Mountain weather
Northwest Highlands Mountain weather forecast table
Confidence
A very cold and wintery outlook for the coming days with snowfall continuing on Thursday and snow accumulations looking to build for the northern hills in the region. Slightly milder air returns on Friday but there are uncertainties in how quickly this will move across the country. Keep an eye for the latest forecast towards the weekend with low confidence for the forecast on Sunday at this time.
This evening forecast
Snow showers continuing through the evening with blizzard or whiteout conditions in strong northerly winds. Bitterly cold with severe windchill. Very poor conditions on the mountains in the north overnight, further south and inland will be drier with clear spells with a sharp frost.
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.
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.
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 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.
Mountain weather forecast
Wintry showers in the north and west, with occasional blizzards and very poor visibility, whiteouts at times, severe windchill expected, further south and east will see drier and clearer conditions.
| 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) |
60% | 40% | 40% | 40% | 40% | 20% | 20% | 10% |
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 |
N
30
|
N
30
|
N
28
|
N
24
|
N
22
|
N
20
|
NW
16
|
SW
7
|
| 900m |
N
27
|
N
27
|
N
26
|
N
21
|
N
20
|
N
16
|
NW
13
|
SW
6
|
| 600m |
N
18
|
N
17
|
N
18
|
N
15
|
N
13
|
N
10
|
NW
6
|
W
4
|
| 300m |
N
5
|
N
6
|
N
6
|
N
5
|
N
5
|
N
3
|
N
1
|
NW
1
|
| Glen |
N
9
|
N
11
|
N
8
|
N
5
|
N
5
|
N
5
|
N
5
|
N
2
|
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 | 36 | 36 | 35 | 29 | 27 | 24 | 19 | 9 |
| 900m | 33 | 34 | 33 | 27 | 25 | 21 | 16 | 7 |
| 600m | 24 | 24 | 24 | 20 | 18 | 14 | 9 | 6 |
| 300m | 26 | 26 | 26 | 22 | 21 | 16 | 12 | 5 |
| Glen | 22 | 25 | 21 | 15 | 14 | 13 | 10 | 4 |
Altitude above mean sea level
| Time | 00:00 | 03:00 | 06:00 | 09:00 | 12:00 | 15:00 | 18:00 | 21:00 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1000m |
-6°
|
-6°
|
-5°
|
-6°
|
-5°
|
-5°
|
-6°
|
-6°
|
| 900m |
-5°
|
-5°
|
-5°
|
-5°
|
-4°
|
-4°
|
-5°
|
-5°
|
| 600m |
-3°
|
-3°
|
-2°
|
-3°
|
-2°
|
-2°
|
-3°
|
-3°
|
| 300m |
-1°
|
-1°
|
-1°
|
-1°
|
0°
|
-1°
|
-2°
|
-6°
|
| Glen |
1°
|
1°
|
1°
|
2°
|
3°
|
2°
|
1°
|
-2°
|
| Freezing Level |
100m
|
100m
|
100m
|
200m
|
200m
|
200m
|
200m
|
200m
|
Altitude above mean sea level
| Time | 00:00 | 03:00 | 06:00 | 09:00 | 12:00 | 15:00 | 18:00 | 21:00 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1000m |
-16°
|
-16°
|
-15°
|
-14°
|
-13°
|
-12°
|
-13°
|
-10°
|
| 900m |
-14°
|
-14°
|
-13°
|
-13°
|
-12°
|
-11°
|
-11°
|
-9°
|
| 600m |
-10°
|
-10°
|
-9°
|
-9°
|
-8°
|
-7°
|
-7°
|
-6°
|
| 300m |
-4°
|
-4°
|
-5°
|
-4°
|
-3°
|
-3°
|
-4°
|
-8°
|
| Glen |
-3°
|
-3°
|
-3°
|
-1°
|
0°
|
0°
|
-1°
|
-4°
|
Additional weather information
Met Office Aberdeen meteorologist's view
Severe windchill in the freezing conditions, with strong winds and dampness of showers enhancing that further. Stronger gusts likely in blizzards on the higher summits. Full winter conditions on the mountains with snow accumulations continuing to grow.
Weather
A period of heavier snow is likely to affect ranges in the far north in the early hours, otherwise snow showers to all levels continuing with occasional blizzard conditions in strong northerly winds. Wintery showers continuing throughout the day, blizzard conditions at times especially for more exposed northern ranges, very poor visibility with whiteout conditions in heavier showers. A few bright or sunny spells too in between showers and lengthier dry periods towards the Ben Wyvis and other inland areas. Showers easing by mid afternoon but mist and fog forming easily during the evening and a very cold night with clear spells developing later on Thursday.
Chance of cloud-free hill tops
30%, more sheltered ranges to the south and east will have a greater chance of cloud free tops.
Low cloud and visibility
Layers of broken cloud are expected above 400m, especially for more Northern hills, cloud tending to break and thin outwith showers with the chance of temporary clearance of the summits, more chance of clearer summits further south and west, perhaps around Ben Wyvis. Visibility will be ever changing with whiteout conditions likely in heavier showers and little contrast with lying snow, visibility will lift at times and become moderate or good but it will be easy to become disorientated at times.
Mountain weather information
Weather
A very cold start on Friday with a severe frost and hardening of the snowpack. Clear skies overnight will lead into a dry and bright day with sunny spells. Light northerly winds overnight will turn southerly during the early hours, with slightly milder air moving across the area. Clouding over later in the afternoon with some light rain or snow arriving from the west in the evening. Freezing level will lift towards the summits during the night.
Chance of cloud-free hill tops
90%, patchy cloud initially will lift and clear, cloud thickening in the west in the afternoon.
Maximum wind speed expected
Northerly turning southerly 10 mph, strengthening in the afternoon to 30-35mph gusts 35-40mph in the evening.
Temperature
- At 800m Minus 9 rising to Minus 2 Celsius later.
- Glen Minus 8 rising to Plus 1 Celsius later.
- Freezing level 200m lifting to 1000m later.
Low cloud and visibility
Patches of cloud around summits in the morning, lifting and clearing. Cloud forming in the afternoon mostly above summits until the evening when layers will form around summits. Excellent visibility in the morning, becoming hazier in the afternoon as cloud forms, turning moderate later as snow or sleet returns.
Mountain weather information
Sat 22 Nov
Sunrise:
Sunset:
Overnight sleet/snow clearing easy and a dry day although remaining cloudy with a lot of mist and fog and lower cloud likely. A few brighter spells, light southwesterly winds and still feeling chilly in the damp conditions. Freezing level 1200m falling to 800m later.
Sun 23 Nov
Sunrise:
Sunset:
Low confidence in forecast for Sunday but likely to be a cloudy and cold day with some hill fog around and freezing level around 800m.
Mon 24 Nov
Sunrise:
Sunset:
Continuing the cold, cloudy theme but details limited for Monday, likely to be northerly winds and a cloudy day.
Updated at:
Summit specific forecast
Mountain summit forecast map
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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