Mountain weather
Northwest Highlands Mountain weather forecast table
Confidence
Some uncertainty on extent of snow showers lingering through Saturday morning, however high confidence in conditions becoming very unsettled on Sunday as milder air spreads north.
This evening forecast
Clear spells and the risk of the odd snow shower, mainly for coastal areas.
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.
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.
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
Patchy hill fog and showers around the west coast, drier and sunnier inland. Bitter windchill on summits and ridges.
| 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) |
30% | 30% | 30% | 30% | 30% | 30% | 30% | 20% |
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 |
SE
18
|
SE
18
|
S
18
|
S
24
|
S
28
|
S
27
|
S
27
|
S
36
|
| 900m |
SE
17
|
SE
17
|
S
17
|
S
23
|
S
27
|
S
27
|
S
27
|
S
35
|
| 600m |
SE
11
|
S
10
|
S
13
|
S
14
|
S
16
|
S
17
|
S
17
|
S
20
|
| 300m |
SE
2
|
SE
2
|
S
3
|
S
2
|
S
3
|
S
4
|
S
3
|
S
5
|
| Glen |
SE
5
|
E
6
|
E
7
|
S
4
|
SE
6
|
S
9
|
S
10
|
S
10
|
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 | 20 | 22 | 22 | 29 | 34 | 32 | 32 | 43 |
| 900m | 19 | 21 | 21 | 28 | 33 | 32 | 32 | 41 |
| 600m | 14 | 15 | 17 | 18 | 22 | 22 | 23 | 27 |
| 300m | 9 | 9 | 12 | 15 | 18 | 19 | 17 | 24 |
| Glen | 9 | 10 | 10 | 11 | 16 | 20 | 22 | 24 |
Altitude above mean sea level
| Time | 00:00 | 03:00 | 06:00 | 09:00 | 12:00 | 15:00 | 18:00 | 21:00 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1000m |
-3°
|
-4°
|
-4°
|
-5°
|
-4°
|
-4°
|
-4°
|
-4°
|
| 900m |
-3°
|
-4°
|
-4°
|
-4°
|
-4°
|
-3°
|
-4°
|
-4°
|
| 600m |
-1°
|
-1°
|
-2°
|
-2°
|
-2°
|
-1°
|
-2°
|
-2°
|
| 300m |
0°
|
-1°
|
-2°
|
-1°
|
0°
|
-1°
|
-1°
|
0°
|
| Glen |
3°
|
2°
|
2°
|
2°
|
3°
|
2°
|
2°
|
3°
|
| Freezing Level |
400m
|
300m
|
200m
|
200m
|
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 |
-11°
|
-12°
|
-12°
|
-13°
|
-13°
|
-13°
|
-13°
|
-14°
|
| 900m |
-10°
|
-11°
|
-11°
|
-12°
|
-12°
|
-12°
|
-12°
|
-13°
|
| 600m |
-6°
|
-6°
|
-7°
|
-8°
|
-8°
|
-8°
|
-8°
|
-8°
|
| 300m |
-2°
|
-3°
|
-4°
|
-4°
|
-2°
|
-3°
|
-3°
|
-3°
|
| Glen |
0°
|
0°
|
-1°
|
0°
|
0°
|
-1°
|
-1°
|
-1°
|
Additional weather information
Met Office Aberdeen meteorologist's view
Full winter conditions continuing - note the severe windchill on summits and ridges.
Weather
Patchy cloudy with some hill fog and a few snow showers, mainly for Skye and Torridon. Best of the drier and sunnier conditions exepcted further inland away from the coast. Fresh to strong winds on summits and ridges bringing a severe windchill, strengthening severe gale force overnight.
Chance of cloud-free hill tops
70%, but 40% for Skye.
Low cloud and visibility
Patchy areas of cloud with bases 800m lingering around the west coast but clearer inland. Generally very good visibility below cloud bases, but perhaps poor or very poor in any snow showers.
Mountain weather information
Weather
Very windy with severe gales on the upper slopes, potentially storm force in the morning. Outbreaks of heavy snow will turn increasingly to rain at all levels during the afternoon as milder air pushes across the area.
Chance of cloud-free hill tops
30%
Maximum wind speed expected
Gusting 60-70mph on summits and ridges, strongest in the morning.
Temperature
- At 800m Minus 2 rising plus 2 celsius.
- Glen Minus 1 rising plus 4 celsius.
- Freezing level Surface level rising above summits.
Low cloud and visibility
Main cloud bases around 800-900m with visibility becoming occasionally poor or very poor in snow alongside some temporary lower bases.
Mountain weather information
Mon 12 Jan
Sunrise:
Sunset:
Another very windy day with severe summit gales. Largely cloudy with showers, wintry on summits. Freezing level 1200m.
Tue 13 Jan
Sunrise:
Sunset:
Remaining windy with patchy hill fog and showers or outbreaks of rain, summit snow. Freezing level 1000m.
Wed 14 Jan
Sunrise:
Sunset:
Patchy cloud and a few showers. Fresh to strong summit winds. Freezing level 700m.
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