Mountain weather
Northwest Highlands Mountain weather forecast table
Confidence
High confidence for little change to the general pattern over the coming week, driest conditions remain in the west.
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
Cloudy with showers, drier in the southwest. Strengthening easterly summit winds.
| Time | 06:00 | 09:00 | 12:00 | 15:00 | 18:00 | 21:00 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Weather (at 800m) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Chance of precipitation (at 800m) |
30% | 40% | 50% | 70% | 60% | 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
28
|
SE
29
|
E
24
|
E
27
|
E
33
|
E
37
|
| 900m |
SE
27
|
SE
28
|
E
23
|
E
26
|
E
33
|
E
36
|
| 600m |
SE
13
|
SE
16
|
E
14
|
E
17
|
E
20
|
E
23
|
| 300m |
E
4
|
E
5
|
E
6
|
E
7
|
E
7
|
E
8
|
| Glen |
E
12
|
E
10
|
E
12
|
E
13
|
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 | 35 | 35 | 30 | 33 | 42 | 47 |
| 900m | 34 | 34 | 29 | 33 | 42 | 46 |
| 600m | 22 | 24 | 21 | 26 | 31 | 35 |
| 300m | 21 | 21 | 18 | 23 | 29 | 31 |
| Glen | 22 | 22 | 21 | 26 | 30 | 31 |
Altitude above mean sea level
| Time | 06:00 | 09:00 | 12:00 | 15:00 | 18:00 | 21:00 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1000m |
-1°
|
-2°
|
-2°
|
-2°
|
-3°
|
-4°
|
| 900m |
0°
|
-1°
|
-1°
|
-1°
|
-2°
|
-3°
|
| 600m |
2°
|
1°
|
2°
|
2°
|
1°
|
0°
|
| 300m |
2°
|
3°
|
4°
|
4°
|
3°
|
2°
|
| Glen |
5°
|
5°
|
7°
|
7°
|
5°
|
5°
|
| Freezing Level |
800m
|
700m
|
800m
|
800m
|
700m
|
500m
|
Altitude above mean sea level
| Time | 06:00 | 09:00 | 12:00 | 15:00 | 18:00 | 21:00 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1000m |
-9°
|
-10°
|
-10°
|
-10°
|
-12°
|
-13°
|
| 900m |
-8°
|
-9°
|
-8°
|
-9°
|
-10°
|
-12°
|
| 600m |
-3°
|
-4°
|
-4°
|
-4°
|
-6°
|
-8°
|
| 300m |
1°
|
0°
|
2°
|
1°
|
0°
|
-1°
|
| Glen |
1°
|
2°
|
4°
|
3°
|
1°
|
0°
|
Additional weather information
Met Office Aberdeen meteorologist's view
Strengthening winds make it feel bitterly cold to low levels with low cloud and snow showers making navigation difficult at times.
Weather
The best of any brightness and drier conditions remain over western coastal ranges. Cloudy over remaining areas with a mostly dry start to the morning. Showers begin over Caithness and Sutherland during the morning, falling as snow above 900m. These showers become more frequent through the morning before spreading to all except the southwest during the afternoon. The snow level will lower to 500-600m as the wind strengthens during the afternoon.
Chance of cloud-free hill tops
40% with the best chance in the west.
Low cloud and visibility
Extensive cloud down to 500-700m especially over eastern ranges. The visibility will fall poor in cloud and hill fog. Cloud in the west will be broken with the occasional bright spell.
Mountain weather information
Weather
The south and the west continue mostly dry with odd bright spells while eastern and northern parts continue cloudy with snow showers. The showers will be most frequent over eastern ranges.
Chance of cloud-free hill tops
40% the greatest chance in the west.
Maximum wind speed expected
East 35-40mph gust 55mph
Temperature
- At 800m Minus 5C.
- Glen Minus 1C rising plus 3C.
- Freezing level 200m.
Low cloud and visibility
Extensive cloud down to 500-700m especially over eastern ranges. The visibility will fall poor in cloud and hill fog. Cloud in the west will be broken with the occasional bright spell.
Mountain weather information
Wed 4 Feb
Sunrise:
Sunset:
Cloudy and mostly dry, scattered snow showers in the north. Strong east summit wind falling moderate later. Freezing level 200m, rising 900m later.
Thu 5 Feb
Sunrise:
Sunset:
Mostly dry, cloudy east with bright spells west. Near gale east summit wind. Freezing level 900m lowering 200m later.
Fri 6 Feb
Sunrise:
Sunset:
Scattered showers in the north dry but cloudy south and west. Near gale east summit wind. Freezing level 200-300m.
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