Mountain weather
Northwest Highlands Mountain weather forecast table
Confidence
High for unsettled weather on Sunday and Monday. High for a change to dry conditions on Tuesday and Wednesday. Low for detail on Thursday.
This evening forecast
Dry at first but some patchy snow spreading northeastwards. Strengthening southerly winds. Freezing level 500 metres.
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.
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.
Mountain weather forecast
Rain and snow in the morning, drier in the afternoon. 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) |
30% | 20% | 20% | >95% | 30% | 50% | 60% | 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
34
|
S
31
|
SE
32
|
SE
34
|
S
41
|
S
41
|
S
41
|
S
43
|
| 900m |
S
31
|
S
29
|
SE
29
|
SE
29
|
S
38
|
S
38
|
S
39
|
S
39
|
| 600m |
S
17
|
S
16
|
S
18
|
SE
20
|
S
23
|
S
22
|
S
21
|
S
26
|
| 300m |
S
2
|
S
2
|
SE
2
|
SE
3
|
S
5
|
S
5
|
S
3
|
S
5
|
| Glen |
SE
5
|
SE
6
|
SE
8
|
SE
7
|
S
10
|
S
9
|
SE
10
|
S
14
|
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 | 40 | 38 | 38 | 41 | 50 | 52 | 52 | 53 |
| 900m | 37 | 35 | 34 | 36 | 46 | 49 | 49 | 49 |
| 600m | 24 | 24 | 25 | 27 | 33 | 30 | 28 | 36 |
| 300m | 20 | 20 | 20 | 20 | 28 | 26 | 26 | 33 |
| Glen | 18 | 18 | 20 | 22 | 25 | 22 | 26 | 33 |
Altitude above mean sea level
| Time | 00:00 | 03:00 | 06:00 | 09:00 | 12:00 | 15:00 | 18:00 | 21:00 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1000m |
-3°
|
-2°
|
-2°
|
-2°
|
0°
|
2°
|
3°
|
3°
|
| 900m |
-2°
|
-2°
|
-1°
|
-1°
|
1°
|
2°
|
3°
|
4°
|
| 600m |
0°
|
1°
|
1°
|
2°
|
3°
|
5°
|
6°
|
6°
|
| 300m |
2°
|
3°
|
3°
|
4°
|
6°
|
7°
|
7°
|
8°
|
| Glen |
5°
|
5°
|
6°
|
6°
|
8°
|
10°
|
10°
|
10°
|
| Freezing Level |
500m
|
700m
|
700m
|
800m
|
1,500m
|
1,300m
|
1,700m
|
1,800m
|
Altitude above mean sea level
| Time | 00:00 | 03:00 | 06:00 | 09:00 | 12:00 | 15:00 | 18:00 | 21:00 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1000m |
-12°
|
-11°
|
-11°
|
-11°
|
-8°
|
-6°
|
-5°
|
-4°
|
| 900m |
-11°
|
-10°
|
-10°
|
-9°
|
-7°
|
-4°
|
-3°
|
-3°
|
| 600m |
-6°
|
-5°
|
-5°
|
-4°
|
-3°
|
0°
|
1°
|
1°
|
| 300m |
1°
|
1°
|
2°
|
2°
|
4°
|
6°
|
6°
|
6°
|
| Glen |
3°
|
3°
|
3°
|
4°
|
5°
|
8°
|
8°
|
8°
|
Additional weather information
Met Office Aberdeen meteorologist's view
Increasingly windy through day with summit gales. Wind speeds will reach 70 mph across the higher tops in the evening. Progress will be slow with a risk of being blown over. Note rising freezing level through the afternoon.
Weather
The first part of the morning period will be largely dry with a few coastal sleet or snow showers. More in the way of widespread rain, preceded by snow, will spread northeast from mid-morning. Becoming drier in the afternoon. However further rain will reach the south of the area from late afternoon onwards, but remaining drier in the north.
Chance of cloud-free hill tops
50%, best chance across the north and east of the region
Low cloud and visibility
Poor in areas of cloud down to 700 to 900 metres, cloud most persistent, lowest and extensive across the Cuillins and the south of the area. Cloud more broken across Caithness, Sutherland and around Ben Wyvis.
Mountain weather information
Weather
Rain at first will turn to snow before clearing soon after dawn. Then dry before some showery snow spreads from the northwest through the afternoon, this dying out in the evening. Windy with severe wind chill on the tops.
Chance of cloud-free hill tops
70%
Maximum wind speed expected
Southwesterly winds average speeds of 30 mph gusts to 50 mph in the higher summits
Temperature
- At 800m Plus 6 falling to 2 Celsius, then -1 Celsius after dark
- Glen Plus 3 rising to 8 Celsius
- Freezing level Above the summits at first, falling to 900 metres, then 600 metres after dark.
Low cloud and visibility
Poor in areas of cloud down to 700 metres in early precipitation. Then becoming excellent with only small amounts of cloud above 900 metres. Cloud becoming more widespread down to 750 metres as showers develop in the afternoon.
Mountain weather information
Tue 3 Mar
Sunrise:
Sunset:
Dry and cold with plenty of sunshine. Light winds.
Wed 4 Mar
Sunrise:
Sunset:
Mainly dry with variable amounts of cloud.
Thu 5 Mar
Sunrise:
Sunset:
Likely to become unsettled with spells of rain or higher summit snow.
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