Mountain weather

Northwest Highlands

Northwest Highlands Mountain weather forecast table

Confidence

High for the mobile westerly nature of the weather pattern and for snow across summits, but lowering for the transitional timing detail.

Sunrise:
Sunset:

This evening forecast

Rather cloudy with frequent wintry showers, with the chance of thunder and hail at first in the west. Strong westerly summit winds bringing a severe wind chill to most levels.

Sunrise:
Sunset:
Mountain hazards

Mountain weather hazards

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

hazard 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.
hazard 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.

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.
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, bright by day, but snow, rain and strengthening winds developing for the evening.

Time 00:00 03:00 06:00 09:00 12:00 15:00 18:00 21:00
Weather
(at 800m)
Heavy snow shower (night) Light snow shower (night) Light snow shower (day) Sunny intervals Sunny intervals Cloudy Light snow Light snow
Chance of precipitation
(at 800m)
60% 40% 30% 10% <05% 10% 30% 80%

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 W
29
W
24
SW
19
SW
15
S
17
SE
25
SE
33
SE
40
900m W
28
W
22
SW
18
SW
15
S
16
SE
24
SE
31
SE
37
600m W
17
W
12
SW
10
SW
12
S
13
SE
18
SE
23
SE
26
300m W
6
W
3
SW
1
SW
5
S
8
SE
10
SE
9
SE
10
Glen W
10
W
5
W
3
SW
8
S
9
SE
12
SE
13
SE
16
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 37 31 24 20 23 34 43 53
900m 36 29 24 20 23 33 42 50
600m 26 19 15 17 19 27 34 39
300m 24 18 13 15 18 26 30 37
Glen 21 12 7 14 18 25 28 35

Altitude above mean sea level
Time 00:00 03:00 06:00 09:00 12:00 15:00 18:00 21:00
1000m
-3°
-4°
-4°
-3°
-1°
-2°
900m
-2°
-3°
-4°
-2°
-1°
600m
-1°
-1°
300m
Glen
Freezing Level
500m
400m
300m
400m
500m
600m
600m
600m

Altitude above mean sea level
Time 00:00 03:00 06:00 09:00 12:00 15:00 18:00 21:00
1000m
-12°
-13°
-12°
-10°
-8°
-7°
-9°
-12°
900m
-11°
-11°
-11°
-8°
-6°
-6°
-7°
-10°
600m
-6°
-6°
-6°
-4°
-2°
-2°
-3°
-6°
300m
-1°
-1°
Glen

Additional weather information

Met Office Aberdeen meteorologist's view

Feeling cold at height in wind chill but also the risk of sunburn in afternoon brightness, best of the farer conditions in the east. Gales developing at height for the evening.

Weather

Showers overnight gradually dwindling from the east. Occasional bright and sunny spells and mainly dry by day, with only a few light showers about, these mainly early and focused across the west of the area, with snow down to around 400m. Cloud gradually thickening from the west from mid-afternoon to bring periods of light snow, below 400-500m rain, for the evening.

Chance of cloud-free hill tops

75% at dawn becoming 30% for the evening

Low cloud and visibility

Good becoming moderate or poor in rain, very poor in snow and within cloud with bases occasionally lowering 600m for much of the day, before becoming quite extensive for the evening.

Sunrise:
Sunset:

Mountain weather information

Weather

Periods of occasionally heavy snow and rain at first, clearing to showers during the morning, which turn heavier and more frequent for the afternoon, particularly in the west, bringing the risk of hail and thunder. Snow level around 600-700m. South to southeast summit gales bringing a severe wind chill effect to many.

Chance of cloud-free hill tops

20% becoming 70% from late morning

Maximum wind speed expected

South or southeast mean 30-40mph with gusts reaching 50-60mph across more exposed ridges and summits.

Temperature

  • At 800m Minus 1 to plus 1 Celsius
  • Glen Plus 4 Celsius increasing 11 Celsius for the afternoon
  • Freezing level 700-900m

Low cloud and visibility

Good becoming moderate or poor in rain, very poor in snow and within cloud with bases quite extensive from 600m at first, but sporadically so in the showery airflow that becomes established by late morning.

Mountain weather information

Sun 12 Apr

Sunrise:
Sunset:

Rather cloudy with showers, these heavy and frequent at times with the risk of hail and thunder. Snow level 700-800m. Winds gale to severe gale southerly.

Mon 13 Apr

Sunrise:
Sunset:

Rather cloudy with occasional showers with snow level 700-800m. Strong summit winds easing.

Tue 14 Apr

Sunrise:
Sunset:

Mainly dry with bright and sunny spells. Summit winds freshening later. Freezing level 800-900m

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