Mountain weather
Northwest Highlands Mountain weather forecast table
Confidence
Generally high, but low for details on Tuesday, particularly winds, snow amounts and freezing level. Low for timing of snow later Friday and details on Saturday.
This evening forecast
Some low cloud and occasional snow showers across Skye and the northwest coastal hills. Dry and cold with clear spells elsewhere. Light westerly winds across the tops. Freezing level 400m inland, 600m near the coast.
Mountain weather hazards
Hazards apply at or above 300m, reflecting the more severe conditions which can occur at altitude.
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.
Heavy Persistent Snow
Heavy snow can lead to rapid changes in underfoot conditions and paths may become treacherous or hidden. It also brings very poor visibility and often makes navigation much more challenging. When deep snow accumulates progress is often time consuming and strenuous, significantly affecting the distance one can travel on foot. Deep drifts can develop if snow is combined with strong winds. A heightened avalanche risk is possible and avalanche reports should be consulted where available.
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.
Thunderstorms
Lightning is a significant mountain hazard which can result in serious injury or death. Mountain terrain often leaves one highly exposed to lightning strikes. Hail may give unpleasant conditions with torrential rain and localised flash flooding also possible, mainly in Summer months.
Mountain weather forecast
Low cloud and snow for much of the day.
| 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% | 40% | 50% | 60% | 70% | 70% | 40% | 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 |
SW
8
|
S
8
|
S
10
|
SE
12
|
SE
13
|
NE
19
|
NE
28
|
N
31
|
| 900m |
SW
8
|
S
8
|
S
10
|
SE
12
|
SE
13
|
NE
18
|
NE
26
|
N
28
|
| 600m |
SW
6
|
S
6
|
S
7
|
SE
9
|
SE
9
|
NE
13
|
NE
18
|
N
18
|
| 300m |
SW
2
|
S
1
|
SE
2
|
SE
3
|
E
6
|
NE
6
|
NE
9
|
N
7
|
| Glen |
E
2
|
E
3
|
E
5
|
SE
6
|
NE
9
|
NE
11
|
NE
14
|
N
12
|
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 | 10 | 10 | 12 | 15 | 18 | 25 | 36 | 40 |
| 900m | 9 | 10 | 12 | 15 | 18 | 24 | 34 | 37 |
| 600m | 8 | 8 | 10 | 13 | 15 | 20 | 27 | 27 |
| 300m | 6 | 6 | 8 | 9 | 13 | 18 | 27 | 27 |
| Glen | 4 | 5 | 9 | 10 | 15 | 22 | 29 | 27 |
Altitude above mean sea level
| Time | 00:00 | 03:00 | 06:00 | 09:00 | 12:00 | 15:00 | 18:00 | 21:00 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1000m |
-3°
|
-3°
|
-3°
|
-3°
|
-3°
|
-4°
|
-5°
|
-6°
|
| 900m |
-3°
|
-3°
|
-3°
|
-3°
|
-3°
|
-3°
|
-4°
|
-5°
|
| 600m |
-1°
|
-1°
|
-1°
|
-1°
|
-1°
|
-1°
|
-2°
|
-3°
|
| 300m |
0°
|
0°
|
0°
|
0°
|
0°
|
0°
|
0°
|
-1°
|
| Glen |
2°
|
2°
|
3°
|
3°
|
3°
|
3°
|
3°
|
2°
|
| Freezing Level |
400m
|
400m
|
300m
|
400m
|
400m
|
400m
|
300m
|
100m
|
Altitude above mean sea level
| Time | 00:00 | 03:00 | 06:00 | 09:00 | 12:00 | 15:00 | 18:00 | 21:00 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1000m |
-8°
|
-8°
|
-8°
|
-9°
|
-10°
|
-11°
|
-14°
|
-16°
|
| 900m |
-7°
|
-7°
|
-7°
|
-8°
|
-9°
|
-10°
|
-13°
|
-14°
|
| 600m |
-4°
|
-4°
|
-4°
|
-5°
|
-5°
|
-7°
|
-9°
|
-10°
|
| 300m |
-1°
|
-2°
|
-2°
|
-2°
|
-3°
|
-3°
|
-4°
|
-4°
|
| Glen |
1°
|
1°
|
0°
|
0°
|
0°
|
0°
|
-2°
|
-2°
|
Additional weather information
Met Office Aberdeen meteorologist's view
Uncertainty in snow amounts and exact freezing level, but persistent snow will bring a significant change to more wintry conditions down to lower slopes. Challenging navigation conditions. Note strengthening winds in the evening resulting in drifting of fresh snow.
Weather
Cloud increases through the early hours with persistent snow spreading east. Persistent snow, occasionally falling as sleet or rain at low levels then on and off much of the day, although Caithness and Sutherland may be dry to start. Snow turning heavier mid to late afternoon. Persistent snow clears south around dusk, but heavy snow showers bringing a risk of thunder across coastal hills in the evening with strengthening northerly winds.
Chance of cloud-free hill tops
10% or less.
Low cloud and visibility
Very poor visibility likely throughout the day in low cloud and snow, with whiteout conditions giving very poor contrast. Heavier snow reducing the visibility to tens of meters.
Mountain weather information
Weather
Strong northerly winds will bring scattered snow showers during the early hours and throughout the day, heaviest and most frequent in the far north and northwest coastal hills where they will bring a risk of thunder. Showers more isolated with good sunny spells further south. Bitterly cold.
Chance of cloud-free hill tops
40% near the north and northwest coasts, 70% in the south.
Maximum wind speed expected
North-northwest 35 gusting 45 mph
Temperature
- At 800m Minus 4 or 5 Celsius.
- Glen Minus 1 Celsius.
- Freezing level Down to the glens.
Low cloud and visibility
Excellent visibility, but rapidly falling very poor in passing snow showers. Cloud often above the summits, but falling to around 900m near passing showers.
Mountain weather information
Thu 20 Nov
Sunrise:
Sunset:
Snow showers across the northern coastal hills to start, otherwise dry with sunny spells. Fresh northerly winds gradually easing. Freezing level down to the glens.
Fri 21 Nov
Sunrise:
Sunset:
Cold, dry bright start. High cloud thickening and lowering with freshening southwest winds. Snow later in the day. Freezing level down to the glens rising to around 800m in the evening.
Sat 22 Nov
Sunrise:
Sunset:
Overnight snow clears to a mostly dry day, but some showers near the west coast, less cold than of late. A chance of further rain and snow later in the day. Freezing level around 800m.
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