Mountain weather
Northwest Highlands Mountain weather forecast table
Confidence
High confidence for conditions to stay unsettled but low for any detail and timing of rain and showers.
This evening forecast
A cold and mostly dry evening with light winds. A few wintry showers possible at first but these soon easing. Patchy cloud with plenty of clear spells later and fog possible in valleys.
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 dry with sunny spells, a few showers possible in the south later. Cold.
| Time | 00:00 | 03:00 | 06:00 | 09:00 | 12:00 | 15:00 | 18:00 | 21:00 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Weather (at 800m) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Chance of precipitation (at 800m) |
00% | 00% | <05% | <05% | 20% | 20% | 20% | 30% |
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 |
S
21
|
S
20
|
SE
16
|
SE
17
|
SE
20
|
SE
18
|
SE
17
|
E
16
|
| 900m |
S
19
|
S
19
|
SE
15
|
SE
16
|
SE
18
|
SE
16
|
SE
15
|
E
14
|
| 600m |
S
12
|
S
12
|
SE
10
|
SE
11
|
SE
11
|
SE
10
|
SE
10
|
SE
10
|
| 300m |
S
1
|
S
2
|
SE
2
|
SE
2
|
SE
2
|
SE
1
|
E
3
|
E
4
|
| Glen |
E
5
|
SE
5
|
E
6
|
E
6
|
SE
4
|
SE
5
|
E
7
|
E
8
|
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 | 25 | 23 | 19 | 20 | 23 | 21 | 20 | 20 |
| 900m | 24 | 23 | 18 | 19 | 21 | 20 | 19 | 18 |
| 600m | 17 | 17 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 13 | 13 | 14 |
| 300m | 11 | 12 | 9 | 9 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 12 |
| Glen | 9 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 9 | 9 | 12 | 12 |
Altitude above mean sea level
| Time | 00:00 | 03:00 | 06:00 | 09:00 | 12:00 | 15:00 | 18:00 | 21:00 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1000m |
-2°
|
-2°
|
-2°
|
-2°
|
-2°
|
-2°
|
-2°
|
-2°
|
| 900m |
-2°
|
-2°
|
-2°
|
-2°
|
-1°
|
-1°
|
-2°
|
-2°
|
| 600m |
0°
|
0°
|
0°
|
0°
|
1°
|
1°
|
0°
|
1°
|
| 300m |
0°
|
0°
|
-1°
|
0°
|
2°
|
2°
|
1°
|
1°
|
| Glen |
3°
|
3°
|
3°
|
3°
|
5°
|
5°
|
4°
|
4°
|
| Freezing Level |
500m
|
500m
|
400m
|
400m
|
500m
|
600m
|
500m
|
500m
|
Altitude above mean sea level
| Time | 00:00 | 03:00 | 06:00 | 09:00 | 12:00 | 15:00 | 18:00 | 21:00 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1000m |
-10°
|
-9°
|
-8°
|
-8°
|
-8°
|
-8°
|
-9°
|
-8°
|
| 900m |
-9°
|
-8°
|
-8°
|
-8°
|
-7°
|
-7°
|
-8°
|
-7°
|
| 600m |
-5°
|
-5°
|
-4°
|
-4°
|
-3°
|
-3°
|
-4°
|
-4°
|
| 300m |
-2°
|
-2°
|
-3°
|
-2°
|
0°
|
0°
|
-1°
|
-2°
|
| Glen |
1°
|
1°
|
0°
|
0°
|
3°
|
3°
|
1°
|
1°
|
Additional weather information
Met Office Aberdeen meteorologist's view
A cold day. Warm clothing recommended and waterproofs may be needed for any passing showers in the south.
Weather
A dry morning with sunny spells. Some fog in the valleys at first, clearing after dawn. Turning cloudier in the south in the afternoon with a few showers possible, wintry above 500m. Mostly light winds but breezy on highest hills.
Chance of cloud-free hill tops
80%, becoming 40% in south later.
Low cloud and visibility
Isolated cloud bases down to 600-800m at times, these more widespread in the south later with bases falling to lower slopes at times. Visibility good outside of cloud but poor in any wintry showers in the south.
Mountain weather information
Weather
A mostly dry morning with clear spells. Cloudier in the afternoon with showers moving northwards over the area. Showers wintry above 800m. Become dry with clear spells again in the evening. Southeasterly winds will be strong at times. Cold.
Chance of cloud-free hill tops
70% in the morning, becoming 20% through the afternoon.
Maximum wind speed expected
Southeasterly 20-25 gusting 25-30mph.
Temperature
- At 800m Minus 1 Celsius.
- Glen Plus 4 Celsius.
- Freezing level 800-1000m.
Low cloud and visibility
Occasional cloud bases down to 600-800m in the morning, becoming more extensive in the afternoon, and falling to lower slopes in showers. Visibility good outside of cloud but poor in wintry showers.
Mountain weather information
Sun 18 Jan
Sunrise:
Sunset:
Cloudy with a few wintry showers possible. Fresh to strong southeasterly winds. Freezing level 800m.
Mon 19 Jan
Sunrise:
Sunset:
Mostly dry with bright spells. Strong southeasterly winds. Freezing level 800m.
Tue 20 Jan
Sunrise:
Sunset:
Cloudy with rain spreading eastwards later. Fresh southeasterly winds. Freezing level 1000m.
Updated at:
Summit specific forecast
Mountain summit forecast map
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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