Mountain weather
Northwest Highlands Mountain weather forecast table
Confidence
High confidence for rain on Monday and Tuesday before high pressure builds and more settled, colder conditions develop.
This evening forecast
Mostly cloudy and dry with some clear spells in the west and the odd spot of light rain possible. Strong easterly winds. Feeling cold.
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.
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.
Mountain weather forecast
Cloudy with heavy rain at times in the morning, becoming dry later. Strong winds with gale force possible on highest routes. 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) |
40% | 70% | 80% | 70% | 40% | 20% | 10% | <05% |
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 |
E
27
|
E
27
|
E
26
|
E
31
|
E
33
|
E
24
|
SE
21
|
SE
20
|
| 900m |
E
27
|
E
27
|
E
24
|
E
29
|
E
29
|
E
21
|
SE
18
|
SE
17
|
| 600m |
E
19
|
E
19
|
E
18
|
E
19
|
E
18
|
SE
16
|
SE
13
|
SE
10
|
| 300m |
E
8
|
E
8
|
E
6
|
E
5
|
E
4
|
E
5
|
E
4
|
SE
3
|
| Glen |
E
15
|
E
15
|
E
14
|
E
13
|
E
10
|
E
8
|
E
7
|
SE
5
|
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 | 34 | 33 | 32 | 39 | 41 | 29 | 25 | 24 |
| 900m | 34 | 33 | 31 | 37 | 36 | 26 | 22 | 21 |
| 600m | 28 | 27 | 25 | 27 | 25 | 22 | 17 | 14 |
| 300m | 23 | 21 | 20 | 25 | 24 | 16 | 13 | 10 |
| Glen | 25 | 25 | 23 | 26 | 22 | 14 | 12 | 9 |
Altitude above mean sea level
| Time | 00:00 | 03:00 | 06:00 | 09:00 | 12:00 | 15:00 | 18:00 | 21:00 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1000m |
1°
|
1°
|
2°
|
2°
|
2°
|
2°
|
2°
|
2°
|
| 900m |
2°
|
2°
|
2°
|
2°
|
3°
|
3°
|
3°
|
2°
|
| 600m |
4°
|
4°
|
5°
|
4°
|
5°
|
5°
|
5°
|
4°
|
| 300m |
4°
|
4°
|
5°
|
5°
|
6°
|
6°
|
5°
|
4°
|
| Glen |
7°
|
7°
|
8°
|
8°
|
9°
|
9°
|
8°
|
8°
|
| Freezing Level |
1,500m
|
1,500m
|
1,600m
|
1,700m
|
1,700m
|
1,800m
|
1,700m
|
1,700m
|
Altitude above mean sea level
| Time | 00:00 | 03:00 | 06:00 | 09:00 | 12:00 | 15:00 | 18:00 | 21:00 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1000m |
-6°
|
-6°
|
-5°
|
-6°
|
-5°
|
-4°
|
-3°
|
-4°
|
| 900m |
-5°
|
-5°
|
-4°
|
-5°
|
-4°
|
-3°
|
-2°
|
-2°
|
| 600m |
-2°
|
-1°
|
0°
|
-1°
|
0°
|
1°
|
1°
|
1°
|
| 300m |
1°
|
1°
|
3°
|
4°
|
5°
|
4°
|
4°
|
3°
|
| Glen |
3°
|
4°
|
5°
|
5°
|
7°
|
7°
|
7°
|
7°
|
Additional weather information
Met Office Aberdeen meteorologist's view
Cold and damp start with heavy rain and low cloud, making navigation difficult. A severe wind chill risk also so warm, waterproof clothing recommended. Drier later, but strong winds, wet ground and at times low cloud, persist.
Weather
Cloudy with rain in the morning, which will be heavy at times. Rain may be wintry at first over highest tops. Turning dry through the afternoon with clear spells developing, especially in the northwest. Strong southeasterly winds may reach gales force on highest routes. Feeling cold.
Chance of cloud-free hill tops
Nil through morning and early afternoon. 40% later, best chance in northwest.
Low cloud and visibility
Widespread low cloud down to 500m with some bases to lower slopes at times. A few breaks in the cloud developing later with best of the breaks and clear spells in the northwest. Outside of cloud, visibility mostly good but poor in low cloud and rain.
Mountain weather information
Weather
A mostly cloudy and dry day. Light rain and drizzle possible on southeastern facing slopes, drier with some bright spells in the northwest. Fresh southeasterly winds. Feeling cold on higher routes.
Chance of cloud-free hill tops
10% in southeast facing slopes, 60% in northwest.
Maximum wind speed expected
Easterly 15-20mph gusting 25-30mph.
Temperature
- At 800m Plus 2 Celsius.
- Glen Plus 6-7 Celsius.
- Freezing level Above summits.
Low cloud and visibility
Low cloud down to 500-700m, with lower bases possible in southeast. Breaks in the cloud developing in the northwest with some bright or sunny spells. Good visibility outside of cloud.
Mountain weather information
Wed 24 Dec
Sunrise:
Sunset:
High pressure building. Dry with sunny spells, turning colder. Fresh to strong easterly winds. Freezing level 700m.
Thu 25 Dec
Sunrise:
Sunset:
Dry with sunny spells. Rather cold. Fresh to strong easterly winds. Freezing level 600m.
Fri 26 Dec
Sunrise:
Sunset:
Dry with sunny spells. Rather cold. Fresh northeasterly winds. Freezing level 500m.
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