Mountain weather
Northwest Highlands Mountain weather forecast table
Confidence
High confidence in seeing generally unsettled weather, but low for details Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday.
This evening forecast
Dry with often clear summits to start and just patches of cloud around 500-700m. Rain, preceded by summit snow above 1000m, will spread north through the evening with cloud down to 400-600m becoming widespread over Knoydart, Skye and other southern ranges. Light southwest winds at first will back south to southeast and strengthen to 30-40mph.
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.
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.
Mountain weather forecast
Cloudy and windy with rain. Likely drier northeast.
| 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) |
90% | 50% | 30% | 40% | 60% | 70% | 80% | 80% |
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 |
SE
33
|
S
39
|
S
42
|
S
45
|
S
41
|
S
39
|
S
39
|
S
36
|
| 900m |
SE
29
|
S
37
|
S
38
|
S
42
|
S
37
|
S
35
|
S
35
|
S
33
|
| 600m |
SE
18
|
SW
25
|
SW
27
|
S
28
|
S
25
|
S
23
|
S
22
|
S
21
|
| 300m |
SE
2
|
S
6
|
SW
6
|
S
9
|
S
7
|
SW
7
|
S
7
|
S
7
|
| Glen |
SE
6
|
SW
13
|
SW
12
|
S
13
|
S
13
|
S
13
|
S
12
|
S
11
|
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 | 39 | 48 | 51 | 56 | 51 | 49 | 49 | 46 |
| 900m | 35 | 45 | 48 | 53 | 47 | 45 | 45 | 42 |
| 600m | 24 | 34 | 37 | 40 | 35 | 33 | 32 | 31 |
| 300m | 16 | 32 | 32 | 35 | 31 | 31 | 29 | 27 |
| Glen | 17 | 28 | 28 | 29 | 30 | 30 | 28 | 26 |
Altitude above mean sea level
| Time | 00:00 | 03:00 | 06:00 | 09:00 | 12:00 | 15:00 | 18:00 | 21:00 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1000m |
1°
|
3°
|
2°
|
2°
|
3°
|
3°
|
3°
|
3°
|
| 900m |
2°
|
3°
|
3°
|
3°
|
4°
|
4°
|
4°
|
4°
|
| 600m |
4°
|
5°
|
5°
|
5°
|
6°
|
6°
|
6°
|
6°
|
| 300m |
6°
|
7°
|
7°
|
7°
|
8°
|
8°
|
8°
|
7°
|
| Glen |
8°
|
9°
|
10°
|
10°
|
10°
|
10°
|
10°
|
9°
|
| Freezing Level |
2,000m
|
2,000m
|
1,500m
|
2,000m
|
2,300m
|
2,200m
|
2,000m
|
1,900m
|
Altitude above mean sea level
| Time | 00:00 | 03:00 | 06:00 | 09:00 | 12:00 | 15:00 | 18:00 | 21:00 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1000m |
-6°
|
-5°
|
-6°
|
-6°
|
-5°
|
-4°
|
-4°
|
-4°
|
| 900m |
-5°
|
-4°
|
-4°
|
-5°
|
-3°
|
-3°
|
-3°
|
-3°
|
| 600m |
-1°
|
0°
|
-1°
|
-1°
|
1°
|
1°
|
1°
|
1°
|
| 300m |
4°
|
6°
|
6°
|
5°
|
6°
|
6°
|
6°
|
5°
|
| Glen |
6°
|
7°
|
7°
|
7°
|
7°
|
7°
|
7°
|
7°
|
Additional weather information
Met Office Aberdeen meteorologist's view
Gusts of 50-60mph or so will give difficult walking conditions with a risk of being blown off balance and energy output significantly increased when walking into the wind. This combined with quite extensive low cloud means navigation could be challenging. A damp day with quite persistent rain and ongoing thaw of snow may lead to swollen watercourses and heavy walking conditions including icy patches, and feeling cold at height, so suitable clothing is advised. Keep up to date with the latest forecast from the Scottish Avalanche Information Service (SAIS).
Weather
Rain clears north in the early hours. Then a cloudy but mostly dry start to the morning, though some patches of light rain or drizzle. Rain spreads in from the west from mid-morning, heavy and persistent in places, most likely for Skye and other southwestern ranges. Drier and clearer towards the more sheltered northeast, but likely to see rain everywhere at some point. Feeling a bit milder than Monday, but still cold at height with strong southerly winds.
Chance of cloud-free hill tops
Little to no chance in south and west. 30% in sheltered northeast.
Low cloud and visibility
Widespread cloud down to 500-700m and visibilities poor in rain, drizzle or hill fog. Cloud more broken in shelter to the northeast with some clear summits and good visibilities possible.
Mountain weather information
Weather
Low confidence in exact details. Cloudy with rain through the morning, heavy at times. Rain turning showery later in the day with some limited brighter spells possible. Feeling a touch milder than Tuesday, but still quite cold at height.
Chance of cloud-free hill tops
Little to no chance much of the day. 25% or less later.
Maximum wind speed expected
South to southwest 20-30mph.
Temperature
- At 800m Plus 3C to plus 6C.
- Glen Plus 8C to plus 12C.
- Freezing level Above summits.
Low cloud and visibility
Widespread cloud down to 300-500m and visibilities poor in rain or hill fog. Limited chance of temporary clear spells between showers later.
Mountain weather information
Thu 26 Feb
Sunrise:
Sunset:
Showers, heavy at times, wintry on the tops. Freezing level around 1000m or so. Strong southwest winds.
Fri 27 Feb
Sunrise:
Sunset:
Low confidence. Chance of persistent rain in the morning. Otherwise showers, heavy at times. Freezing level falling to 600m or so. Strong southwest veering northwest winds.
Sat 28 Feb
Sunrise:
Sunset:
Bright spells and wintry showers to start. Rain spreading east later. Strong south or southwest 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