hill tops

30%, best chance towards the east in the morning

Low cloud and visibility

Very good visibility in the morning with little in the way of summit cloud across the east. Otherwise poor visibility in the west in the morning with cloud down to 700 metres. Hill fog will become extensive during the afternoon with cloud down to 300 to 600 metres, lowest bases along the west coast.

Sunrise:
Sunset:

Mountain weather information

Weather

Rain clearing away during the early hours. Then apart from the odd light shower in the morning it will be dry although rather cloudy. Windy at height with summit gales.

Chance of cloud-free hill tops

70%

Maximum wind speed expected

Westerly average speeds of 40 mph with gusts to 60 mph on the higher tops in the morning, easing through the afternoon

Temperature

  • At 800m Plus 3 Celsius
  • Glen Plus 5 rising to 12 Celsius
  • Freezing level 1200 to 1500 metres

Low cloud and visibility

Very good visibility with great air clarity. Patchy cloud down to 600 to 800 metres, lowest bases along the west coast in the morning.

Mountain weather information

Wed 26 Mar

Sunrise:
Sunset:

Dry and cloudy for most of the day, summits clearest across the east of the area. Thickening cloud will bring rain for a time later in the afternoon followed by a few showers, these turning wintry after dark. Higher summit southwesterly gales.

Thu 27 Mar

Sunrise:
Sunset:

Windy with wintry showers or occasionally longer spells of rain or higher summit snow.

Fri 28 Mar

Sunrise:
Sunset:

Mostly cloudy with scattered wintry showers.

Updated at:

Summit specific forecast

Mountain summit forecast map

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For snow and avalanche hazard forecasts please visit Scottish Avalanche Information Service