Northwest Highlands Mountain weather forecast table
Confidence
High for remaining cold over the weekend and early Monday, frequent snow showers in north. Low for developments Monday evening onwards.
This evening forecast
Bitterly cold with some clear or sunny intervals and occasional snow showers, most frequent over the north, with heavy falls and blizzards, even to low levels, fewer reaching the far southeast. Strong to gale north to northwesterly winds.
Mountain weather hazards
Hazards apply at or above 300m, reflecting the more severe conditions which can occur at altitude.
Severe Chill Effect
Blizzards
Heavy Persistent Snow
Poor Visibility
Gales
Strong Sunlight
Mountain weather forecast
Bitterly cold with some clear or sunny intervals and occasional snow showers, most frequent over Aberdeenshire, with heavy falls and blizzards, even to low levels, but few if any reaching the south. Strong to gale northwesterly winds.
| 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) |
80% | 80% | 80% | 80% | 80% | 80% | 80% | 80% |
| Time | 00:00 | 03:00 | 06:00 | 09:00 | 12:00 | 15:00 | 18:00 | 21:00 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1000m |
NW
39
|
N
35
|
N
33
|
N
31
|
N
33
|
N
35
|
N
29
|
N
29
|
| 900m |
NW
36
|
N
33
|
N
30
|
N
28
|
N
31
|
N
32
|
N
27
|
N
27
|
| 600m |
N
24
|
N
21
|
N
22
|
N
18
|
N
23
|
N
21
|
N
17
|
N
18
|
| 300m |
N
9
|
N
7
|
N
9
|
N
6
|
N
10
|
N
9
|
N
6
|
N
7
|
| Glen |
N
14
|
N
13
|
N
15
|
N
12
|
N
16
|
N
14
|
N
11
|
N
13
|
| Time | 00:00 | 03:00 | 06:00 | 09:00 | 12:00 | 15:00 | 18:00 | 21:00 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1000m | 49 | 45 | 42 | 40 | 43 | 45 | 38 | 38 |
| 900m | 46 | 43 | 40 | 37 | 41 | 42 | 36 | 36 |
| 600m | 35 | 32 | 31 | 27 | 34 | 32 | 26 | 28 |
| 300m | 35 | 33 | 32 | 27 | 32 | 32 | 26 | 27 |
| Glen | 32 | 30 | 32 | 27 | 34 | 31 | 27 | 28 |
| Time | 00:00 | 03:00 | 06:00 | 09:00 | 12:00 | 15:00 | 18:00 | 21:00 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1000m |
-7°
|
-8°
|
-8°
|
-8°
|
-7°
|
-8°
|
-8°
|
-7°
|
| 900m |
-7°
|
-7°
|
-7°
|
-7°
|
-7°
|
-7°
|
-7°
|
-6°
|
| 600m |
-4°
|
-4°
|
-4°
|
-5°
|
-4°
|
-4°
|
-5°
|
-4°
|
| 300m |
-2°
|
-2°
|
-3°
|
-3°
|
-2°
|
-2°
|
-3°
|
-3°
|
| Glen |
0°
|
1°
|
0°
|
0°
|
1°
|
1°
|
0°
|
0°
|
| Freezing Level |
0m
|
0m
|
0m
|
0m
|
0m
|
0m
|
0m
|
0m
|
| Time | 00:00 | 03:00 | 06:00 | 09:00 | 12:00 | 15:00 | 18:00 | 21:00 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1000m |
-19°
|
-19°
|
-18°
|
-18°
|
-18°
|
-18°
|
-18°
|
-17°
|
| 900m |
-18°
|
-17°
|
-17°
|
-17°
|
-17°
|
-17°
|
-17°
|
-16°
|
| 600m |
-13°
|
-12°
|
-13°
|
-12°
|
-13°
|
-12°
|
-12°
|
-12°
|
| 300m |
-7°
|
-6°
|
-7°
|
-6°
|
-7°
|
-7°
|
-6°
|
-7°
|
| Glen |
-5°
|
-4°
|
-6°
|
-4°
|
-5°
|
-4°
|
-4°
|
-5°
|
Additional weather information
Met Office Aberdeen meteorologist's view
Note the extremely low feels like temperatures.
Weather
Mostly cloudy with frequent snow showers, even some longer spells of heavy snow in the north, with the chance of the odd rumble of thunder and some blizzard and whiteout conditions. Access roads also expected to be badly affected. Fewer showers reaching the Great Glen.
Chance of cloud-free hill tops
Ranging from 20% in north, to 40% in far southeast.
Low cloud and visibility
Frequent cloud at 600-750m in north, persistent over highest ranges, more occasional in the far southeast towards Loch Ness. Bases will be hard to distinguish from the very poor visibility caused by the snow showers as they move through but away from cloud and showers, occasionally good visibility though some reductions where snow lifts and blows.
Mountain weather information
Weather
Further snow showers occasionally heavy, chance of thunder, fewer reaching the Great Glen
Chance of cloud-free hill tops
30% but 60% in far southeast.
Maximum wind speed expected
North to northwest 35 gusts 45mph.
Temperature
- At 800m Minus 6 Celsius
- Glen Minus 4 rising to Zero Celsius.
- Freezing level All levels.
Low cloud and visibility
Frequent cloud at 600-750m in north, persistent over highest ranges, more occasional in the far southeast towards Loch Ness. Bases will be hard to distinguish from the very poor visibility caused by the snow showers as they move through but away from cloud and showers, occasionally good visibility though some reductions where snow lifts and blows.
Mountain weather information
Mon 5 Jan
Snow showers continuing overnight then drying out during the morning, or at least becoming more confined to coast areas. Chance of more persistent snow spreading from the west later in the evening. Still bitterly cold, freezing at all levels, with fresh northwest winds.
Tue 6 Jan
Uncertain. Mainly cloudy with some spells of snow, with rain on the west coast at lower levels then clearer colder conditions returning with scattered snow showers at all levels.
Wed 7 Jan
Probably a dry day with some sunshine and freezing at all levels.
Summit specific forecast
Mountain summit forecast map
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