Mountain weather
Northwest Highlands Mountain weather forecast table
Confidence
High confidence for unsettled weather. Low confidence for details on Monday especially.
This evening forecast
Scattered showers feed in from the northwest, heavy at times and initially wintry above 700-800m, the freezing level falling to 300-400m through the evening. Westerly winds 30-40mph at first will gradually back northwesterly and ease through the evening. Feeling bitterly cold. Visibilities will occasionally fall poor in blizzard conditions with strong winds and wintry showers.
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
A few snow showers in north and west coast, mainly dry inland. Bitterly 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) |
20% | 10% | 10% | 10% | 10% | 20% | 40% | 50% |
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 |
NW
22
|
N
21
|
N
18
|
N
15
|
N
16
|
N
19
|
N
21
|
N
19
|
| 900m |
NW
21
|
N
19
|
N
15
|
N
13
|
N
14
|
N
16
|
N
18
|
N
16
|
| 600m |
N
14
|
N
9
|
N
10
|
N
10
|
N
8
|
N
10
|
N
10
|
N
9
|
| 300m |
N
7
|
N
5
|
N
4
|
N
3
|
N
2
|
N
4
|
N
4
|
N
3
|
| Glen |
N
8
|
N
9
|
N
8
|
NE
5
|
NE
5
|
N
6
|
NE
4
|
NE
4
|
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 | 26 | 25 | 21 | 18 | 19 | 22 | 25 | 22 |
| 900m | 25 | 23 | 18 | 16 | 17 | 20 | 22 | 19 |
| 600m | 19 | 13 | 14 | 13 | 11 | 14 | 15 | 13 |
| 300m | 20 | 18 | 16 | 13 | 13 | 16 | 17 | 14 |
| Glen | 17 | 18 | 17 | 13 | 12 | 15 | 11 | 10 |
Altitude above mean sea level
| Time | 00:00 | 03:00 | 06:00 | 09:00 | 12:00 | 15:00 | 18:00 | 21:00 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1000m |
-2°
|
-4°
|
-4°
|
-4°
|
-4°
|
-4°
|
-5°
|
-5°
|
| 900m |
-2°
|
-3°
|
-3°
|
-4°
|
-4°
|
-4°
|
-4°
|
-4°
|
| 600m |
0°
|
0°
|
-1°
|
-2°
|
-1°
|
-1°
|
-2°
|
-2°
|
| 300m |
2°
|
2°
|
1°
|
0°
|
1°
|
1°
|
0°
|
0°
|
| Glen |
5°
|
4°
|
4°
|
3°
|
4°
|
3°
|
2°
|
2°
|
| Freezing Level |
600m
|
400m
|
300m
|
300m
|
300m
|
300m
|
300m
|
300m
|
Altitude above mean sea level
| Time | 00:00 | 03:00 | 06:00 | 09:00 | 12:00 | 15:00 | 18:00 | 21:00 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1000m |
-10°
|
-11°
|
-12°
|
-11°
|
-11°
|
-12°
|
-12°
|
-12°
|
| 900m |
-9°
|
-10°
|
-10°
|
-10°
|
-10°
|
-11°
|
-11°
|
-11°
|
| 600m |
-5°
|
-5°
|
-6°
|
-6°
|
-6°
|
-6°
|
-7°
|
-6°
|
| 300m |
-1°
|
-1°
|
-1°
|
-2°
|
0°
|
-2°
|
-2°
|
-2°
|
| Glen |
2°
|
1°
|
1°
|
0°
|
1°
|
1°
|
1°
|
0°
|
Additional weather information
Met Office Aberdeen meteorologist's view
Feeling bitterly cold so suitable clothing required.
Weather
Cloudy with a few showers in the early hours, wintry above 200-400m. Becoming largely dry with clear spells developing by dawn. Staying largely dry with bright or sunny spells inland. A few wintry showers persisting around coastal ranges throughout the day. Clouding over and showers becoming more frequent over Caithness and Sutherland through late afternoon and evening, wintry above 300-400m, accompanied by freshening northerly winds.
Chance of cloud-free hill tops
70% inland, 40% around coastal ranges.
Low cloud and visibility
Clear summits and good visibilities for much of the day over inland ranges. Occasional cloud down to 500-700m and visibilities falling rapidly poor in snow showers.
Mountain weather information
Weather
Scattered showers over Caithness and Sutherland at first, wintry above 300-400m, these become lighter and more isolated through the morning. Dry with clear spells through the middle of the day into late afternoon. Cloud, strong winds, and rain spread east through the evening, snow above 400-500m.
Chance of cloud-free hill tops
50% in north at first. Otherwise 80% or higher. Falling to little chance in the evening.
Maximum wind speed expected
Northwest 15-20mph first thing, easing by day. Strengthening southerly 35-45mph in the evening.
Temperature
- At 800m Minus 5C to minus 2C.
- Glen Minus 2C to plus 2C.
- Freezing level 200-300m, rising to 600-800m through the evening.
Low cloud and visibility
Some areas of cloud down to 400-600m and visibilities poor in snow showers and blizzard conditions in the north in the morning. Otherwise clear summits and excellent visibilities through the day. Cloud becomes extensive again down to 400-600m through the evening and visibilities falling poor in widespread rain or snow.
Mountain weather information
Mon 1 Dec
Sunrise:
Sunset:
Cloudy with outbreaks of rain or summit snow and a few drier interludes. Freezing level around 800-1000m. Fresh southerly winds.
Tue 2 Dec
Sunrise:
Sunset:
Cloudy with scattered showers. Freezing level around 1000m. Fresh southerly winds.
Wed 3 Dec
Sunrise:
Sunset:
Cloudy with scattered showers. Freezing level around 1000m. Light to fresh southerly winds.
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