Mountain weather
Northwest Highlands Mountain weather forecast table
Confidence
High confidence in unsettled weather continuing. High confidence in colder temperatures from midweek but low confidence in timing.
This evening forecast
For much of the area the evening will see widespread cloud down to 300-500m or so with associated poor visibilities in hill fog. Mainly dry but some outbreaks of light rain or drizzle. However, some clearer spells possible towards the western coastal ranges where cloud will be more broken. Strong easterly winds generally 20-30mph, but gusting around 40mph or so at times. Freezing level around 1200m with a severe wind chill at height.
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.
Mountain weather forecast
Occasionally heavy rain morning. Dry spells, showers later.
| Time | 00:00 | 03:00 | 06:00 | 09:00 | 12:00 | 15:00 | 18:00 | 21:00 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Weather (at 800m) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Chance of precipitation (at 800m) |
70% | 80% | >95% | 70% | 50% | 60% | 80% | 60% |
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 |
E
26
|
E
27
|
E
24
|
E
21
|
SE
19
|
S
16
|
S
20
|
S
19
|
| 900m |
E
25
|
E
27
|
E
25
|
E
21
|
SE
18
|
S
15
|
S
19
|
S
18
|
| 600m |
E
15
|
E
15
|
E
12
|
E
12
|
SE
11
|
S
10
|
S
12
|
S
10
|
| 300m |
E
3
|
E
5
|
E
5
|
E
3
|
SE
3
|
S
3
|
S
2
|
S
2
|
| Glen |
E
11
|
E
11
|
E
9
|
E
8
|
E
5
|
S
5
|
S
5
|
SE
4
|
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 | 33 | 35 | 32 | 27 | 24 | 20 | 25 | 24 |
| 900m | 33 | 35 | 33 | 27 | 22 | 19 | 24 | 23 |
| 600m | 24 | 25 | 22 | 20 | 15 | 15 | 17 | 16 |
| 300m | 21 | 22 | 20 | 16 | 12 | 12 | 15 | 12 |
| Glen | 23 | 23 | 20 | 17 | 11 | 11 | 13 | 10 |
Altitude above mean sea level
| Time | 00:00 | 03:00 | 06:00 | 09:00 | 12:00 | 15:00 | 18:00 | 21:00 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1000m |
0°
|
0°
|
0°
|
0°
|
0°
|
0°
|
0°
|
0°
|
| 900m |
0°
|
1°
|
1°
|
1°
|
1°
|
1°
|
1°
|
0°
|
| 600m |
3°
|
3°
|
3°
|
3°
|
3°
|
3°
|
3°
|
3°
|
| 300m |
4°
|
4°
|
4°
|
4°
|
5°
|
5°
|
4°
|
4°
|
| Glen |
6°
|
6°
|
6°
|
6°
|
8°
|
8°
|
7°
|
7°
|
| Freezing Level |
1,200m
|
1,200m
|
1,200m
|
1,200m
|
1,200m
|
1,100m
|
1,100m
|
1,000m
|
Altitude above mean sea level
| Time | 00:00 | 03:00 | 06:00 | 09:00 | 12:00 | 15:00 | 18:00 | 21:00 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1000m |
-8°
|
-8°
|
-7°
|
-6°
|
-6°
|
-5°
|
-6°
|
-6°
|
| 900m |
-7°
|
-7°
|
-6°
|
-5°
|
-5°
|
-4°
|
-5°
|
-5°
|
| 600m |
-2°
|
-2°
|
-2°
|
-1°
|
0°
|
0°
|
-1°
|
-1°
|
| 300m |
2°
|
2°
|
2°
|
3°
|
4°
|
4°
|
3°
|
3°
|
| Glen |
3°
|
4°
|
4°
|
4°
|
7°
|
6°
|
5°
|
6°
|
Additional weather information
Met Office Aberdeen meteorologist's view
Windy conditions on the highest summits at first will make for fairly arduous walking on exposed terrain with buffeting of clothing. Balance may be affected at times. Quite persistent rain over ranges of Easter Ross, Caithness and eastern Sutherland, which may also lead to saturated ground so suitable waterproofs and footwear is advised.
Weather
Organised bands of rain spread north through the morning, heavy at times. More by way of drier interludes in the afternoon, but remaining cloudy with further outbreaks of rain, heavy at times. Rain will turn wintry over the very highest summits, above around 1100m.
Chance of cloud-free hill tops
20% or less, best chances around west coast.
Low cloud and visibility
Mostly widespread cloud down to 300-500m or so and poor visibilities in hill fog and outbreaks of rain through the morning, but staying drier with limited chance of clear summits in the sheltered west coast ranges and for Skye. Chance of limited and temporary clearer spells developing elsewhere between showers through the rest of the day.
Mountain weather information
Weather
The west coast and Skye staying often dry with some bright spells and occasional breaks in the cloud possible. Cloudy but mainly dry for the rest of the region, but the odd shower at any time, especially for eastern ranges, these showers will turn wintry over the very highest summits, above around 900-1000m.
Chance of cloud-free hill tops
30% in east, 70% in west.
Maximum wind speed expected
Southeast backing east, 20-30mph.
Temperature
- At 800m Plus 0C to plus 2C.
- Glen Plus 3C rising to plus 7C.
- Freezing level Around 1000m.
Low cloud and visibility
Quite widespread cloud down to 300-500m in the east and visibilities falling poor in hill fog and showers. Cloud much more broken to the sheltered west, with just patches around 700m or so as any showers pass through.
Mountain weather information
Tue 10 Feb
Sunrise:
Sunset:
Some showers at first, more persistent rain later. Freezing level around 800-1000m. Strong southeast winds.
Wed 11 Feb
Sunrise:
Sunset:
Further cloud and rain and summit snow. Freezing level falling to around 600-800m Strong to gale southeast winds.
Thu 12 Feb
Sunrise:
Sunset:
Cloudy with further outbreaks of rain and summit snow. Freezing level falling to around 400-600m. Strong to gale southeast 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