Mountain weather
Northwest Highlands Mountain weather forecast table
Confidence
High for a showery day on Friday and the gradual change over the weekend to a more southeasterly wind flow, but lower later Saturday due to uncertainties over eastwards progress of a frontal trough, currently expected to become slow moving over southwest Scotland.
This evening forecast
Cloudy with occasionally heavy rain, falling increasingly as snow above about 600-750m, the rain and snow clearing northeastwards through the evening with cloud breaking and showers following. Very cold with strong southeasterly then southwesterly winds, gusts around 50mph over ridges and summits
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.
Blizzards
Blizzards and whiteouts present challenging and serious conditions due to a combination of falling or blowing snow, strong winds and cold temperatures. They can be highly disorientating, often resulting in near-zero visibility with limited or no visual references and no distinction between ground and sky. Cliff edges and cornices may not be apparent, even close up. These conditions require very good navigational skills.
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.
Thunderstorms
Lightning is a significant mountain hazard which can result in serious injury or death. Mountain terrain often leaves one highly exposed to lightning strikes. Hail may give unpleasant conditions with torrential rain and localised flash flooding also possible, mainly in Summer months.
Mountain weather forecast
Sunny spells and wintry showers. Bitterly cold and windy.
| 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) |
30% | 40% | 40% | 40% | 50% | 40% | 30% | 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 |
SW
40
|
S
46
|
SW
42
|
SW
42
|
SW
46
|
W
45
|
SW
36
|
SW
31
|
| 900m |
SW
38
|
S
44
|
SW
40
|
SW
40
|
SW
43
|
W
42
|
SW
35
|
SW
29
|
| 600m |
SW
24
|
S
31
|
SW
26
|
SW
28
|
SW
29
|
W
27
|
SW
23
|
SW
17
|
| 300m |
SW
5
|
S
10
|
SW
7
|
SW
8
|
SW
9
|
W
9
|
W
8
|
SW
4
|
| Glen |
S
10
|
S
16
|
SW
16
|
SW
15
|
SW
17
|
W
15
|
SW
13
|
SW
9
|
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 | 48 | 57 | 52 | 53 | 58 | 57 | 46 | 39 |
| 900m | 46 | 55 | 50 | 51 | 55 | 54 | 46 | 37 |
| 600m | 32 | 41 | 37 | 38 | 41 | 39 | 34 | 26 |
| 300m | 29 | 39 | 34 | 36 | 40 | 38 | 32 | 23 |
| Glen | 24 | 34 | 34 | 34 | 36 | 33 | 28 | 23 |
Altitude above mean sea level
| Time | 00:00 | 03:00 | 06:00 | 09:00 | 12:00 | 15:00 | 18:00 | 21:00 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1000m |
-2°
|
-1°
|
0°
|
0°
|
0°
|
0°
|
0°
|
0°
|
| 900m |
-1°
|
0°
|
1°
|
1°
|
1°
|
1°
|
1°
|
1°
|
| 600m |
1°
|
2°
|
3°
|
3°
|
3°
|
3°
|
3°
|
3°
|
| 300m |
3°
|
4°
|
5°
|
5°
|
6°
|
6°
|
5°
|
5°
|
| Glen |
5°
|
6°
|
8°
|
8°
|
8°
|
8°
|
8°
|
8°
|
| Freezing Level |
700m
|
900m
|
1,100m
|
1,000m
|
1,100m
|
1,000m
|
1,000m
|
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 |
-11°
|
-11°
|
-9°
|
-9°
|
-9°
|
-9°
|
-8°
|
-8°
|
| 900m |
-10°
|
-10°
|
-8°
|
-8°
|
-8°
|
-8°
|
-7°
|
-6°
|
| 600m |
-6°
|
-5°
|
-4°
|
-4°
|
-4°
|
-3°
|
-3°
|
-2°
|
| 300m |
1°
|
0°
|
3°
|
3°
|
3°
|
3°
|
2°
|
3°
|
| Glen |
2°
|
2°
|
4°
|
4°
|
4°
|
5°
|
4°
|
5°
|
Additional weather information
Met Office Aberdeen meteorologist's view
Feeling bitterly cold with winds gusting to around 70mph over higher ridges and summits. Lying snow drifting in the wind.
Weather
Clear spells and, especially in the west, scattered showers, falling increasingly as snow above about 600m, through the early hours. Then a bright day with sunny spells and showers, the showers most frequent and heaviest, and perhaps thundery across western parts, through the middle of the day and falling increasingly as snow above about 750m with temporary blizzard conditions possible, with the best of the sunshine across eastern hills. The showers gradually ease from the west through the late afternoon and evening.
Chance of cloud-free hill tops
Around 60%, but nearer 25% in west through the late morning and early afternoon.
Low cloud and visibility
Occasional or periods of cloud above 600-750m, becoming persistent at times in the west through the late morning and early afternoon, with patches below in showers. Away from cloud visibility will be very good or excellent, falling to several kilometres in showers and near zero in heavier snow showers and temporary blizzard conditions.
Mountain weather information
Weather
A mainly dry and bright day with, especially across northern hills, some good spells of sunshine, perhaps just the odd light wintry shower in the south. Cloud increasing towards evening with a weakening band of rain, preceded by snow on higher summits, edging east, especially across the south of the area.
Chance of cloud-free hill tops
Around 90% in north, but nearer 40% in south
Maximum wind speed expected
Southerly 20-30mph, increasing 30-40mph, with gusts around 65mph over ridges and summits gusts, turning more southeasterly later.
Temperature
- At 800m Around plus 3 Celsius
- Glen Plus 2 or 3 Celsius at dawn rising to plus 7 or 8 Celsius by day
- Freezing level 1000-1200m
Low cloud and visibility
Occasional or periods of cloud 600-750m in south but just small amounts below summit level in the north. Away from cloud visibility very good or excellent, falling briefly in any showers and to several kilometres in evening rain and snow.
Mountain weather information
Sun 21 Dec
Sunrise:
Sunset:
Another largely dry day with the best of any sunnier spells across western hills, but rather cloudy in the east. Strong southeasterly winds, with summit gales. Freezing level around 1000m, rising later.
Mon 22 Dec
Sunrise:
Sunset:
Rather cloudy with, especially eastern hills, occasional rain and drizzle, best of any sunnier spells in west. Strong southeasterly winds, summit gales. Freezing level, just above summits.
Tue 23 Dec
Sunrise:
Sunset:
Similar to Monday, although a little colder with some snow above about 800m and southeasterly winds easing. Freezing level falling to 1000m.
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