Mountain weather
Northwest Highlands Mountain weather forecast table
Confidence
High for changeable weather for the next few days, but low for extent of any precipitation on a daily basis.
Mountain weather hazards
Hazards apply at or above 300m, reflecting the more severe conditions which can occur at altitude.
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.
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.
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.
Mountain weather forecast
Cold, very windy although mainly dry with just a few snow showers
| Time | 06:00 | 09:00 | 12:00 | 15:00 | 18:00 | 21:00 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Weather (at 800m) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Chance of precipitation (at 800m) |
40% | 30% | 30% | 30% | 30% | 30% |
Wind direction and speed (mph)
Altitude above mean sea level
| Time | 06:00 | 09:00 | 12:00 | 15:00 | 18:00 | 21:00 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1000m |
SE
50
|
SE
57
|
SE
58
|
SE
51
|
E
48
|
E
49
|
| 900m |
SE
45
|
SE
52
|
SE
53
|
SE
46
|
E
45
|
E
46
|
| 600m |
SE
29
|
SE
30
|
SE
30
|
SE
30
|
E
29
|
E
30
|
| 300m |
E
3
|
SE
7
|
SE
10
|
SE
8
|
E
7
|
E
7
|
| Glen |
E
14
|
E
17
|
E
18
|
E
18
|
E
14
|
E
14
|
Wind gust (mph)
Altitude above mean sea level
| Time | 06:00 | 09:00 | 12:00 | 15:00 | 18:00 | 21:00 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1000m | 57 | 67 | 69 | 61 | 59 | 60 |
| 900m | 52 | 62 | 64 | 56 | 55 | 57 |
| 600m | 37 | 43 | 45 | 42 | 40 | 42 |
| 300m | 35 | 41 | 44 | 40 | 39 | 40 |
| Glen | 33 | 37 | 40 | 42 | 34 | 35 |
Altitude above mean sea level
| Time | 06:00 | 09:00 | 12:00 | 15:00 | 18:00 | 21:00 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1000m |
0°
|
0°
|
-1°
|
-1°
|
-2°
|
-3°
|
| 900m |
1°
|
1°
|
0°
|
0°
|
-2°
|
-2°
|
| 600m |
4°
|
4°
|
3°
|
3°
|
1°
|
1°
|
| 300m |
6°
|
5°
|
5°
|
5°
|
4°
|
3°
|
| Glen |
9°
|
8°
|
8°
|
8°
|
6°
|
6°
|
| Freezing Level |
1,600m
|
1,500m
|
1,000m
|
800m
|
700m
|
600m
|
Altitude above mean sea level
| Time | 06:00 | 09:00 | 12:00 | 15:00 | 18:00 | 21:00 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1000m |
-9°
|
-10°
|
-12°
|
-11°
|
-13°
|
-14°
|
| 900m |
-8°
|
-9°
|
-10°
|
-10°
|
-12°
|
-12°
|
| 600m |
-2°
|
-3°
|
-4°
|
-4°
|
-6°
|
-7°
|
| 300m |
5°
|
3°
|
2°
|
2°
|
1°
|
1°
|
| Glen |
6°
|
5°
|
4°
|
4°
|
3°
|
2°
|
Additional weather information
Met Office Aberdeen meteorologist's view
Be prepared for summit gales making for severe wind chill, slow progress and a risk of being blown over. Note drop in freezing level as the day progresses.
Weather
Mainly dry although fairly cloudy at times, some brighter spells breaking through along the west coast. A few scattered showers, these increasingly falling to snow down to 800 metres by the end of the morning.
Chance of cloud-free hill tops
50%, best chance across Skye, northern Lochaber and Wester Ross
Low cloud and visibility
Poor in areas of cloud down to 750 metres, this most persistent and extensive across the east of the area.
Mountain weather information
Weather
Some brightness along the west coast otherwise rather cloudy. A few snow showers across Sutherland and Easter Ross otherwise largely dry.
Chance of cloud-free hill tops
40%, best chance along the west coast
Maximum wind speed expected
Southeasterly average speeds of 35 mph with gusts to 55 mph on the tops
Temperature
- At 800m Minus 2 Celsius
- Glen Plus 2 rising to 4 Celsius
- Freezing level 600 metres
Low cloud and visibility
Poor in areas of cloud down to 750 metres shrouding some of the summits in the east. Less in the way of hill fog towards the west coast.
Mountain weather information
Sat 24 Jan
Sunrise:
Sunset:
Snow showers across the north and east, dry elsewhere with sunny breaks towards the west coast.
Sun 25 Jan
Sunrise:
Sunset:
Mainly dry, cold with the clearest skies along the west coast. Chance of a light snow shower across the east.
Mon 26 Jan
Sunrise:
Sunset:
Cold with variable amounts of cloud a few light snow showers in the east.
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