Mountain weather

Northwest Highlands

Northwest Highlands Mountain weather forecast table

Confidence

High for changeable weather this week, medium for details.

Sunrise:
Sunset:

This evening forecast

Clear intervals and a few showers especially over Sutherland where of snow down to 200m or less, nearer 300m-400m further south. Strong westerly summit winds making it feel bitterly cold.

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 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 Heavy Persistent Rain
Heavy and persistent rain can lead to drenched clothing and footwear with waterproofs often becoming soaked through, especially if accompanied by strong winds. This can lead to significant loss of body heat and an increased likelihood of hypothermia. Terrain may turn increasingly boggy underfoot while streams can flood and become impassable. There may also be a risk of flooding in valleys or glens. If there is snow cover, a heightened avalanche hazard is possible and avalanche reports should be consulted where available.

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 Heavy Persistent Snow
Heavy snow can lead to rapid changes in underfoot conditions and paths may become treacherous or hidden. It also brings very poor visibility and often makes navigation much more challenging. When deep snow accumulates progress is often time consuming and strenuous, significantly affecting the distance one can travel on foot. Deep drifts can develop if snow is combined with strong winds. A heightened avalanche risk is possible and avalanche reports should be consulted where available.
hazard Storm Force Winds
Storm force winds (gusts over 70mph) make walking very strenuous with any mobility virtually impossible over exposed ground. Where these conditions occur there is a high risk of being blown over and even standing may be impossible at times with a risk of being blown off one’s feet. Basic tasks such as using a map, eating, putting on extra clothing or communication become extremely difficult away from any shelter.

Mountain weather forecast

Dry bright start then clouding over, with rain, preceded by snow at higher elevations, arriving during the afternoon, becoming persistent and heavy in the west. Gales or severe gales developing.

Time 00:00 03:00 06:00 09:00 12:00 15:00 18:00 21:00
Weather
(at 800m)
Light snow shower (night) Partly cloudy (night) Cloudy Cloudy Cloudy Heavy snow Heavy rain Heavy rain
Chance of precipitation
(at 800m)
30% <05% <05% <05% 20% 80% 90% 90%

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 W
23
SW
20
SW
19
S
25
S
34
S
45
SW
51
SW
49
900m W
22
SW
18
SW
18
S
23
S
32
S
40
SW
46
SW
44
600m SW
12
SW
10
SW
9
S
16
S
25
S
27
SW
32
SW
31
300m W
3
W
2
SW
2
S
6
S
10
S
8
SW
11
SW
11
Glen NW
3
W
3
SW
3
S
9
S
16
S
16
S
20
SW
20
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 29 26 25 32 45 58 66 65
900m 29 25 24 30 43 53 62 60
600m 19 17 15 23 36 40 48 47
300m 18 16 13 20 32 37 44 43
Glen 9 8 10 19 32 38 43 43

Altitude above mean sea level
Time 00:00 03:00 06:00 09:00 12:00 15:00 18:00 21:00
1000m
-4°
-4°
-4°
-3°
-2°
-2°
900m
-3°
-3°
-3°
-2°
-1°
-1°
600m
300m
Glen
Freezing Level
400m
300m
400m
500m
600m
700m
1,800m
1,900m

Altitude above mean sea level
Time 00:00 03:00 06:00 09:00 12:00 15:00 18:00 21:00
1000m
-12°
-11°
-11°
-11°
-11°
-12°
-8°
-6°
900m
-11°
-10°
-10°
-9°
-9°
-10°
-7°
-4°
600m
-6°
-5°
-5°
-5°
-5°
-6°
-3°
-1°
300m
Glen

Additional weather information

Met Office Aberdeen meteorologist's view

Poor conditions developing in afternoon and evening due to multiple hazards

Weather

Any wintry showers dying out in early hours, with most dry with some clear intervals. The morning will be dry but with higher cloud thickening up. Then outbreaks of rain reaching Skye around midday spreading east to all areas by mid-afternoon, starting off as snow above about 6-700m. The rain turning heavy at times with some longer spells of heavy rain developing in the west before it turns more showery late evening.

Chance of cloud-free hill tops

More than 90% in morning, then falling steadily to 20% by mid-afternoon, falling near zero in the evening.

Low cloud and visibility

No low cloud in morning, but cloud dropping to 750-900m in afternoon and 500-750m by late afternoon with lower patches in west, falling further after dark. Visibility away from cloud will be good in the morning then fall poor at times in rain and early snow.

Sunrise:
Sunset:

Mountain weather information

Weather

Clear then sunny intervals and occasional showers, with snow above 900m at first but turning to snow down to 700m in the afternoon, 500m by evening and to 250m by midnight. The showers turning heavy with the chance of lightning in the west.

Chance of cloud-free hill tops

10% in early hours rising to 60% during morning.

Maximum wind speed expected

Southwesterly 60 gusts 75mph early hours becoming west or southwest 40 gusts 55mph in the morning, easing 25 gusts 35mph later.

Temperature

  • At 800m Plus 4 Celsius early hours falling to Plus 1 by morning, and Minus 2 in the evening.
  • Glen Plus 7 Celsius falling Plus 5, then to Plus 2 in the evening,
  • Freezing level Above summits early hours falling 900m by dawn, 500m by evening and 300m by midnight.

Low cloud and visibility

Extensive cloud at 450-600m in early hours. Cloud breaking and lifting to mostly above 750m by morning, but dropping 500m in heavier showers which will themselves bring poor visibility as snow showers turn heavier.

Mountain weather information

Wed 25 Mar

Sunrise:
Sunset:

Clear or sunny intervals and occasional showers, some heavy, with snow above 300m, perhaps to low levels at first and again in the evening. Strong to gale northwesterly winds on the tops so feeling very cold.

Thu 26 Mar

Sunrise:
Sunset:

A few wintry showers at first, then much of the day dry, quite bright but clouding over with the chance of a little rain or snow from mid-afternoon. Freezing level 400m rising above summits in the evening. Fresh northwest winds becoming southwest later.

Fri 27 Mar

Sunrise:
Sunset:

Early cloud and rain soon clearing then bright with a few showers, wintry on higher hills. Strong northwesterly winds, freezing level falling to 700m.

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