Mountain weather
Northwest Highlands Mountain weather forecast table
Confidence
Generally high confidence for unsettled conditions and milder temperatures from Wednesday to Friday. Lower confidence in the timing and nature of the rain on Sunday.
This evening forecast
A dry evening with plenty of clear spells, starting to turn a bit cloudier towards midnight. Moderate, but strong on highest peaks, southerly winds. Cold with a risk of severe wind chill.
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.
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.
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.
Mountain weather forecast
Cloud and rain spreading eastwards with widespread hill fog. Cold with significant wind chill in strong winds.
| 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) |
10% | 30% | 40% | 70% | 90% | 90% | 90% | 80% |
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 |
S
34
|
S
42
|
S
43
|
S
42
|
S
40
|
SW
33
|
SW
24
|
SW
27
|
| 900m |
S
32
|
S
40
|
S
40
|
S
39
|
S
38
|
SW
31
|
SW
23
|
SW
26
|
| 600m |
S
18
|
S
24
|
S
23
|
S
22
|
S
22
|
SW
18
|
SW
14
|
SW
17
|
| 300m |
S
2
|
S
5
|
S
5
|
SW
5
|
SW
6
|
SW
5
|
SW
4
|
SW
5
|
| Glen |
S
8
|
S
12
|
S
9
|
S
12
|
S
15
|
SW
10
|
SW
6
|
S
7
|
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 | 41 | 50 | 51 | 50 | 48 | 40 | 30 | 34 |
| 900m | 39 | 48 | 48 | 48 | 46 | 39 | 29 | 32 |
| 600m | 26 | 33 | 31 | 30 | 31 | 26 | 20 | 24 |
| 300m | 21 | 27 | 25 | 27 | 28 | 25 | 20 | 22 |
| Glen | 23 | 29 | 26 | 29 | 31 | 24 | 15 | 19 |
Altitude above mean sea level
| Time | 00:00 | 03:00 | 06:00 | 09:00 | 12:00 | 15:00 | 18:00 | 21:00 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1000m |
-1°
|
-1°
|
0°
|
1°
|
2°
|
3°
|
4°
|
3°
|
| 900m |
-1°
|
-1°
|
0°
|
2°
|
3°
|
4°
|
4°
|
4°
|
| 600m |
2°
|
2°
|
2°
|
3°
|
5°
|
6°
|
6°
|
6°
|
| 300m |
3°
|
4°
|
4°
|
5°
|
5°
|
6°
|
7°
|
7°
|
| Glen |
6°
|
7°
|
7°
|
7°
|
8°
|
9°
|
9°
|
10°
|
| Freezing Level |
800m
|
900m
|
1,700m
|
2,000m
|
1,900m
|
1,800m
|
1,900m
|
2,100m
|
Altitude above mean sea level
| Time | 00:00 | 03:00 | 06:00 | 09:00 | 12:00 | 15:00 | 18:00 | 21:00 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1000m |
-10°
|
-11°
|
-10°
|
-8°
|
-6°
|
-4°
|
-2°
|
-3°
|
| 900m |
-9°
|
-10°
|
-8°
|
-7°
|
-5°
|
-3°
|
-1°
|
-2°
|
| 600m |
-4°
|
-5°
|
-4°
|
-2°
|
-1°
|
1°
|
2°
|
1°
|
| 300m |
1°
|
2°
|
2°
|
2°
|
3°
|
5°
|
6°
|
5°
|
| Glen |
3°
|
3°
|
4°
|
4°
|
4°
|
7°
|
8°
|
8°
|
Additional weather information
Met Office Aberdeen meteorologist's view
A rather cloudy day with frequent hill fog making for tricky navigation. Cold with rain so warm and waterproof clothing recommended.
Weather
Mostly dry and cloudy through the first half of the morning before rain and drizzle spreads eastwards. Remaining cloudy with hill fog and rain and drizzle through the rest of the day, with some heavy outbreaks of rain at times. Strong southerly winds with the risk of a gale on the highest peaks. A risk of severe wind chill, this most significant through the first half of the day.
Chance of cloud-free hill tops
70% chance for a time early morning but soon becoming nil through the morning.
Low cloud and visibility
Occasional cloud bases down to around 1000m through the early hours but bases soon falling as cloud thickens through the morning with the arrival of rain with bases 400-600m, but bases may fall as low as 200m at times. Visibility good outside of cloud but moderate in rain and very poor in low cloud and hill fog.
Mountain weather information
Weather
Cloudy with hill fog in the morning and early afternoon, accompanied by rain and drizzle, which may be heavy at times. Cloud and rain clearing to the east during the afternoon leaving patchy cloud, clear spells and scattered heavy showers, wintry above 800m. Gale force southwestelry winds which may reach severe gale force on the highest hills.
Chance of cloud-free hill tops
10%, rising to 70% from late afternoon.
Maximum wind speed expected
Southwest 45-50mph gusting 55-60mph.
Temperature
- At 800m 5-7 Celsius, falling to 2-3 later.
- Glen 8-10 Celsius.
- Freezing level Above summits falling to 800-1000m at times later in the day.
Low cloud and visibility
Cloud bases of 400-600m through much of the morning and early afternoon, with bases down to 200m at times in the morning giving widespread hill fog. Cloud lifting and clear spells developing from late afternoon with occasional cloud bases 800-1000m.
Mountain weather information
Fri 28 Nov
Sunrise:
Sunset:
Sunny spells with heavy and wintry showers possible. Strong southwesterly winds with a risk of gales. Freezing level 800-1000m.
Sat 29 Nov
Sunrise:
Sunset:
Sunny spells and a few wintry showers. Fresh to strong northwesterly winds. Freezing level 600-800m, falling to 400m later
Sun 30 Nov
Sunrise:
Sunset:
Dry start with sunny spells, but cloud, rain and snow arriving later. Fresh westerly winds becoming southerly. Freezing level 200-400m.
Updated at:
Summit specific forecast
Mountain summit forecast map
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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