Mountain weather

Northwest Highlands

Northwest Highlands Mountain weather forecast table

Confidence

High for a generally unsettled few days with heavy rain or showers at times. Low for details of any timings. A chance of more settled conditions by mid-week, but large uncertainty at this stage.

Sunrise:
Sunset:

This evening forecast

A mainly dry evening and start to the night with a few isolated showers. Some late sunshine, then occasional clear spells after dark. Light to moderate winds across the summits.

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.

hazard 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

Mostly dry and bright, a few west coast showers. Rain in the evening.

Time 00:00 03:00 06:00 09:00 12:00 15:00 18:00 21:00
Weather
(at 800m)
Cloudy Cloudy Sunny intervals Sunny intervals Light shower (day) Light shower (day) Light rain Heavy rain
Chance of precipitation
(at 800m)
20% 20% 20% 10% 20% 30% 60% 70%

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 S
11
E
8
E
11
SE
10
E
10
E
12
E
15
E
17
900m S
9
E
7
E
10
SE
9
E
10
E
12
E
15
E
17
600m S
6
E
4
E
5
SE
7
E
8
NE
9
E
10
E
11
300m S
1
NE
1
E
3
SE
3
E
3
E
4
SE
5
E
5
Glen S
1
N
1
N
1
S
2
W
4
N
5
NE
5
NE
8
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 12 10 13 13 15 17 20 23
900m 11 9 13 13 14 17 20 23
600m 8 6 8 11 12 14 15 18
300m 7 5 9 9 9 12 13 15
Glen 5 2 4 6 8 10 11 14

Altitude above mean sea level
Time 00:00 03:00 06:00 09:00 12:00 15:00 18:00 21:00
1000m
10°
10°
11°
12°
13°
13°
13°
11°
900m
10°
11°
11°
12°
13°
14°
14°
12°
600m
12°
12°
13°
15°
16°
16°
16°
14°
300m
14°
14°
15°
17°
19°
19°
18°
16°
Glen
16°
16°
16°
19°
20°
21°
20°
18°
Freezing Level
2,800m
2,700m
2,700m
2,500m
2,600m
2,700m
3,000m
3,000m

Altitude above mean sea level
Time 00:00 03:00 06:00 09:00 12:00 15:00 18:00 21:00
1000m
10°
11°
11°
10°
900m
11°
12°
12°
11°
600m
11°
12°
12°
14°
15°
15°
14°
13°
300m
14°
14°
15°
18°
19°
19°
18°
16°
Glen
16°
16°
17°
20°
20°
21°
20°
18°

Additional weather information

Met Office Aberdeen meteorologist's view

Some uncertainty in timing of rain later in the day, and its intensity. Moderate to high UV levels, sun protection recommended.

Weather

Dry overnight and through daylight hours for most hills, but occasional showers will affect western coastal hills. Mostly cloudy, but some brighter spells. During the evening and start of the night outbreaks of occasionally heavy rain will spread northwest.

Chance of cloud-free hill tops

80%, falling to 30% in the evening.

Low cloud and visibility

Very good visibility with patchy early morning cloud gradually lifting above the summits, slowest to clear over the Caithness hills. Cloud bases lower from late afternoon, falling to 600m early evening, then to lower slopes, but west coast hills often remaining cloud free.

Sunrise:
Sunset:

Mountain weather information

Weather

Heavy rain eases through the early hours, but further heavy outbreaks of rain are likely to move northwest after dawn. Then further heavy showers or outbreaks of rain at times for much of the day. Turning drier around dusk.

Chance of cloud-free hill tops

20%

Maximum wind speed expected

East 25-30 gusting 35 mph, occasionally 40-45 mph across the higher summits. Wind turning Southerly 20-25 mph in the evening.

Temperature

  • At 800m Plus 12 Celsius rising to 15 Celsius.
  • Glen Plus 16 Celsius rising to 19 Celsius.
  • Freezing level Above the summits.

Low cloud and visibility

Generally very poor visibility in extensive low cloud, bases 600-800m, although cloud occasionally lifting to 1000m. Western coastal hills often free of cloud.

Mountain weather information

Mon 21 Jul

Sunrise:
Sunset:

A warm day with light winds. Heavy showers breaking out, with a risk of thunderstorms at times.

Tue 22 Jul

Sunrise:
Sunset:

Further showers, heavy at times, some sunny spells. Light winds

Wed 23 Jul

Sunrise:
Sunset:

A chance of some drier more settled conditions developing, although large uncertainties.

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