Mountain weather
Northwest Highlands Mountain weather forecast table
Confidence
High for changeable but often dry weather into early next week. Low for cloud amounts.
Mountain weather hazards
Hazards apply at or above 300m, reflecting the more severe conditions which can occur at altitude.
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.
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.
Mountain weather forecast
A few showers in the morning, drier and somewhat brighter in the afternoon
| Time | 06:00 | 09:00 | 12:00 | 15:00 | 18:00 | 21:00 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Weather (at 800m) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Chance of precipitation (at 800m) |
30% | 30% | 10% | <05% | 00% | 00% |
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
25
|
E
31
|
E
25
|
E
22
|
E
22
|
E
20
|
| 900m |
E
29
|
E
31
|
E
27
|
E
23
|
E
22
|
E
20
|
| 600m |
E
16
|
E
15
|
E
14
|
E
19
|
E
19
|
E
17
|
| 300m |
E
10
|
E
11
|
E
12
|
E
15
|
E
13
|
E
12
|
| Glen |
E
10
|
E
6
|
E
9
|
E
16
|
E
17
|
E
14
|
Wind gust (mph)
Altitude above mean sea level
| Time | 06:00 | 09:00 | 12:00 | 15:00 | 18:00 | 21:00 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1000m | 34 | 41 | 32 | 31 | 30 | 26 |
| 900m | 38 | 41 | 35 | 31 | 30 | 26 |
| 600m | 26 | 24 | 22 | 28 | 28 | 23 |
| 300m | 26 | 26 | 23 | 25 | 24 | 22 |
| Glen | 20 | 15 | 19 | 26 | 24 | 22 |
Altitude above mean sea level
| Time | 06:00 | 09:00 | 12:00 | 15:00 | 18:00 | 21:00 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1000m |
2°
|
1°
|
0°
|
-1°
|
-1°
|
0°
|
| 900m |
2°
|
1°
|
0°
|
0°
|
-1°
|
0°
|
| 600m |
4°
|
3°
|
2°
|
3°
|
2°
|
3°
|
| 300m |
4°
|
4°
|
4°
|
3°
|
1°
|
0°
|
| Glen |
6°
|
6°
|
6°
|
5°
|
4°
|
3°
|
| Freezing Level |
1,500m
|
1,700m
|
1,100m
|
800m
|
600m
|
500m
|
Altitude above mean sea level
| Time | 06:00 | 09:00 | 12:00 | 15:00 | 18:00 | 21:00 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1000m |
-5°
|
-7°
|
-7°
|
-8°
|
-8°
|
-6°
|
| 900m |
-5°
|
-6°
|
-7°
|
-8°
|
-8°
|
-6°
|
| 600m |
-1°
|
-2°
|
-2°
|
-3°
|
-4°
|
-2°
|
| 300m |
0°
|
0°
|
0°
|
-1°
|
-4°
|
-5°
|
| Glen |
3°
|
4°
|
3°
|
1°
|
-1°
|
-1°
|
Additional weather information
Met Office Aberdeen meteorologist's view
Note lowering freezing level through the afternoon
Weather
A lot of cloud through the day, but clearer skies across southern Lochaber and Skye in the morning, and along the west coast as the afternoon progresses. Chance of a few showers in the morning.
Chance of cloud-free hill tops
50%, best chance in the afternoon along the west coast
Low cloud and visibility
Poor in widespread low cloud down to 500 metres, this lifting and breaking in the afternoon with improved visibility. Still the chance of some cloud down to 700 metres towards the Great Glen in the afternoon.
Mountain weather information
Weather
Dry with some clear or bright spells. Light winds.
Chance of cloud-free hill tops
70%
Maximum wind speed expected
Variable in direction 10 mph or less
Temperature
- At 800m Minus 1 Celsius
- Glen Minus 6 rising to 0 Celsius
- Freezing level 600 metres
Low cloud and visibility
Excellent visibility with only small amounts of thin cloud around 700 metres
Mountain weather information
Mon 29 Dec
Sunrise:
Sunset:
Scattered showers, wintry above 800 metres, will spread from the north. Drier and clearer weather developing later on.
Tue 30 Dec
Sunrise:
Sunset:
Mostly cloudy with a few showers, wintry above 800 metres. Showers becoming more widespread later in the day.
Wed 31 Dec
Sunrise:
Sunset:
Mostly cloudy with a scattering of showers, these wintry above 800 metres. Freshening northwest winds.
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