Mountain weather
Northwest Highlands Mountain weather forecast table
Confidence
Generally high confidence in overall setup and for unsettled conditions to continue before colder air moves in from the north later in the week. Low confidence for exact timing of colder air becoming established.
Mountain weather hazards
Hazards apply at or above 300m, reflecting the more severe conditions which can occur at altitude.
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.
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.
Mountain weather forecast
Mostly cloudy with some bright spells and outbreaks of rain and snow. Feeling very cold.
| Time | 06:00 | 09:00 | 12:00 | 15:00 | 18:00 | 21:00 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Weather (at 800m) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Chance of precipitation (at 800m) |
20% | 50% | 40% | 30% | 30% | 30% |
Wind direction and speed (mph)
Altitude above mean sea level
| Time | 06:00 | 09:00 | 12:00 | 15:00 | 18:00 | 21:00 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1000m |
SE
15
|
SE
16
|
SE
14
|
SE
10
|
SE
11
|
SE
13
|
| 900m |
SE
16
|
SE
17
|
SE
14
|
SE
9
|
SE
11
|
SE
12
|
| 600m |
SE
11
|
SE
11
|
SE
8
|
SE
6
|
SE
6
|
SE
8
|
| 300m |
E
4
|
E
4
|
E
3
|
SE
2
|
E
3
|
E
4
|
| Glen |
E
9
|
E
9
|
SE
4
|
SE
3
|
E
6
|
E
7
|
Wind gust (mph)
Altitude above mean sea level
| Time | 06:00 | 09:00 | 12:00 | 15:00 | 18:00 | 21:00 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1000m | 18 | 21 | 17 | 13 | 14 | 16 |
| 900m | 19 | 22 | 17 | 11 | 14 | 16 |
| 600m | 16 | 17 | 12 | 9 | 10 | 12 |
| 300m | 14 | 14 | 10 | 7 | 9 | 11 |
| Glen | 13 | 15 | 7 | 6 | 9 | 11 |
Altitude above mean sea level
| Time | 06:00 | 09:00 | 12:00 | 15:00 | 18:00 | 21:00 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1000m |
0°
|
0°
|
0°
|
0°
|
0°
|
-1°
|
| 900m |
1°
|
0°
|
0°
|
1°
|
0°
|
0°
|
| 600m |
4°
|
3°
|
3°
|
3°
|
3°
|
2°
|
| 300m |
4°
|
4°
|
5°
|
6°
|
4°
|
3°
|
| Glen |
7°
|
7°
|
8°
|
8°
|
7°
|
6°
|
| Freezing Level |
1,000m
|
1,000m
|
1,000m
|
900m
|
900m
|
900m
|
Altitude above mean sea level
| Time | 06:00 | 09:00 | 12:00 | 15:00 | 18:00 | 21:00 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1000m |
-6°
|
-7°
|
-6°
|
-5°
|
-5°
|
-6°
|
| 900m |
-5°
|
-6°
|
-5°
|
-3°
|
-4°
|
-5°
|
| 600m |
0°
|
-1°
|
-1°
|
1°
|
0°
|
-1°
|
| 300m |
2°
|
2°
|
4°
|
4°
|
3°
|
1°
|
| Glen |
4°
|
4°
|
7°
|
8°
|
5°
|
3°
|
Additional weather information
Met Office Aberdeen meteorologist's view
Low cloud and occasional outbreaks of snow will make for tricky navigation on the hills.
Weather
A largely cloudy day but some bright or sunny intervals, the best of these in the west. Long dry spells but outbreaks of rain and snow possible at times, mainly over northern and eastern parts. Snow falling above 800m. Feeling very cold with risk of severe wind chill.
Chance of cloud-free hill tops
40%, best chance in west, and later in the day.
Low cloud and visibility
Low cloud with base down to 400-600m throughout the day. A few breaks at times with summits briefly becoming cloud free in the west particularly. Visibility good outside of cloud but poor in cloud and any snow.
Mountain weather information
Weather
Cloudy with outbreaks of rain and snow, snow falling above 800m. Some brighter spells possible for all in the morning before becoming confined to the west. Feeling very cold. Fresh southeasterly winds becoming strong later.
Chance of cloud-free hill tops
10%, best chance in west.
Maximum wind speed expected
Southeasterly 30-35mph gusting 40-45mph.
Temperature
- At 800m 0 Celsius.
- Glen Plus 5 Celsius.
- Freezing level 800m.
Low cloud and visibility
Low cloud with base down to 400-600m throughout the day. Thick cloud for most parts but a few breaks in the west. Visibility good outside of cloud but poor to very poor in cloud and snow.
Mountain weather information
Wed 11 Feb
Sunrise:
Sunset:
Cloudy with outbreaks of rain and hill snow. Strong easterly winds. Freezing level 800m becoming 400m.
Thu 12 Feb
Sunrise:
Sunset:
Cloudy with rain and snow, becoming drier in the evening. Strong northeasterly winds. Freezing level falling to 100m.
Fri 13 Feb
Sunrise:
Sunset:
Some bright or sunny spells, the snow showers feeding in from the north. Fresh to strong northerly winds. Freezing level down to valley level.
Updated at:
Summit specific forecast
Mountain summit forecast map
Loading map…
Key
Mountain summits
Other points of interest
Cluster of multiple stations
Separated from the Grampians by the Great Glen the weather forecast area includes Wester Ross, Assynt, Sutherland, Knoydart, Torridon, Glen Affric and the Cuillin Hills on the Isle of Skye.
For snow and avalanche hazard forecasts please visit Scottish Avalanche Information Service