Mountain weather

Northwest Highlands

Northwest Highlands Mountain weather forecast table

Confidence

Low for extent of any precipitation on Monday. High for changeable weather for the coming week.

Sunrise:
Sunset:

This evening forecast

Scattered snow and hail showers slowly dying out. Windy with summit westerly gales. Freezing level 400 metres.

Sunrise:
Sunset:
Mountain hazards

Mountain weather hazards

Hazards apply at or above 300m, reflecting the more severe conditions which can occur at altitude.

hazard 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.

hazard 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.
hazard 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.
hazard Strong Sunlight
Harmful UV levels from sunlight increase with altitude giving a greater risk of sunburn and eye damage, even on some overcast days. On breezy days, the cooling effect of wind on exposed skin may disguise any feeling of sunburn until it is too late. If there is snow cover, glare increases the effect of UV rays especially on the eyes. It is advisable to wear sun block, protective clothing such as a long-sleeved top and hat and have good quality eye protection.

Mountain weather forecast

Patchy afternoon rain or snow in the west, otherwise dry. Fresh summit winds in the afternoon.

Time 00:00 03:00 06:00 09:00 12:00 15:00 18:00 21:00
Weather
(at 800m)
Partly cloudy (night) Cloudy Cloudy Cloudy Light snow Sleet Cloudy Cloudy
Chance of precipitation
(at 800m)
00% 00% 00% 00% 20% 20% 00% 00%

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 SW
32
SW
26
SW
21
S
23
S
26
SE
31
S
31
S
36
900m SW
30
SW
25
SW
19
S
21
S
22
SE
26
S
26
S
32
600m SW
15
SW
13
SW
10
S
11
S
13
S
17
S
16
S
20
300m W
2
W
2
SW
1
S
1
S
2
S
2
S
2
S
3
Glen W
4
W
3
W
3
SE
4
SE
5
SE
7
SE
7
SE
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 39 33 26 28 31 36 37 44
900m 37 32 25 27 27 32 33 40
600m 23 20 15 17 19 25 24 28
300m 22 19 14 12 14 16 19 22
Glen 16 12 8 10 14 16 18 18

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°
-3°
-1°
900m
-3°
-3°
-3°
-2°
600m
-1°
-1°
-1°
300m
Glen
10°
Freezing Level
300m
300m
300m
500m
700m
1,000m
1,400m
1,500m

Altitude above mean sea level
Time 00:00 03:00 06:00 09:00 12:00 15:00 18:00 21:00
1000m
-13°
-12°
-11°
-10°
-9°
-8°
-7°
-7°
900m
-12°
-11°
-10°
-9°
-7°
-6°
-5°
-6°
600m
-6°
-6°
-5°
-4°
-2°
-2°
-1°
300m
-1°
-1°
-1°
Glen

Additional weather information

Met Office Aberdeen meteorologist's view

Remaining cold at height so be prepared for significant wind chill at height. Winds will start to strengthen at height during the afternoon. Note rising freezing level by evening.

Weather

Dry in the morning with some hazy sunshine. Cloudier in the afternoon with some light rain or snow spreading across western coastal ranges for a time, but remaining largely dry across the east.

Chance of cloud-free hill tops

80%

Low cloud and visibility

Generally good visibility with only small amounts cloud above 900 metres, but this becoming more extensive across western coastal ranges for a time in the afternoon shrouding the higher summits.

Sunrise:
Sunset:

Mountain weather information

Weather

Most of the day will be dry with a fair amount of high cloud. Rain will reach the west coast towards late afternoon, then extend eastwards and linger into the evening. Becoming warm in sheltered glens. Windy.

Chance of cloud-free hill tops

80%

Maximum wind speed expected

Southerly average speeds of 30 mph with gusts to 50 mph on the summits.

Temperature

  • At 800m Plus 9 Celsius
  • Glen Plus 4 rising to 17 Celsius
  • Freezing level Above summits

Low cloud and visibility

Good visibility for most of the day with little in the way of summit cloud. Areas of cloud down to 600 to 900 metres as rain arrives later, lowest bases along the west coast.

Mountain weather information

Wed 8 Apr

Sunrise:
Sunset:

Rain soon clearing in the early hours, then dry. Rain will spread east later in the afternoon and evening. Summit southwesterly gales developing during the afternoon. Freezing level 1200 metres, rising above summits.

Thu 9 Apr

Sunrise:
Sunset:

A cold and windy day with snow and hail showers. Strong westerly winds. Freezing level 900 metres, rising above the summits in the afternoon and early evening.

Fri 10 Apr

Sunrise:
Sunset:

After a dry start outbreaks of rain are expected to spread east in the afternoon and evening. Very windy with summit southwesterly gales. Freezing level rising above summit level.

Updated at:

Summit specific forecast

Mountain summit forecast map

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For snow and avalanche hazard forecasts please visit Scottish Avalanche Information Service