Mountain weather
Northwest Highlands Mountain weather forecast table
Confidence
High for the changeable, rather cold conditions to continue, lower for daily details.
This evening forecast
Dry with some clear spells for much of evening. The Sutherland and Easter Ross turning cloudier later with some hill fog and patchy light rain, with snow above 750m. Moderate to fresh southeasterly winds.
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
Rather cloudy, mainly dry, but a little patchy rain and hill snow in east. Sunny intervals in west.
| 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% | 40% | 40% | 10% | 20% | 20% | 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 |
SE
26
|
SE
27
|
SE
28
|
SE
31
|
SE
33
|
SE
31
|
SE
36
|
SE
39
|
| 900m |
SE
25
|
SE
26
|
SE
26
|
SE
29
|
SE
30
|
SE
29
|
SE
33
|
SE
35
|
| 600m |
SE
14
|
SE
15
|
SE
16
|
SE
17
|
SE
19
|
SE
19
|
SE
20
|
SE
22
|
| 300m |
E
3
|
E
4
|
E
3
|
E
3
|
E
4
|
SE
4
|
E
4
|
E
5
|
| Glen |
E
11
|
E
12
|
E
11
|
E
10
|
E
11
|
E
10
|
E
11
|
E
12
|
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 | 31 | 33 | 34 | 38 | 40 | 39 | 45 | 48 |
| 900m | 30 | 32 | 33 | 35 | 37 | 36 | 42 | 45 |
| 600m | 21 | 24 | 24 | 25 | 26 | 27 | 30 | 33 |
| 300m | 17 | 19 | 19 | 21 | 23 | 22 | 25 | 27 |
| Glen | 18 | 21 | 21 | 22 | 22 | 22 | 25 | 27 |
Altitude above mean sea level
| Time | 00:00 | 03:00 | 06:00 | 09:00 | 12:00 | 15:00 | 18:00 | 21:00 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1000m |
-1°
|
-2°
|
-2°
|
-2°
|
-2°
|
-2°
|
-3°
|
-4°
|
| 900m |
-1°
|
-1°
|
-2°
|
-2°
|
-2°
|
-1°
|
-2°
|
-3°
|
| 600m |
2°
|
2°
|
1°
|
1°
|
1°
|
1°
|
0°
|
0°
|
| 300m |
2°
|
2°
|
2°
|
2°
|
4°
|
4°
|
2°
|
2°
|
| Glen |
5°
|
5°
|
5°
|
5°
|
7°
|
7°
|
5°
|
5°
|
| Freezing Level |
700m
|
700m
|
700m
|
700m
|
700m
|
600m
|
500m
|
400m
|
Altitude above mean sea level
| Time | 00:00 | 03:00 | 06:00 | 09:00 | 12:00 | 15:00 | 18:00 | 21:00 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1000m |
-9°
|
-10°
|
-11°
|
-11°
|
-12°
|
-11°
|
-13°
|
-14°
|
| 900m |
-8°
|
-9°
|
-10°
|
-10°
|
-10°
|
-10°
|
-11°
|
-12°
|
| 600m |
-3°
|
-4°
|
-5°
|
-5°
|
-5°
|
-5°
|
-6°
|
-7°
|
| 300m |
1°
|
0°
|
0°
|
0°
|
2°
|
2°
|
0°
|
0°
|
| Glen |
2°
|
1°
|
1°
|
1°
|
4°
|
4°
|
2°
|
1°
|
Additional weather information
Met Office Aberdeen meteorologist's view
Note the very low feels like temperatures at height, bitterly cold in the strengthening winds. Please note we are aware of an issue affecting forecast wind speeds and gusts for higher-elevation sites (typically above 500m) displayed on the Met Office website and app. The winds shown here in our Mountain Area Forecasts are not affected by this. Our teams are actively working to correct the issue and updates will be deployed as soon as possible.
Weather
Much of the west staying dry with some sunny intervals. In the east and far north, cloudy with occasional rain and hill snow, the odd heavier burst in morning the snow above 600m at first but down to 400m later as slightly colder air edges in from the east.
Chance of cloud-free hill tops
In east, 30% rising 60%. In west 80%.
Low cloud and visibility
General cloud at 750-900m in east, but the odd lower patch at 600m in the morning. Cloud more broken in the west, and bases in the east should lift a bit. Away from cloud visibility mainly good but perhaps poor at first in any heavier outbreaks of snow, also winds at high level strong enough to cause lying snow to blow and reduce visibility.
Mountain weather information
Weather
A mainly dry morning, then cloud thick enough for a few snow flurries in the afternoon, with rain below 300m.
Chance of cloud-free hill tops
50% in east and 80% in west.
Maximum wind speed expected
Southeast 35 gusts 50mph.
Temperature
- At 800m Minus 4 Celsius rising to Minus 2
- Glen Zero Celsius rising to Plus 3
- Freezing level 300m rising to 400m
Low cloud and visibility
Areas of cloud at 750m-900m with a few lower patches in east, low cloud well broken in west with most cloud above tops. Visibility mainly good away from cloud, but blowing snow may reduce visibility on the top.
Mountain weather information
Sat 31 Jan
Sunrise:
Sunset:
Mainly cloudy with hill fog and some sporadic light rain, with snow above 600-700m. Less windy but a fresh southeasterly on the tops.
Sun 1 Feb
Sunrise:
Sunset:
Mainly cloudy, some light rain, and hill snow above 600m, in east, probably dry and quite bright nearer west coast. Moderate winds.
Mon 2 Feb
Sunrise:
Sunset:
Mainly cloudy, some rain and snow, the snow level probably lowering to 400m with freshening easterly 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