Mountain weather
Northwest Highlands Mountain weather forecast table
Confidence
High confidence for unsettled weather through the period. Low confidence for Friday.
This evening forecast
Scattered snow showers feed in from the west through the evening, these heavy at times. As showers pass through visibilities will rapidly and temporarily fall poor and cloud bases down to 500-700m. Feeling bitterly cold with west to southwest winds 35-45mph.
Mountain weather hazards
Hazards apply at or above 300m, reflecting the more severe conditions which can occur at altitude.
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.
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.
Blizzards
Blizzards and whiteouts present challenging and serious conditions due to a combination of falling or blowing snow, strong winds and cold temperatures. They can be highly disorientating, often resulting in near-zero visibility with limited or no visual references and no distinction between ground and sky. Cliff edges and cornices may not be apparent, even close up. These conditions require very good navigational skills.
Mountain weather forecast
Scattered snow showers. Windy, more widespread cloud, snow later.
| 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) |
60% | 60% | 70% | 60% | 40% | 60% | 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
35
|
W
32
|
SW
29
|
SW
30
|
S
38
|
S
42
|
S
40
|
S
36
|
| 900m |
W
34
|
W
30
|
SW
27
|
SW
28
|
S
35
|
S
39
|
S
36
|
S
33
|
| 600m |
W
22
|
SW
20
|
SW
17
|
SW
17
|
S
24
|
S
28
|
S
26
|
S
22
|
| 300m |
W
8
|
W
6
|
SW
4
|
SW
5
|
S
9
|
S
9
|
S
8
|
S
7
|
| Glen |
W
10
|
SW
9
|
W
6
|
SW
10
|
S
16
|
S
15
|
S
15
|
S
15
|
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 | 44 | 40 | 36 | 38 | 47 | 52 | 51 | 45 |
| 900m | 43 | 38 | 34 | 35 | 45 | 49 | 47 | 42 |
| 600m | 31 | 28 | 24 | 24 | 34 | 38 | 36 | 32 |
| 300m | 30 | 26 | 21 | 25 | 32 | 34 | 33 | 29 |
| Glen | 21 | 21 | 17 | 23 | 32 | 31 | 31 | 30 |
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°
|
-3°
|
-2°
|
-2°
|
-2°
|
-2°
|
-2°
|
| 900m |
-4°
|
-3°
|
-2°
|
-1°
|
-1°
|
-1°
|
-2°
|
-2°
|
| 600m |
-1°
|
-1°
|
0°
|
1°
|
1°
|
1°
|
0°
|
1°
|
| 300m |
0°
|
1°
|
2°
|
2°
|
3°
|
3°
|
2°
|
2°
|
| Glen |
3°
|
3°
|
4°
|
5°
|
6°
|
6°
|
5°
|
5°
|
| Freezing Level |
400m
|
500m
|
600m
|
800m
|
800m
|
700m
|
700m
|
700m
|
Altitude above mean sea level
| Time | 00:00 | 03:00 | 06:00 | 09:00 | 12:00 | 15:00 | 18:00 | 21:00 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1000m |
-14°
|
-13°
|
-12°
|
-10°
|
-11°
|
-12°
|
-12°
|
-12°
|
| 900m |
-13°
|
-12°
|
-10°
|
-9°
|
-10°
|
-10°
|
-11°
|
-10°
|
| 600m |
-9°
|
-8°
|
-6°
|
-5°
|
-5°
|
-6°
|
-7°
|
-6°
|
| 300m |
-3°
|
-2°
|
0°
|
0°
|
0°
|
0°
|
-1°
|
-1°
|
| Glen |
-1°
|
0°
|
2°
|
2°
|
2°
|
1°
|
1°
|
1°
|
Additional weather information
Met Office Aberdeen meteorologist's view
Gusts of 40-50mph much of the day will give difficult walking conditions with a risk of being blown off balance, and note the strengthening winds later with a chance of 50-60mph winds or higher over the highest summits. Navigation could be challenging with energy output significantly increased when walking into the wind. Keep up to date with the latest avalanche forecast from the Scottish Avalanche Information Service (SAIS).
Weather
Cloudy with scattered snow showers feeding in from the west through much of the day. A brief window of drier weather possible in the early afternoon before a more organised band of snow spreads east through the late afternoon and evening with widespread cloud with strengthening winds.
Chance of cloud-free hill tops
30%, best chances in northeast. Falling to little chance from late afternoon.
Low cloud and visibility
Quite widespread areas of cloud down to 300-500m and visibilities rapidly falling poor as showers pass through with limited and temporary clear spells. Cloud becomes widespread through the late afternoon and evening.
Mountain weather information
Weather
Frequent and at times heavy and perhaps thundery snow showers spread in from the southwest. The best chance of drier weather with a few brighter spells in the sheltered northeast. Strong southwest winds.
Chance of cloud-free hill tops
20% or less in southwest, 60% northeast.
Maximum wind speed expected
Southwest 25-35mph, perhaps gusting 50mph over the highest summits.
Temperature
- At 800m Minus 4C to minus 1C.
- Glen Zero rising to plus 4C.
- Freezing level 900m falling to 500m.
Low cloud and visibility
Quite extensive areas of cloud down to 500-700m and visibilities will rapidly and temporarily fall poor as showers pass through. Chance of good visibilities and clear summits towards the northeast.
Mountain weather information
Fri 16 Jan
Sunrise:
Sunset:
Low confidence. Likely dry but with variable cloud and bright spells. Low chance of some persistent snow for a time, most likely in the east.
Sat 17 Jan
Sunrise:
Sunset:
Bright spells and variable cloud, chance of a few snow showers. Light winds.
Sun 18 Jan
Sunrise:
Sunset:
Bright spells and variable cloud, chance of a few snow showers. Moderate southerly winds.
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