Mountain weather

Northwest Highlands

Northwest Highlands Mountain weather forecast table

Confidence

High for Tuesday. High for changeable weather to continue for the next few days.

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

Mainly dry. Strengthening winds and patchy rain in the evening.

Time 06:00 09:00 12:00 15:00 18:00 21:00
Weather
(at 800m)
Sunny day Sunny day Sunny intervals Sunny intervals Cloudy Light rain
Chance of precipitation
(at 800m)
00% 00% 00% 20% 30% 30%

Wind direction and speed (mph)
Altitude above mean sea level
Time 06:00 09:00 12:00 15:00 18:00 21:00
1000m SE
19
SE
17
S
17
SE
20
SE
25
SE
32
900m SE
18
SE
16
S
17
SE
19
SE
24
SE
26
600m S
11
SE
11
S
14
SE
15
SE
17
SE
18
300m SE
0
SE
3
S
7
SE
8
SE
3
SE
3
Glen E
5
E
6
S
10
SE
10
SE
7
E
8
Wind gust (mph)
Altitude above mean sea level
Time 06:00 09:00 12:00 15:00 18:00 21:00
1000m 21 21 22 25 32 39
900m 21 19 22 25 30 33
600m 15 13 18 21 24 25
300m 8 10 18 20 20 18
Glen 8 10 17 18 18 20

Altitude above mean sea level
Time 06:00 09:00 12:00 15:00 18:00 21:00
1000m
900m
600m
300m
10°
11°
10°
Glen
13°
14°
12°
11°
Freezing Level
800m
800m
1,000m
1,300m
1,900m
2,200m

Altitude above mean sea level
Time 06:00 09:00 12:00 15:00 18:00 21:00
1000m
-6°
-6°
-3°
-1°
-2°
-3°
900m
-5°
-5°
-1°
-1°
-2°
600m
-1°
300m
10°
Glen
11°
12°
11°
10°

Additional weather information

Met Office Aberdeen meteorologist's view

Remaining cold at height. Winds will strengthen later in the day.

Weather

Most of the day will be dry with clear or sunny periods. Clouding over from the south through the evening with some light and patchy rain spreading north.

Chance of cloud-free hill tops

80%

Low cloud and visibility

Very good visibility with little in the way of hill fog for most of the day. Areas of cloud developing down to 750 to 900 metres in the evening as rain arrives from the southwest.

Sunrise:
Sunset:

Mountain weather information

Weather

Cloudy with occasional rain for most of the day, but some drier spells of weather expected too. Clearer weather with a few heavy showers will spread northeast across the area from mid-afternoon. Wind with strong to gale southwesterly winds.

Chance of cloud-free hill tops

50%, best chance in the afternoon and evening

Maximum wind speed expected

Southerly average speeds of 35 mph with gusts to 55 mph

Temperature

  • At 800m Plus 7 Celsius
  • Glen Plus 8 rising to 16 Celsius
  • Freezing level Above the summits

Low cloud and visibility

Poor in widespread cloud down to 600 to 900 metres, and as low as 300 metres along coastal ranges across Skye and Lochaber. Cloud breaking up inland as the afternoon progresses with patches down to 800 metres from mid-afternoon, and breaking up along the west coast from mid-afternoon.

Mountain weather information

Thu 16 Apr

Sunrise:
Sunset:

Mostly cloudy with showers or occasionally longer spells of rain. Showers will be wintry on the highest tops. Strong to gale southwesterly summit winds. Freezing level 1200 metres or above.

Fri 17 Apr

Sunrise:
Sunset:

Cloudy and windy with outbreaks of rain. Clearer weather with showers spreading from the west from late afternoon. Strong to gale southwesterly summit winds. Freezing level above summits.

Sat 18 Apr

Sunrise:
Sunset:

Remaining unsettled with showers, wintry on the summits. Freezing level 900 metres.

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