Mountain weather

Northwest Highlands

Northwest Highlands Mountain weather forecast table

Confidence

High confidence in the unsettled conditions for the next few days, followed by a change to drier conditions and lighter winds by Sunday.

Sunrise:
Sunset:

This evening forecast

Clear spells and heavy showers bringing occasional visibility deteriorations, the odd rumble of thunder possible. Strong winds on tops.

Sunrise:
Sunset:
Mountain hazards

Mountain weather hazards

Hazards apply at or above 300m, reflecting the more severe conditions which can occur at altitude.

hazard 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.
hazard 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.

hazard 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.
hazard 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.
hazard 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

Rather cloudy with showers, some heavy with a low risk of thunder. Drier, brighter in the afternoon. Gales on tops with a significant windchill.

Time 00:00 03:00 06:00 09:00 12:00 15:00 18:00 21:00
Weather
(at 800m)
Heavy shower (night) Heavy shower (night) Heavy shower (night) Heavy shower (day) Heavy shower (day) Light shower (day) Light shower (day) Cloudy
Chance of precipitation
(at 800m)
60% 60% 60% 60% 60% 40% 30% 20%

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 S
26
S
29
S
33
SW
36
SW
34
SW
34
SW
30
S
24
900m S
24
S
27
S
30
SW
35
SW
32
SW
33
SW
29
S
21
600m S
16
S
19
S
20
SW
25
SW
23
SW
25
SW
21
S
14
300m S
2
S
4
S
6
SW
10
SW
9
SW
10
SW
7
S
3
Glen SE
4
S
9
S
11
SW
13
SW
14
SW
14
SW
11
S
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 32 35 40 45 43 44 38 30
900m 29 33 37 44 41 43 37 27
600m 22 26 28 34 32 34 29 20
300m 17 22 27 33 31 32 27 16
Glen 14 20 24 25 28 27 22 15

Altitude above mean sea level
Time 00:00 03:00 06:00 09:00 12:00 15:00 18:00 21:00
1000m
900m
600m
300m
Glen
10°
10°
11°
10°
10°
Freezing Level
1,200m
1,100m
1,100m
1,100m
1,200m
1,200m
1,200m
1,300m

Altitude above mean sea level
Time 00:00 03:00 06:00 09:00 12:00 15:00 18:00 21:00
1000m
-5°
-6°
-7°
-7°
-6°
-6°
-5°
-5°
900m
-4°
-5°
-6°
-6°
-5°
-4°
-4°
-3°
600m
-1°
-2°
-2°
300m
Glen

Additional weather information

Met Office Aberdeen meteorologist's view

A challenging day with gusts to around 50mph on summits and ridges which will give very difficult walking conditions with a significant risk of being blown over. Note the sub zero wind chill on the upper slopes.

Weather

Mainly cloudy with patchy hill fog and frequent showers, these occasionally heavy and wintry above 1000m with the odd rumble of thunder. The best of the drier, sunnier spells will develop during mid-afternoon, before clouding over again in the evening. Strong to gale force winds on tops bringing a significant windchill.

Chance of cloud-free hill tops

30% in the morning and evening, 60% mid-afternoon.

Low cloud and visibility

Areas of low cloud with bases down to around 700m in the morning, these lifting above most tops in the afternoon but dropping again overnight. Visibility will be generally good below cloud bases but occasionally deteriorating to a few kilometres in heavier showers.

Sunrise:
Sunset:

Mountain weather information

Weather

Very windy with gales or severe gales on tops. A cloudy morning with patchy rain followed by a brighter afternoon with showers, some heavy with hail and the odd rumble of thunder.

Chance of cloud-free hill tops

20% increasing to 40%.

Maximum wind speed expected

Mean 40-50mph gusting 60-70mph on summits and ridges.

Temperature

  • At 800m Plus 5 rising 7 celsius.
  • Glen Plus 9 rising 14 celsius.
  • Freezing level Above summits.

Low cloud and visibility

Fairly extensive cloud bases down to around 600m in the morning, lifting to 900m with occasional breaks in the afternoon. Visibility will be generally good below cloud bases, but occasionally deteriorating to a few kilometres in rain or showers.

Mountain weather information

Sat 18 Apr

Sunrise:
Sunset:

Another very windy day with gales or severe gales on summits and a bitter wind chill. Bright spells and scattered showers, wintry above 800m.

Sun 19 Apr

Sunrise:
Sunset:

Rather cloudy with scattered light showers, wintry above 1000m. Moderate to fresh summit winds.

Mon 20 Apr

Sunrise:
Sunset:

Variable cloud but mostly dry and settled with gentle winds.

Updated at:

Summit specific forecast

Mountain summit forecast map

Loading map…

For snow and avalanche hazard forecasts please visit Scottish Avalanche Information Service