Mountain weather
Northwest Highlands Mountain weather forecast table
Confidence
High until later Wednesday then low.
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.
Mountain weather forecast
A much brighter day with sunny intervals and a few showers, mainly in the west, with snow on the higher mountains.
| Time | 06:00 | 09:00 | 12:00 | 15:00 | 18:00 | 21:00 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Weather (at 800m) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Chance of precipitation (at 800m) |
20% | 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 |
SW
34
|
SW
36
|
SW
31
|
SW
29
|
S
28
|
S
28
|
| 900m |
SW
32
|
SW
33
|
SW
30
|
SW
29
|
S
28
|
S
27
|
| 600m |
SW
18
|
SW
20
|
SW
20
|
S
19
|
S
18
|
S
18
|
| 300m |
SW
1
|
SW
2
|
SW
6
|
SW
4
|
S
3
|
SW
4
|
| Glen |
S
3
|
S
5
|
S
8
|
S
7
|
S
8
|
S
7
|
Wind gust (mph)
Altitude above mean sea level
| Time | 06:00 | 09:00 | 12:00 | 15:00 | 18:00 | 21:00 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1000m | 39 | 42 | 37 | 36 | 35 | 34 |
| 900m | 37 | 38 | 36 | 35 | 35 | 34 |
| 600m | 23 | 25 | 27 | 27 | 26 | 26 |
| 300m | 21 | 22 | 24 | 22 | 21 | 21 |
| Glen | 13 | 17 | 20 | 18 | 20 | 18 |
Altitude above mean sea level
| Time | 06:00 | 09:00 | 12:00 | 15:00 | 18:00 | 21:00 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1000m |
0°
|
-1°
|
-1°
|
0°
|
-1°
|
-1°
|
| 900m |
0°
|
0°
|
0°
|
0°
|
0°
|
0°
|
| 600m |
3°
|
2°
|
3°
|
3°
|
2°
|
2°
|
| 300m |
4°
|
4°
|
5°
|
5°
|
4°
|
4°
|
| Glen |
6°
|
6°
|
7°
|
7°
|
6°
|
6°
|
| Freezing Level |
900m
|
900m
|
900m
|
900m
|
900m
|
900m
|
Altitude above mean sea level
| Time | 06:00 | 09:00 | 12:00 | 15:00 | 18:00 | 21:00 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1000m |
-9°
|
-10°
|
-9°
|
-8°
|
-8°
|
-8°
|
| 900m |
-8°
|
-8°
|
-8°
|
-7°
|
-8°
|
-8°
|
| 600m |
-3°
|
-3°
|
-3°
|
-3°
|
-3°
|
-3°
|
| 300m |
3°
|
3°
|
3°
|
3°
|
2°
|
2°
|
| Glen |
6°
|
5°
|
5°
|
5°
|
4°
|
4°
|
Additional weather information
Met Office Aberdeen meteorologist's view
A better day on the mountains but some icy surfaces at height and a significant wind chill.
Weather
Sunny intervals and a few showers. These showers mainly affecting Skye and Wester Ross, perhaps briefly heavy in the afternoon, with snow above 700-800m. Much of Sutherland and Easter Ross staying dry with well broken cloud.
Chance of cloud-free hill tops
90% in east, 50% in west.
Low cloud and visibility
In west, broken or occasional cloud at 750-900m especially near showers. In east well broken cloud mainly above tops. Visibility away from cloud mostly good, but briefly moderate in showers in west, poor above the snow line.
Mountain weather information
Weather
A mixture of sunny or clear intervals and showers, these more frequent in Skye and Wester Ross up to West Sutherland, fewer reaching Caithness or Easter Ross. The showers of snow above 750m.
Chance of cloud-free hill tops
30% in west, 60% in east
Maximum wind speed expected
Southwesterly 35 gusts 50mph bringing a strong wind chill.
Temperature
- At 800m 0 Celsius
- Glen Minus 1 rising to Plus 5 Celsius
- Freezing level 800m
Low cloud and visibility
Occasional cloud at 750-900m especially near showers, some lower patches near west coast. Visibility away from cloud mostly good but briefly poor in snow showers at height.
Mountain weather information
Wed 17 Dec
Sunrise:
Sunset:
Rain arriving in early hours preceded by snow above 700m. The day cloudy with rain, hill fog and severe gales, only clearing up to scattered showers after dark when freezing levels drop back down to 1100m.
Thu 18 Dec
Sunrise:
Sunset:
Likely to be showery, with snow above 800m, a slight chance of more persistent rain and snow later
Fri 19 Dec
Sunrise:
Sunset:
Showery west to southwesterly flow with snow above 800m. Some longer spells of rain and higher freezing levels possible later.
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