Mountain weather
Northwest Highlands Mountain weather forecast table
Confidence
Low for extent of precipitation on Tuesday. High for changeable for the rest of the week.
This evening forecast
Apart from the odd shower it will be largely dry. Patchy cloud above 800 metres across the west of the area. Strong to gale southwesterly summit winds.
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.
Storm Force Winds
Storm force winds (gusts over 70mph) make walking very strenuous with any mobility virtually impossible over exposed ground. Where these conditions occur there is a high risk of being blown over and even standing may be impossible at times with a risk of being blown off one’s feet. Basic tasks such as using a map, eating, putting on extra clothing or communication become extremely difficult away from any shelter.
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
Mostly cloudy with a few showers, mainly in the southwest. Windy.
| 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) |
20% | 50% | 40% | 40% | 30% | 30% | >95% | 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 |
S
40
|
S
41
|
S
42
|
SW
37
|
S
36
|
S
38
|
S
44
|
S
52
|
| 900m |
S
36
|
S
36
|
S
37
|
SW
36
|
S
34
|
S
35
|
S
41
|
S
48
|
| 600m |
S
23
|
S
23
|
S
23
|
SW
24
|
S
25
|
S
25
|
S
29
|
S
32
|
| 300m |
SW
3
|
SW
4
|
S
5
|
SW
7
|
SW
8
|
S
6
|
S
8
|
S
9
|
| Glen |
SW
9
|
S
10
|
S
12
|
S
11
|
S
10
|
S
11
|
S
14
|
S
18
|
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 | 47 | 48 | 50 | 45 | 45 | 47 | 55 | 64 |
| 900m | 44 | 44 | 45 | 44 | 43 | 44 | 51 | 60 |
| 600m | 31 | 31 | 32 | 32 | 33 | 34 | 40 | 45 |
| 300m | 27 | 26 | 29 | 28 | 28 | 30 | 35 | 43 |
| Glen | 24 | 27 | 28 | 24 | 22 | 26 | 32 | 39 |
Altitude above mean sea level
| Time | 00:00 | 03:00 | 06:00 | 09:00 | 12:00 | 15:00 | 18:00 | 21:00 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1000m |
-2°
|
-2°
|
-1°
|
0°
|
1°
|
1°
|
2°
|
2°
|
| 900m |
-1°
|
-1°
|
0°
|
1°
|
2°
|
2°
|
3°
|
3°
|
| 600m |
2°
|
2°
|
2°
|
3°
|
4°
|
5°
|
5°
|
5°
|
| 300m |
4°
|
4°
|
4°
|
5°
|
6°
|
7°
|
7°
|
7°
|
| Glen |
7°
|
7°
|
6°
|
7°
|
8°
|
10°
|
10°
|
10°
|
| Freezing Level |
800m
|
800m
|
1,200m
|
1,200m
|
1,200m
|
1,200m
|
1,300m
|
1,500m
|
Altitude above mean sea level
| Time | 00:00 | 03:00 | 06:00 | 09:00 | 12:00 | 15:00 | 18:00 | 21:00 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1000m |
-11°
|
-11°
|
-10°
|
-8°
|
-7°
|
-7°
|
-7°
|
-6°
|
| 900m |
-9°
|
-10°
|
-8°
|
-7°
|
-6°
|
-5°
|
-5°
|
-5°
|
| 600m |
-4°
|
-5°
|
-4°
|
-3°
|
-2°
|
-1°
|
-1°
|
-1°
|
| 300m |
2°
|
2°
|
2°
|
2°
|
4°
|
6°
|
5°
|
5°
|
| Glen |
4°
|
4°
|
2°
|
4°
|
6°
|
7°
|
7°
|
6°
|
Additional weather information
Met Office Aberdeen meteorologist's view
Be prepared for summit gales and speeds will reach 70 mph on the highest tops in the evening. Progress will be slow with a risk of being blown over.
Weather
A mostly cloudy with outbreaks of rain or higher summit sleet or snow at first, this becoming confined to western coastal ranges by late morning. Mainly dry in the afternoon but still a few showers in the west. Persistent and heavy rain will reach Skye by late afternoon and sweep eastwards through the evening. Drier from late evening with wintry showers following on behind.
Chance of cloud-free hill tops
50%, best chance in the afternoon away from the west coast
Low cloud and visibility
Poor in areas of cloud down to 500 to 800 metres, and as low as 300 metres across Skye and northern Lochaber at first. Cloud lifting and breaking through the afternoon to patches around 800 metres but hill fog still likely to linger across Skye and northern Lochaber. Hill fog becoming widespread as rain crosses from the west in the evening.
Mountain weather information
Weather
A very windy day and cold day with frequent showers or sleet, snow or hail, heavy at times. Some longer spells of precipitation likely at first. West or southwesterly gale or severe gale summit winds.
Chance of cloud-free hill tops
40%
Maximum wind speed expected
Westerly average speeds of 40 mph with gusts to 60 mph on the higher tops
Temperature
- At 800m 0 Celsius
- Glen Plus 2 rising to 8 Celsius
- Freezing level 800 metres
Low cloud and visibility
Poor in areas of cloud down to 700 to 900 metres, cloud base lowest first thing. Cloud tending to become more broken by afternoon
Mountain weather information
Thu 12 Mar
Sunrise:
Sunset:
A brief period of heavy rain and higher summit snow will cross eastwards in the early hours. Then the rest of the day will see frequent and heavy snow or hail showers. Very windy with southwesterly summit gales. Freezing level 1200 metres falling to 600 metres.
Fri 13 Mar
Sunrise:
Sunset:
Cold and unsettled with frequent snow showers, most frequent across the west. Freezing level 300 rising to 800 metres.
Sat 14 Mar
Sunrise:
Sunset:
Wintry showers in the morning, dying out through the afternoon. Strong summit northwesterly winds. Freezing level 800 metres.
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