Mountain weather
Northwest Highlands Mountain weather forecast table
Confidence
Please note we are aware of an issue affecting forecast wind speeds and gusts for higher-elevation sites (typically above 500m) displayed on the Met Office website and app. The winds shown here in our Mountain Area Forecasts are not affected by this. Our teams are actively working to correct the issue and updates will be deployed as soon as possible. High confidence in a continuing southeast airflow throughout this period.
Mountain weather hazards
Hazards apply at or above 300m, reflecting the more severe conditions which can occur at altitude.
Storm Force Winds
Storm force winds (gusts over 70mph) make walking very strenuous with any mobility virtually impossible over exposed ground. Where these conditions occur there is a high risk of being blown over and even standing may be impossible at times with a risk of being blown off one’s feet. Basic tasks such as using a map, eating, putting on extra clothing or communication become extremely difficult away from any shelter.
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.
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.
Blizzards
Blizzards and whiteouts present challenging and serious conditions due to a combination of falling or blowing snow, strong winds and cold temperatures. They can be highly disorientating, often resulting in near-zero visibility with limited or no visual references and no distinction between ground and sky. Cliff edges and cornices may not be apparent, even close up. These conditions require very good navigational skills.
Mountain weather forecast
Very cold with gale to storm force winds and outbreaks of snow later in the day.
| Time | 06:00 | 09:00 | 12:00 | 15:00 | 18:00 | 21:00 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Weather (at 800m) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Chance of precipitation (at 800m) |
10% | 20% | 70% | 80% | 80% | 80% |
Wind direction and speed (mph)
Altitude above mean sea level
| Time | 06:00 | 09:00 | 12:00 | 15:00 | 18:00 | 21:00 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1000m |
E
58
|
E
59
|
E
62
|
E
56
|
E
53
|
E
50
|
| 900m |
E
52
|
E
53
|
E
56
|
E
51
|
E
49
|
E
45
|
| 600m |
E
33
|
E
37
|
E
39
|
E
36
|
E
34
|
E
31
|
| 300m |
E
5
|
E
6
|
E
8
|
E
8
|
E
8
|
E
6
|
| Glen |
E
14
|
E
16
|
E
22
|
E
19
|
E
19
|
E
18
|
Wind gust (mph)
Altitude above mean sea level
| Time | 06:00 | 09:00 | 12:00 | 15:00 | 18:00 | 21:00 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1000m | 66 | 68 | 74 | 68 | 65 | 60 |
| 900m | 61 | 63 | 68 | 63 | 60 | 56 |
| 600m | 43 | 46 | 50 | 48 | 45 | 42 |
| 300m | 44 | 46 | 50 | 44 | 42 | 40 |
| Glen | 37 | 42 | 50 | 44 | 42 | 42 |
Altitude above mean sea level
| Time | 06:00 | 09:00 | 12:00 | 15:00 | 18:00 | 21:00 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1000m |
-4°
|
-4°
|
-3°
|
-3°
|
-3°
|
-4°
|
| 900m |
-4°
|
-3°
|
-2°
|
-2°
|
-2°
|
-3°
|
| 600m |
-1°
|
0°
|
1°
|
1°
|
0°
|
0°
|
| 300m |
2°
|
2°
|
3°
|
3°
|
3°
|
2°
|
| Glen |
5°
|
5°
|
6°
|
6°
|
6°
|
5°
|
| Freezing Level |
400m
|
400m
|
600m
|
600m
|
500m
|
500m
|
Altitude above mean sea level
| Time | 06:00 | 09:00 | 12:00 | 15:00 | 18:00 | 21:00 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1000m |
-17°
|
-17°
|
-15°
|
-14°
|
-15°
|
-15°
|
| 900m |
-15°
|
-15°
|
-13°
|
-13°
|
-13°
|
-13°
|
| 600m |
-9°
|
-9°
|
-8°
|
-8°
|
-8°
|
-8°
|
| 300m |
0°
|
0°
|
1°
|
1°
|
0°
|
0°
|
| Glen |
1°
|
0°
|
2°
|
2°
|
1°
|
0°
|
Additional weather information
Met Office Aberdeen meteorologist's view
A very cold day at all heights with severe wind chill. Difficult walking conditions in snow with strong winds reaching storm force and making for difficult progress, with a chance of being blown over. Cloud and snow in places later will make for whiteout conditions at times, leading to tricky navigation and possible disorientation.
Weather
Cloudy and mostly dry in the morning. Through the afternoon outbreaks of rain and snow developing with snow above 400m. The best of the dry spells in the west. Gales may increase to storm force winds over the highest tops. Very cold with severe wind chill.
Chance of cloud-free hill tops
20%.
Low cloud and visibility
Low cloud bases down to 600-800m but falling to lower slopes at times in snow later in the day. Some brief breaks possible, best in the west. Visibility very poor in cloud and snow, good outside of cloud.
Mountain weather information
Weather
Rain and snow clearing through the early hours to leave a mostly cloudy and dry day with some bright or sunny spells breaking through. The odd shower possible in the east later. Gale force winds early morning will ease but staying mostly strong. Very cold and severe wind chill.
Chance of cloud-free hill tops
70%, 20% in north.
Maximum wind speed expected
East to southeast 40-50mph gusting 55-65mph, easing 20-30mph gusting 35-45mph.
Temperature
- At 800m 0 Celsius.
- Glen Plus 5 or 6 Celsius.
- Freezing level 800m.
Low cloud and visibility
Low cloud bases down to 500-700m, these most widespread in the north but longer breaks and bright spells elsewhere where tops will be cloud free at times. Visibility good outside of cloud.
Mountain weather information
Thu 29 Jan
Sunrise:
Sunset:
Cloudy with a few outbreaks of rain and snow, drier in the north and west. Strong east to southeasterly winds with risk of gales. Freezing level 600m.
Fri 30 Jan
Sunrise:
Sunset:
Remaining cloudy with some rain and snow possible, drier spells in north and west. Strong east to southeasterly winds with risk of gales. Freezing level 400m.
Sat 31 Jan
Sunrise:
Sunset:
Little change with some outbreaks rain and snow continuing. Strong southeasterly winds. Freezing level 1000m.
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