Mountain weather

Northwest Highlands

Northwest Highlands Mountain weather forecast table

Confidence

High confidence in the changeable and rather unsettled conditions during the next 5 days. Some uncertainty on details in the outlook period.

Sunrise:
Sunset:

This evening forecast

Turning overcast with misty low cloud and drizzle pushing in from the west. Gales or severe gales on summits

Sunrise:
Sunset:
Mountain hazards

Mountain weather hazards

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

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.

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.

Mountain weather forecast

Rather cloudy with outbreaks of rain or showers. Windy.

Time 00:00 03:00 06:00 09:00 12:00 15:00 18:00 21:00
Weather
(at 800m)
Heavy rain Heavy rain Heavy rain Heavy rain Heavy rain Light rain Light rain Light rain
Chance of precipitation
(at 800m)
60% 60% 60% 60% 60% 60% 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 W
32
SW
31
SW
27
W
26
W
24
W
23
W
20
W
19
900m W
30
SW
29
SW
26
W
25
W
23
W
22
W
20
W
19
600m W
20
SW
20
SW
18
W
18
W
17
W
16
W
14
W
13
300m W
6
SW
8
SW
7
W
8
W
8
W
8
W
8
W
7
Glen SW
11
SW
11
SW
10
W
11
W
11
W
12
W
10
W
7
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 38 34 33 31 30 27 25
900m 37 37 32 32 30 29 26 24
600m 27 28 25 25 24 23 20 19
300m 26 27 24 24 24 23 20 17
Glen 22 23 20 21 20 22 18 14

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
10°
10°
10°
11°
11°
11°
10°
Glen
12°
12°
12°
13°
13°
13°
13°
12°
Freezing Level
1,800m
2,000m
2,000m
1,900m
1,900m
2,000m
2,000m
2,000m

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

Additional weather information

Met Office Aberdeen meteorologist's view

Notable wind chill on summits. Gusts of 30-40mph at height will make for fairly arduous walking on exposed terrain with buffeting of clothing. Balance may be affected at times.

Weather

A cloudy morning with outbreaks of rain, perhaps heavy at times. Rain turning showery into the afternoon with some brighter spells but still a good deal of cloud around.

Chance of cloud-free hill tops

20% rising to 50%.

Low cloud and visibility

Cloud bases down to 600-700m at first in the morning. Bases then rising up to around 800-900m in the afternoon with a few breaks in the low cloud at times. Visibility will be good below cloud bases but occasionally deteriorating to a few kilometres in rain or showers.

Sunrise:
Sunset:

Mountain weather information

Weather

A mainly cloudy but bright day with some sunnier spells developing in the afternoon. Most places will stay dry however a few drizzly showers are possible for a time.

Chance of cloud-free hill tops

80%, but 30% early and late.

Maximum wind speed expected

Increasing to gusting 15-20mph on exposed summits and ridges through the afternoon.

Temperature

  • At 800m Plus 10 rising 13 Celsius.
  • Glen Plus 11 rising 17 Celsius.
  • Freezing level Above summits.

Low cloud and visibility

Areas of low cloud to start the day with bases 700-800m, these gradually lifting to above most summits in the afternoon. Cloud bases lower down to 800m again during the evening. Visibility will be generally good but perhaps falling to a few kilometres in drizzly showers.

Mountain weather information

Thu 26 Jun

Sunrise:
Sunset:

Rather cloudy with outbreaks of rain early and late, occasionally heavy. Fresh to strong summit winds.

Fri 27 Jun

Sunrise:
Sunset:

Variable cloud amounts and showery outbreaks of rain. Fresh to strong summit winds.

Sat 28 Jun

Sunrise:
Sunset:

Bright with a few sunny spells and scattered showers. Strong summit winds.

Updated at:

Summit specific forecast

Mountain summit forecast map

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