Mountain weather

Northwest Highlands

Northwest Highlands Mountain weather forecast table

Confidence

High for the general story but lower confidence for the extent of showers over the weekend.

Sunrise:
Sunset:
Mountain hazards

Mountain weather hazards

Hazards apply at or above 300m, reflecting the more severe conditions which can occur at altitude.

hazard Strong Sunlight
Harmful UV levels from sunlight increase with altitude giving a greater risk of sunburn and eye damage, even on some overcast days. On breezy days, the cooling effect of wind on exposed skin may disguise any feeling of sunburn until it is too late. If there is snow cover, glare increases the effect of UV rays especially on the eyes. It is advisable to wear sun block, protective clothing such as a long-sleeved top and hat and have good quality eye protection.

Mountain weather forecast

Mainly dry with bright spells and the odd shower. Light winds.

Time 06:00 09:00 12:00 15:00 18:00 21:00
Weather
(at 800m)
Sunny intervals Cloudy Cloudy Cloudy Cloudy Cloudy
Chance of precipitation
(at 800m)
10% 20% 20% 20% 10% 10%

Wind direction and speed (mph)
Altitude above mean sea level
Time 06:00 09:00 12:00 15:00 18:00 21:00
1000m S
16
S
12
SW
13
SW
15
SW
13
SW
16
900m S
15
S
11
SW
12
SW
14
SW
12
SW
14
600m S
7
S
7
SW
12
SW
11
SW
11
SW
7
300m S
0
S
1
SW
4
SW
3
SW
3
SW
1
Glen E
1
S
1
W
5
W
6
W
4
SW
2
Wind gust (mph)
Altitude above mean sea level
Time 06:00 09:00 12:00 15:00 18:00 21:00
1000m 18 15 17 19 17 20
900m 17 13 17 18 16 17
600m 10 9 16 16 15 11
300m 8 8 13 13 12 10
Glen 3 3 10 11 9 6

Altitude above mean sea level
Time 06:00 09:00 12:00 15:00 18:00 21:00
1000m
900m
10°
10°
10°
600m
11°
12°
12°
12°
10°
300m
11°
14°
16°
15°
13°
11°
Glen
14°
17°
17°
16°
15°
13°
Freezing Level
2,500m
2,200m
2,500m
2,400m
2,000m
1,800m

Altitude above mean sea level
Time 06:00 09:00 12:00 15:00 18:00 21:00
1000m
900m
600m
10°
11°
10°
300m
11°
14°
15°
14°
13°
11°
Glen
14°
16°
16°
15°
14°
13°

Additional weather information

Met Office Aberdeen meteorologist's view

Rather warm and humid down in the glens but cool on the tops with a chilly breeze. Risk of sunburn, even during cloudy periods.

Weather

A largely cloudy day with a few bright spells and scattered showers. A lot of dry weather in between the showers.

Chance of cloud-free hill tops

90%.

Low cloud and visibility

Mainly good visibility with cloud above summits. Some patchy cloud developing above 600m through late afternoon and evening, mainly near the west coast.

Sunrise:
Sunset:

Mountain weather information

Weather

Showers developing more widely overnight. A mainly cloudy day with showers, perhaps heavy at times and merging to longer spells of rain in the south. Best chance of drier weather across the far northwest.

Chance of cloud-free hill tops

20%.

Maximum wind speed expected

Variable 5-10mph becoming East 15-20mph gusts 30mph in evening.

Temperature

  • At 800m Plus 6C rising to 9C.
  • Glen 10C rising to 14C.
  • Freezing level Above summits.

Low cloud and visibility

Areas of cloud above 600m with patches to lower slopes, mainly near the west coast. Visibility under cloud base rather hazy, dropping to a few km in rain.

Mountain weather information

Sun 3 May

Sunrise:
Sunset:

Cloudy with patchy rain in the morning then brighter with scattered showers in afternoon, turning wintry later on Munro tops. Light winds, freshening from the west later. Freezing level above summits, falling to 900m later.

Mon 4 May

Sunrise:
Sunset:

Sunny spells and scattered showers, turning increasingly wintry to lower slopes. Feeling much colder with a strong northwesterly breeze. Freezing level 900m lowering to 500m.

Tue 5 May

Sunrise:
Sunset:

A cold northwesterly airstream is expected to continue bringing sunny spells and a few wintry showers.

Updated at:

Summit specific forecast

Mountain summit forecast map

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For snow and avalanche hazard forecasts please visit Scottish Avalanche Information Service