Mountain weather

Northwest Highlands

Northwest Highlands Mountain weather forecast table

Confidence

Fairly high for the changeable rather cold conditions, lower for the daily detail.

Sunrise:
Sunset:

This evening forecast

Mainly cloudy with showers, snow above 300-400m in north and 600m over Arran, and some more persistent rain and snow at first over Lochaber. Stormy with blizzards on the tops.

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 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.

hazard Blizzards
Blizzards and whiteouts present challenging and serious conditions due to a combination of falling or blowing snow, strong winds and cold temperatures. They can be highly disorientating, often resulting in near-zero visibility with limited or no visual references and no distinction between ground and sky. Cliff edges and cornices may not be apparent, even close up. These conditions require very good navigational skills.
hazard Storm Force Winds
Storm force winds (gusts over 70mph) make walking very strenuous with any mobility virtually impossible over exposed ground. Where these conditions occur there is a high risk of being blown over and even standing may be impossible at times with a risk of being blown off one’s feet. Basic tasks such as using a map, eating, putting on extra clothing or communication become extremely difficult away from any shelter.
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.

Mountain weather forecast

A much brighter drier day with some sunny intervals. Less windy, with a fresh southeasterly wind.

Time 00:00 03:00 06:00 09:00 12:00 15:00 18:00 21:00
Weather
(at 800m)
Light snow Heavy snow Light snow Sunny intervals Sunny intervals Sunny intervals Partly cloudy (night) Partly cloudy (night)
Chance of precipitation
(at 800m)
40% 40% 40% 10% 10% 10% 10% 10%

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 E
50
SE
43
SE
30
SE
23
SE
19
SE
22
SE
24
SE
25
900m E
45
SE
39
SE
26
SE
21
SE
18
SE
21
SE
23
SE
24
600m E
30
SE
25
SE
16
SE
12
E
10
SE
12
SE
14
SE
15
300m E
5
SE
5
E
2
E
3
E
4
E
4
E
4
E
4
Glen E
19
E
16
E
10
E
9
E
8
E
10
E
11
E
11
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 59 51 35 28 24 28 30 32
900m 55 47 31 25 22 27 29 31
600m 39 34 22 17 15 20 22 23
300m 39 32 18 14 13 17 17 18
Glen 42 33 21 15 14 19 20 20

Altitude above mean sea level
Time 00:00 03:00 06:00 09:00 12:00 15:00 18:00 21:00
1000m
-3°
-2°
-2°
-1°
-1°
-1°
-2°
-2°
900m
-2°
-2°
-1°
-1°
-1°
600m
300m
Glen
Freezing Level
600m
600m
800m
800m
700m
700m
700m
700m

Altitude above mean sea level
Time 00:00 03:00 06:00 09:00 12:00 15:00 18:00 21:00
1000m
-14°
-13°
-10°
-8°
-8°
-8°
-9°
-10°
900m
-13°
-11°
-9°
-7°
-6°
-7°
-8°
-9°
600m
-7°
-6°
-4°
-3°
-2°
-2°
-4°
-4°
300m
Glen

Additional weather information

Met Office Aberdeen meteorologist's view

Tabular values look reasonable.

Weather

Cloudy in early hours with further showers, with snow levels mostly around 750m but 400m at first in Lochaber. Becoming drier towards morning then cloud breaking by dawn to leave a mainly dry bright day with some sunny intervals. North Sutherland probably staying cloudier, perhaps a light shower wintry above 600m.

Chance of cloud-free hill tops

10% in early hours rising 80-90% after dawn, but 30% in North Sutherland.

Low cloud and visibility

In early hours cloud at 750-900m, but nearer 450m in Sutherland, with occasionally poor visibility in showers. By day much of Northwest seeing only patchy cloud above 750m but could prove more persistent above 600-750m in Sutherland. Away from the cloud visibility mainly good.

Sunrise:
Sunset:

Mountain weather information

Weather

Mostly dry. Rather cloudy, but some sunny intervals in the west the best towards the west coast and the Isles. Over Sutherland one or two light showers, falling as snow above 500m, but lower in the evening

Chance of cloud-free hill tops

90% in west, 30% in east

Maximum wind speed expected

Southeasterly 25 gusts 35mph.

Temperature

  • At 800m Minus 2 falling to Minus 4 by the evening
  • Glen Zero rising to Plus 3 Celsius
  • Freezing level 600m falling 400m by the evening

Low cloud and visibility

Little in the way low cloud in the west, but cloud in east at 750-900m rather persistent. Visibility away from cloud mainly good.

Mountain weather information

Fri 30 Jan

Sunrise:
Sunset:

Cloudy with patchy snow, falling as rain below 400m, and southeasterly gales.

Sat 31 Jan

Sunrise:
Sunset:

Mainly cloudy with a few showers, snow by this time confined to mountains above Munro level. Fresh to strong southerly winds.

Sun 1 Feb

Sunrise:
Sunset:

Cloud with some rain and summit snow likely clearing to sunny intervals and isolated showers. Freezing levels around 1000m.

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