Mountain weather
Northwest Highlands Mountain weather forecast table
Confidence
High confidence in the south to southeasterly wind direction continuing throughout, and strengthening by Tuesday with unsettled conditions dominating.
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 west coast, outbreaks of rain and hill snow. Drier, sunny spells in east. Strong to gale force winds.
| Time | 06:00 | 09:00 | 12:00 | 15:00 | 18:00 | 21:00 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Weather (at 800m) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Chance of precipitation (at 800m) |
10% | 40% | 60% | 30% | 10% | <05% |
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
37
|
S
38
|
S
36
|
SE
28
|
SE
23
|
SE
21
|
| 900m |
S
34
|
S
34
|
S
33
|
SE
25
|
SE
20
|
SE
19
|
| 600m |
S
22
|
S
22
|
S
21
|
S
16
|
SE
15
|
SE
15
|
| 300m |
S
0
|
SE
1
|
S
2
|
S
1
|
E
4
|
E
6
|
| Glen |
SE
9
|
SE
10
|
SE
10
|
E
5
|
E
10
|
E
11
|
Wind gust (mph)
Altitude above mean sea level
| Time | 06:00 | 09:00 | 12:00 | 15:00 | 18:00 | 21:00 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1000m | 42 | 44 | 41 | 32 | 27 | 25 |
| 900m | 40 | 40 | 38 | 29 | 25 | 23 |
| 600m | 29 | 28 | 27 | 22 | 18 | 19 |
| 300m | 18 | 24 | 22 | 12 | 14 | 14 |
| Glen | 19 | 24 | 23 | 12 | 15 | 15 |
Altitude above mean sea level
| Time | 06:00 | 09:00 | 12:00 | 15:00 | 18:00 | 21:00 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1000m |
-1°
|
-1°
|
-1°
|
0°
|
0°
|
0°
|
| 900m |
-1°
|
-1°
|
-1°
|
0°
|
1°
|
1°
|
| 600m |
2°
|
2°
|
2°
|
3°
|
3°
|
3°
|
| 300m |
2°
|
3°
|
3°
|
3°
|
2°
|
1°
|
| Glen |
5°
|
6°
|
6°
|
6°
|
6°
|
5°
|
| Freezing Level |
700m
|
800m
|
900m
|
900m
|
800m
|
600m
|
Altitude above mean sea level
| Time | 06:00 | 09:00 | 12:00 | 15:00 | 18:00 | 21:00 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1000m |
-11°
|
-11°
|
-10°
|
-8°
|
-6°
|
-6°
|
| 900m |
-10°
|
-9°
|
-9°
|
-7°
|
-5°
|
-5°
|
| 600m |
-5°
|
-4°
|
-4°
|
-2°
|
-2°
|
-2°
|
| 300m |
1°
|
2°
|
2°
|
2°
|
0°
|
-1°
|
| Glen |
2°
|
3°
|
4°
|
5°
|
2°
|
2°
|
Additional weather information
Met Office Aberdeen meteorologist's view
Poor visibility in hill fog will make for challenging navigation on the west coast. Note the strong winds on tops bringing a significant windchill.
Weather
Cloud and hill fog lingering on western coasts through much of daytime alongside outbreaks of rain, snow above 800m. Generally dry inland with the best of the sunnier spells across Eastern Ross and up to Caithness. Strong to gale force winds on tops. Turning widely dry with clear spells in the evening.
Chance of cloud-free hill tops
10% for The Cuillin, 70% for Ben Wyvis. Best chances in the afternoon. Increasing widely 80% in the evening.
Low cloud and visibility
Low cloud bases extensive on the west coast and lingering around 600-700m for much of daytime. Much clearer inland with just a few patches of summit cloud for a time. Becoming widely clearer in the evening.
Mountain weather information
Weather
A few early showers clearing to the north in the morning. Otherwise dry during daytime with lengthy sunny spells and just the odd patch of hill fog on southerly aspects. Windy with gales on tops bringing a severe windchill.
Chance of cloud-free hill tops
70%.
Maximum wind speed expected
Mean speed 30-35mph in exposure, gusting 40-50mph, but strengthening further on summits and ridges later.
Temperature
- At 800m Zero Celsius.
- Glen Plus 1 Celsius rising 7 Celsius.
- Freezing level 800-1000m.
Low cloud and visibility
Good visibility below any patches of cloud with bases 900-1000m, these mainly on southerly aspects.
Mountain weather information
Wed 21 Jan
Sunrise:
Sunset:
A windy day with severe southeasterly gales on tops and outbreaks of rain and hill snow. Freezing level 1000m.
Thu 22 Jan
Sunrise:
Sunset:
Another very windy day with severe gales on tops and a few showers or spells of rain or snow. Freezing level 500-700m.
Fri 23 Jan
Sunrise:
Sunset:
Very windy conditions continuing, severe gales on tops and showers or outbreaks of rain and hill snow. Freezing level 600-800m.
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