Northwest Highlands Mountain weather forecast table
Confidence
Generally high out to Wednesday. Some uncertainty in timing of heavier pulses of rain on Sunday and timing of rain on Wednesday. Low confidence in details for Thursday.
This evening forecast
Heavy rain in the south, but lighter rain with drier spells north of Assynt. Storm force or stronger southwest winds, gusting over 100 mph on the higher summits. Freezing level well above the summits.
Mountain weather hazards
Hazards apply at or above 300m, reflecting the more severe conditions which can occur at altitude.
Gales
Poor Visibility
Severe Chill Effect
Heavy Persistent Rain
Storm Force Winds
Thunderstorms
Mountain weather forecast
Persistent, often heavy rain. Summit gales, perhaps storm force in the afternoon.
| 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) |
60% | 60% | 50% | 50% | 60% | 70% | 70% | 70% |
| Time | 00:00 | 03:00 | 06:00 | 09:00 | 12:00 | 15:00 | 18:00 | 21:00 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1000m |
SW
48
|
SW
39
|
SW
38
|
SW
37
|
S
43
|
SW
51
|
SW
48
|
W
27
|
| 900m |
SW
44
|
SW
36
|
SW
36
|
SW
35
|
S
39
|
SW
47
|
SW
44
|
W
25
|
| 600m |
SW
30
|
SW
24
|
SW
24
|
SW
23
|
S
26
|
SW
32
|
SW
30
|
W
17
|
| 300m |
SW
7
|
SW
5
|
SW
6
|
SW
5
|
S
7
|
SW
9
|
SW
9
|
W
6
|
| Glen |
SW
17
|
SW
12
|
S
10
|
S
11
|
S
16
|
SW
18
|
SW
16
|
SW
10
|
| Time | 00:00 | 03:00 | 06:00 | 09:00 | 12:00 | 15:00 | 18:00 | 21:00 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1000m | 56 | 46 | 46 | 45 | 51 | 61 | 57 | 34 |
| 900m | 53 | 43 | 43 | 42 | 47 | 57 | 54 | 32 |
| 600m | 39 | 32 | 31 | 30 | 35 | 43 | 40 | 24 |
| 300m | 37 | 29 | 30 | 28 | 33 | 41 | 39 | 23 |
| Glen | 36 | 28 | 25 | 26 | 34 | 37 | 33 | 21 |
| Time | 00:00 | 03:00 | 06:00 | 09:00 | 12:00 | 15:00 | 18:00 | 21:00 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1000m |
6°
|
5°
|
5°
|
5°
|
6°
|
6°
|
5°
|
1°
|
| 900m |
7°
|
6°
|
6°
|
6°
|
6°
|
6°
|
6°
|
2°
|
| 600m |
9°
|
8°
|
8°
|
8°
|
8°
|
8°
|
8°
|
4°
|
| 300m |
10°
|
9°
|
9°
|
9°
|
9°
|
10°
|
9°
|
6°
|
| Glen |
12°
|
11°
|
11°
|
11°
|
12°
|
12°
|
11°
|
8°
|
| Freezing Level |
2,100m
|
1,800m
|
1,800m
|
1,900m
|
2,100m
|
2,200m
|
1,900m
|
1,100m
|
| Time | 00:00 | 03:00 | 06:00 | 09:00 | 12:00 | 15:00 | 18:00 | 21:00 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1000m |
-1°
|
-1°
|
-2°
|
-1°
|
-1°
|
-2°
|
-2°
|
-6°
|
| 900m |
0°
|
0°
|
-1°
|
0°
|
0°
|
-1°
|
-1°
|
-5°
|
| 600m |
4°
|
3°
|
3°
|
3°
|
3°
|
3°
|
3°
|
-1°
|
| 300m |
8°
|
8°
|
8°
|
8°
|
8°
|
8°
|
8°
|
4°
|
| Glen |
8°
|
9°
|
9°
|
9°
|
8°
|
8°
|
8°
|
6°
|
Additional weather information
Met Office Aberdeen meteorologist's view
Challenging conditions on the hills with a risk of being blown over. Heavy rain will make river crossings hazardous.
Weather
Heavy rain in the south will ease during the early hours, with hills in the north of the area becoming dry. Then a dry start in the north, some bright or sunny spells over Caithness, but cloudier in the west. Light rain mainly Skye southwards in the morning, but spreading north in the afternoon and turning increasingly heavy across western hills. Rain beginning to ease towards midnight.
Chance of cloud-free hill tops
40% across the northeast, otherwise nil.
Low cloud and visibility
Very poor visibility in persistent extensive cloud down to lower slopes and rain. Some good visibility in the north where patchy cloud above 600m is likely, becoming more extensive in the afternoon, best chance towards Ben Hope.
Mountain weather information
Weather
Largely dry through the early hours with some clear spells possible, a few showers in the west. Then a dry day with sunny spells for most, but scattered showers across western hills, falling as snow above 800m. Cloud increase in the evening with showers possible further inland.
Chance of cloud-free hill tops
60%
Maximum wind speed expected
Southwest 25-30 gusting 35 mph, occasionally 40 mph in the afternoon.
Temperature
- At 800m Plus 2 or 3 Celsius.
- Glen Plus 3 Celsius rising to 6 Celsius.
- Freezing level 800-1000m.
Low cloud and visibility
Often good visibility with patchy cloud mainly above 900m, occasionally down to 600-700m over western hills.
Mountain weather information
Tue 16 Dec
Showers across western hills, falling as snow above 700-800m, Otherwise dry. Some hill fog in the west, brighter in the east. Fresh to strong southwest winds. Freezing level 800-1000m.
Wed 17 Dec
Strong south or southwest winds with summit gales, storm force at first. Rain, preceded by summit snow, spreads east, clearing later on. Freezing level rising above the summits, 1200m in the evening.
Thu 18 Dec
Large uncertainty in details, but likely to be a stormy day with a risk of severe gales and heavy rain, perhaps snow at first on the tops. Freezing level rising above the summits.
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