Mountain weather
Northwest Highlands Mountain weather forecast table
Confidence
High confidence for unsettled weather and strong southeast winds. Low confidence in daily cloud and rain or summit snow details.
This evening forecast
Mostly dry for Torridon and Assynt as skies become clearer allowing some mist or fog patches to form in glens. A few light showers for Skye and Knoydart at first with some areas of cloud down to 500-700m, but becoming dry with good visibilities through the evening. Feeling bitterly cold at height with strengthening southeast winds, gusting 35-45mph over the highest summits.
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.
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.
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
Cloudy morning, some rain. Brighter afternoon. Strengthening winds. Bitterly cold.
| 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) |
<05% | 30% | 30% | 30% | <05% | <05% | 10% | 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 |
SE
22
|
E
23
|
E
29
|
SE
30
|
SE
27
|
E
28
|
E
37
|
E
40
|
| 900m |
SE
20
|
E
21
|
E
25
|
SE
26
|
SE
24
|
E
27
|
E
34
|
E
37
|
| 600m |
SE
16
|
SE
16
|
E
17
|
SE
15
|
SE
16
|
E
19
|
E
22
|
E
26
|
| 300m |
E
5
|
E
3
|
E
4
|
SE
3
|
SE
3
|
E
6
|
E
7
|
E
10
|
| Glen |
E
10
|
E
9
|
E
12
|
SE
10
|
SE
7
|
E
12
|
E
15
|
E
18
|
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 | 27 | 28 | 35 | 35 | 33 | 36 | 47 | 53 |
| 900m | 26 | 26 | 31 | 31 | 30 | 34 | 44 | 50 |
| 600m | 21 | 22 | 23 | 20 | 22 | 27 | 32 | 38 |
| 300m | 15 | 15 | 20 | 19 | 18 | 22 | 29 | 37 |
| Glen | 15 | 14 | 21 | 21 | 16 | 22 | 30 | 36 |
Altitude above mean sea level
| Time | 00:00 | 03:00 | 06:00 | 09:00 | 12:00 | 15:00 | 18:00 | 21:00 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1000m |
0°
|
0°
|
-2°
|
-2°
|
-1°
|
-1°
|
-2°
|
-2°
|
| 900m |
0°
|
0°
|
-1°
|
-1°
|
0°
|
0°
|
-1°
|
-1°
|
| 600m |
2°
|
2°
|
1°
|
1°
|
2°
|
2°
|
1°
|
2°
|
| 300m |
1°
|
2°
|
2°
|
2°
|
3°
|
3°
|
3°
|
3°
|
| Glen |
5°
|
6°
|
6°
|
6°
|
7°
|
6°
|
6°
|
6°
|
| Freezing Level |
500m
|
700m
|
800m
|
900m
|
900m
|
800m
|
800m
|
1,100m
|
Altitude above mean sea level
| Time | 00:00 | 03:00 | 06:00 | 09:00 | 12:00 | 15:00 | 18:00 | 21:00 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1000m |
-7°
|
-7°
|
-10°
|
-10°
|
-9°
|
-9°
|
-11°
|
-11°
|
| 900m |
-6°
|
-6°
|
-8°
|
-8°
|
-8°
|
-8°
|
-10°
|
-10°
|
| 600m |
-3°
|
-3°
|
-4°
|
-4°
|
-4°
|
-4°
|
-5°
|
-5°
|
| 300m |
-2°
|
0°
|
0°
|
0°
|
1°
|
1°
|
0°
|
0°
|
| Glen |
2°
|
3°
|
2°
|
2°
|
4°
|
3°
|
2°
|
2°
|
Additional weather information
Met Office Aberdeen meteorologist's view
Note the strengthening winds through the day, with gusts over 50mph giving very difficult walking conditions with progress highly impeded and a significant risk of being blown over. There will still be icy surfaces and lying snow at height so keep up to date with the latest avalanche forecast from Scottish Avalanche Information Service (SAIS). Feeling bitterly cold at height so suitable clothing is advised.
Weather
Mostly dry with clear spells in the early hours allowing some mist or fog patches to develop in glens, but some areas of cloud and the odd shower around Skye. Becoming quite cloudy by dawn with outbreaks of rain spreading north mainly affecting southern ranges such as Knoydart, Skye and Glen Shiel. Becoming dry with bright or sunny spells as this cloud clears north from late morning. Turning cloudier again from the south through the evening with some further patchy light rain or drizzle. Strengthening southeast winds through the day.
Chance of cloud-free hill tops
50% around dawn, rising to 80% or higher in afternoon. Falling to 40% in evening. Best chances in the north.
Low cloud and visibility
Patches of mist and fog confined to slopes less than 200m in the morning. Areas of cloud around 500-700m in the morning and visibilities falling moderate in outbreaks of rain. Summits largely clear through the afternoon but still some patches of low cloud below 300-500m. Cloud down to 500-700m becomes more extensive through the evening in the south, remaining well broken in the north.
Mountain weather information
Weather
Cloudy and windy in the morning with outbreaks of mostly light rain or drizzle, wintry above 800-900m. Dry with brighter spells and easing winds for a time in the afternoon before more cloud, rain, and strong winds spread north through the evening. Feeling bitterly cold.
Chance of cloud-free hill tops
25% morning and evening, rising 75% for a time in the afternoon. Best chances in northwest.
Maximum wind speed expected
Southeast backing east, 45-55mph gusting 60-70mph over the highest summits.
Temperature
- At 800m 0C to plus 2C.
- Glen Plus 3C to plus 8C.
- Freezing level 1000m morning, falling to 800m afternoon, rising to 1200m evening.
Low cloud and visibility
Quite widespread cloud down to 500-700m and visibilities falling moderate or poor in rain, drizzle or hill fog. Cloud becomes well broken with excellent visibilities through the afternoon.
Mountain weather information
Thu 22 Jan
Sunrise:
Sunset:
Cloudy with outbreaks of rain, mainly in south and east. Freezing level falling to 600m. Very strong east to southeast winds.
Fri 23 Jan
Sunrise:
Sunset:
Staying cloudy with outbreaks of rain, mainly in south and east, drier in the west. Freezing level rising to 800m. Very strong east to southeast winds.
Sat 24 Jan
Sunrise:
Sunset:
Cloudy again with outbreaks of rain, mainly in south and east, drier in the west. Freezing level around 800m. Very strong east to southeast winds.
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