Northwest Highlands Mountain weather forecast table
Confidence
High for changeable, wetter and less cold conditions, lower for daily details especially on Tuesday.
This evening forecast
The evening will be cloudy with occasional rain, with sleet or snow above 500m rising 800m on west coast. There will also be some hill fog. Drier clearer conditions reaching the west coast and island ranges before midnight. Fresh to strong southerly winds veering southwesterly, gales over Skye.
Mountain weather hazards
Hazards apply at or above 300m, reflecting the more severe conditions which can occur at altitude.
Gales
Severe Chill Effect
Poor Visibility
Blizzards
Heavy Persistent Snow
Thunderstorms
Heavy Persistent Rain
Strong Sunlight
Mountain weather forecast
Heavy rain and hill snow soon turning showery but some showers heavy, snow becoming confined to higher tops. Strong to gale force winds.
| 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% | 50% | 80% | 80% | 50% | 40% | 40% | 40% |
| Time | 00:00 | 03:00 | 06:00 | 09:00 | 12:00 | 15:00 | 18:00 | 21:00 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1000m |
SW
34
|
SW
34
|
S
32
|
S
38
|
SW
36
|
SW
31
|
SW
32
|
SW
30
|
| 900m |
SW
33
|
SW
32
|
S
28
|
S
35
|
SW
34
|
SW
29
|
SW
30
|
SW
29
|
| 600m |
SW
21
|
SW
20
|
S
18
|
S
22
|
SW
23
|
SW
19
|
SW
20
|
SW
19
|
| 300m |
SW
5
|
SW
4
|
S
4
|
S
4
|
SW
9
|
SW
7
|
SW
7
|
SW
7
|
| Glen |
S
9
|
S
9
|
S
11
|
S
12
|
SW
13
|
SW
11
|
SW
11
|
SW
10
|
| Time | 00:00 | 03:00 | 06:00 | 09:00 | 12:00 | 15:00 | 18:00 | 21:00 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1000m | 43 | 43 | 40 | 47 | 47 | 41 | 43 | 41 |
| 900m | 42 | 41 | 36 | 44 | 45 | 38 | 41 | 39 |
| 600m | 31 | 30 | 27 | 32 | 35 | 28 | 30 | 30 |
| 300m | 26 | 26 | 23 | 28 | 32 | 26 | 27 | 26 |
| Glen | 23 | 23 | 26 | 29 | 27 | 25 | 25 | 23 |
| Time | 00:00 | 03:00 | 06:00 | 09:00 | 12:00 | 15:00 | 18:00 | 21:00 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1000m |
-1°
|
-2°
|
-2°
|
-2°
|
1°
|
0°
|
0°
|
0°
|
| 900m |
-1°
|
-1°
|
-1°
|
-1°
|
2°
|
1°
|
1°
|
1°
|
| 600m |
2°
|
2°
|
1°
|
1°
|
4°
|
3°
|
3°
|
3°
|
| 300m |
3°
|
4°
|
2°
|
3°
|
6°
|
6°
|
5°
|
5°
|
| Glen |
6°
|
6°
|
6°
|
6°
|
9°
|
9°
|
8°
|
8°
|
| Freezing Level |
900m
|
800m
|
700m
|
1,100m
|
1,200m
|
1,100m
|
1,100m
|
1,100m
|
| Time | 00:00 | 03:00 | 06:00 | 09:00 | 12:00 | 15:00 | 18:00 | 21:00 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1000m |
-10°
|
-10°
|
-11°
|
-10°
|
-7°
|
-7°
|
-8°
|
-8°
|
| 900m |
-9°
|
-9°
|
-9°
|
-9°
|
-6°
|
-6°
|
-6°
|
-6°
|
| 600m |
-4°
|
-5°
|
-5°
|
-5°
|
-2°
|
-2°
|
-2°
|
-2°
|
| 300m |
1°
|
1°
|
0°
|
1°
|
3°
|
3°
|
3°
|
2°
|
| Glen |
3°
|
3°
|
2°
|
2°
|
6°
|
6°
|
5°
|
5°
|
Additional weather information
Met Office Aberdeen meteorologist's view
Summit gusts of 50-60mph possible.
Weather
Starting mainly dry in early hours, or with some light rain and hill snow, but heavier and more persistent rain with snow above 500-600m late in the night and for a time in the morning with brief summit blizzards. The snow level rising to 900m or above by mid morning then the rain turning more showery in the afternoon with some drier brighter interludes with a few sunny intervals possible. Some showers heavy with a small chance of lightning. Further showers in the evening, occasionally heavy, snow on highest summits.
Chance of cloud-free hill tops
10% in morning rising 30% during the afternoon
Low cloud and visibility
Extensive cloud at 400-600m in morning with poor visibility in rain and snow, then cloud lifting 750-900m in afternoon with patches to 600m in showers. Visibility then improving to good away from cloud and showers, occasionally poor in further showers.
Mountain weather information
Weather
Showers in early hours giving way to more persistent rain in the morning, preceded by summit snow before freezing levels rise above summits during the morning. Rain persistent and heavy at times. Turning somewhat clearer from mid evening with passing showers reverting to snow above 900m.
Chance of cloud-free hill tops
10-20%, rising 40% late evening.
Maximum wind speed expected
West to southwest 25 gusts 35mph in morning increasing 40 gusts 60mph during the afternoon and evening.
Temperature
- At 800m Plus 2 rising to Plus 6 Celsius, falling Plus 3 in evening.
- Glen Plus 7 rising to Plus 10 Celsius, falling Plus 7 in evening
- Freezing level 900-1000m rising above the summits in morning, falling back to 900m late evening..
Low cloud and visibility
Extensive cloud, bases 450-600m with patches to 300m near west coast. Below cloud, visibility moderate to poor in rain. Late evening low cloud breaking and lifting 750-900m with visibility becoming good away from showers.
Mountain weather information
Sun 22 Feb
Mainly cloudy with frequent showers, heavy and perhaps thundery, with snow above 800m, gale to severe gale southwesterly winds.
Mon 23 Feb
Bright spells and passing showers, falling as snow above 800m. Strong westerly winds.
Tue 24 Feb
Low confidence, but likely cloudy with occasional rain, which could be heavy and persistent, with hill fog and strong southwesterly winds.
Summit specific forecast
Mountain summit forecast map
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