Mountain weather
Northwest Highlands Mountain weather forecast table
Confidence
High for changeable, wetter and less cold conditions, lower for daily details especially on Tuesday.
This evening forecast
The evening will be cloudy with occasional rain, with sleet or snow above 500m rising 800m on west coast. There will also be some hill fog. Drier clearer conditions reaching the west coast and island ranges before midnight. Fresh to strong southerly winds veering southwesterly, gales over Skye.
Mountain weather hazards
Hazards apply at or above 300m, reflecting the more severe conditions which can occur at altitude.
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.
Heavy Persistent Snow
Heavy snow can lead to rapid changes in underfoot conditions and paths may become treacherous or hidden. It also brings very poor visibility and often makes navigation much more challenging. When deep snow accumulates progress is often time consuming and strenuous, significantly affecting the distance one can travel on foot. Deep drifts can develop if snow is combined with strong winds. A heightened avalanche risk is possible and avalanche reports should be consulted where available.
Thunderstorms
Lightning is a significant mountain hazard which can result in serious injury or death. Mountain terrain often leaves one highly exposed to lightning strikes. Hail may give unpleasant conditions with torrential rain and localised flash flooding also possible, mainly in Summer months.
Heavy Persistent Rain
Heavy and persistent rain can lead to drenched clothing and footwear with waterproofs often becoming soaked through, especially if accompanied by strong winds. This can lead to significant loss of body heat and an increased likelihood of hypothermia. Terrain may turn increasingly boggy underfoot while streams can flood and become impassable. There may also be a risk of flooding in valleys or glens. If there is snow cover, a heightened avalanche hazard is possible and avalanche reports should be consulted where available.
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
Heavy rain and hill snow soon turning showery but some showers heavy, snow becoming confined to higher tops. Strong to gale force winds.
| 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) |
30% | 50% | 80% | 80% | 50% | 40% | 40% | 40% |
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 |
SW
34
|
SW
34
|
S
32
|
S
38
|
SW
36
|
SW
31
|
SW
32
|
SW
30
|
| 900m |
SW
33
|
SW
32
|
S
28
|
S
35
|
SW
34
|
SW
29
|
SW
30
|
SW
29
|
| 600m |
SW
21
|
SW
20
|
S
18
|
S
22
|
SW
23
|
SW
19
|
SW
20
|
SW
19
|
| 300m |
SW
5
|
SW
4
|
S
4
|
S
4
|
SW
9
|
SW
7
|
SW
7
|
SW
7
|
| Glen |
S
9
|
S
9
|
S
11
|
S
12
|
SW
13
|
SW
11
|
SW
11
|
SW
10
|
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 | 43 | 43 | 40 | 47 | 47 | 41 | 43 | 41 |
| 900m | 42 | 41 | 36 | 44 | 45 | 38 | 41 | 39 |
| 600m | 31 | 30 | 27 | 32 | 35 | 28 | 30 | 30 |
| 300m | 26 | 26 | 23 | 28 | 32 | 26 | 27 | 26 |
| Glen | 23 | 23 | 26 | 29 | 27 | 25 | 25 | 23 |
Altitude above mean sea level
| Time | 00:00 | 03:00 | 06:00 | 09:00 | 12:00 | 15:00 | 18:00 | 21:00 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1000m |
-1°
|
-2°
|
-2°
|
-2°
|
1°
|
0°
|
0°
|
0°
|
| 900m |
-1°
|
-1°
|
-1°
|
-1°
|
2°
|
1°
|
1°
|
1°
|
| 600m |
2°
|
2°
|
1°
|
1°
|
4°
|
3°
|
3°
|
3°
|
| 300m |
3°
|
4°
|
2°
|
3°
|
6°
|
6°
|
5°
|
5°
|
| Glen |
6°
|
6°
|
6°
|
6°
|
9°
|
9°
|
8°
|
8°
|
| Freezing Level |
900m
|
800m
|
700m
|
1,100m
|
1,200m
|
1,100m
|
1,100m
|
1,100m
|
Altitude above mean sea level
| Time | 00:00 | 03:00 | 06:00 | 09:00 | 12:00 | 15:00 | 18:00 | 21:00 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1000m |
-10°
|
-10°
|
-11°
|
-10°
|
-7°
|
-7°
|
-8°
|
-8°
|
| 900m |
-9°
|
-9°
|
-9°
|
-9°
|
-6°
|
-6°
|
-6°
|
-6°
|
| 600m |
-4°
|
-5°
|
-5°
|
-5°
|
-2°
|
-2°
|
-2°
|
-2°
|
| 300m |
1°
|
1°
|
0°
|
1°
|
3°
|
3°
|
3°
|
2°
|
| Glen |
3°
|
3°
|
2°
|
2°
|
6°
|
6°
|
5°
|
5°
|
Additional weather information
Met Office Aberdeen meteorologist's view
Summit gusts of 50-60mph possible.
Weather
Starting mainly dry in early hours, or with some light rain and hill snow, but heavier and more persistent rain with snow above 500-600m late in the night and for a time in the morning with brief summit blizzards. The snow level rising to 900m or above by mid morning then the rain turning more showery in the afternoon with some drier brighter interludes with a few sunny intervals possible. Some showers heavy with a small chance of lightning. Further showers in the evening, occasionally heavy, snow on highest summits.
Chance of cloud-free hill tops
10% in morning rising 30% during the afternoon
Low cloud and visibility
Extensive cloud at 400-600m in morning with poor visibility in rain and snow, then cloud lifting 750-900m in afternoon with patches to 600m in showers. Visibility then improving to good away from cloud and showers, occasionally poor in further showers.
Mountain weather information
Weather
Showers in early hours giving way to more persistent rain in the morning, preceded by summit snow before freezing levels rise above summits during the morning. Rain persistent and heavy at times. Turning somewhat clearer from mid evening with passing showers reverting to snow above 900m.
Chance of cloud-free hill tops
10-20%, rising 40% late evening.
Maximum wind speed expected
West to southwest 25 gusts 35mph in morning increasing 40 gusts 60mph during the afternoon and evening.
Temperature
- At 800m Plus 2 rising to Plus 6 Celsius, falling Plus 3 in evening.
- Glen Plus 7 rising to Plus 10 Celsius, falling Plus 7 in evening
- Freezing level 900-1000m rising above the summits in morning, falling back to 900m late evening..
Low cloud and visibility
Extensive cloud, bases 450-600m with patches to 300m near west coast. Below cloud, visibility moderate to poor in rain. Late evening low cloud breaking and lifting 750-900m with visibility becoming good away from showers.
Mountain weather information
Sun 22 Feb
Sunrise:
Sunset:
Mainly cloudy with frequent showers, heavy and perhaps thundery, with snow above 800m, gale to severe gale southwesterly winds.
Mon 23 Feb
Sunrise:
Sunset:
Bright spells and passing showers, falling as snow above 800m. Strong westerly winds.
Tue 24 Feb
Sunrise:
Sunset:
Low confidence, but likely cloudy with occasional rain, which could be heavy and persistent, with hill fog and strong southwesterly 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