Mountain weather
Northwest Highlands Mountain weather forecast table
Confidence
High for unsettled, often cold east or southeasterly airstream through the weekend. Lower for details, and for the general weather early next week.
This evening forecast
The Sutherland and Easter Ross overcast with widespread hill fog and occasional mainly light rain and hill snow, more persistent over Ben Hopeo and Ben Loyal with the snow above 300m. Elsewhere, while mainly cloudy with some hill fog, other than the odd light flurry it will be mainly dry, with a few clear intervals towards Skye. Strong to gale easterly winds, severe summit gales.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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
Mostly cloudy in north and east of area with hill fog, and some outbreaks of rain and hill snow, but the west coast and island ranges dry with occasional breaks in the cloud allowing sunny intervals. Easterly gales.
| 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% | 30% | 30% | 40% | 30% | 40% | 40% | 30% |
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 |
E
56
|
E
55
|
E
53
|
E
52
|
E
45
|
E
45
|
E
43
|
E
42
|
| 900m |
E
52
|
E
51
|
E
49
|
E
48
|
E
42
|
E
42
|
E
41
|
E
41
|
| 600m |
E
33
|
E
31
|
E
31
|
E
31
|
E
25
|
E
26
|
E
25
|
E
25
|
| 300m |
E
10
|
E
10
|
E
10
|
E
9
|
E
8
|
E
10
|
E
11
|
E
10
|
| Glen |
E
16
|
E
12
|
E
14
|
E
9
|
E
14
|
E
18
|
E
19
|
E
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 | 67 | 67 | 64 | 62 | 55 | 56 | 55 | 54 |
| 900m | 63 | 62 | 60 | 58 | 52 | 53 | 52 | 52 |
| 600m | 47 | 45 | 45 | 43 | 36 | 40 | 40 | 40 |
| 300m | 43 | 42 | 41 | 41 | 37 | 36 | 34 | 33 |
| Glen | 38 | 32 | 35 | 29 | 33 | 37 | 38 | 37 |
Altitude above mean sea level
| Time | 00:00 | 03:00 | 06:00 | 09:00 | 12:00 | 15:00 | 18:00 | 21:00 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1000m |
-5°
|
-5°
|
-5°
|
-6°
|
-5°
|
-5°
|
-5°
|
-4°
|
| 900m |
-4°
|
-4°
|
-4°
|
-5°
|
-4°
|
-4°
|
-4°
|
-4°
|
| 600m |
-2°
|
-2°
|
-2°
|
-2°
|
-2°
|
-1°
|
-1°
|
-1°
|
| 300m |
1°
|
1°
|
1°
|
1°
|
1°
|
2°
|
1°
|
2°
|
| Glen |
4°
|
4°
|
4°
|
4°
|
4°
|
4°
|
4°
|
4°
|
| Freezing Level |
300m
|
300m
|
300m
|
200m
|
300m
|
300m
|
400m
|
400m
|
Altitude above mean sea level
| Time | 00:00 | 03:00 | 06:00 | 09:00 | 12:00 | 15:00 | 18:00 | 21:00 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1000m |
-18°
|
-18°
|
-18°
|
-18°
|
-17°
|
-16°
|
-16°
|
-15°
|
| 900m |
-16°
|
-16°
|
-16°
|
-16°
|
-15°
|
-15°
|
-14°
|
-14°
|
| 600m |
-10°
|
-10°
|
-10°
|
-11°
|
-10°
|
-9°
|
-9°
|
-9°
|
| 300m |
-3°
|
-3°
|
-3°
|
-3°
|
-2°
|
-3°
|
-3°
|
-3°
|
| Glen |
-1°
|
0°
|
-1°
|
0°
|
0°
|
0°
|
-1°
|
-1°
|
Additional weather information
Met Office Aberdeen meteorologist's view
Note the very low feels like temperatures
Weather
Mostly cloudy in north and east of area with hill fog, and some outbreaks of rain and hill snow, but the west coast and island ranges dry with occasional breaks in the cloud allowing sunny intervals, the snow above 300m lifting to 400m later.
Chance of cloud-free hill tops
Ranging from little chance in Sutherland and around Ben Wyvis to 80% over Skye and west coast.
Low cloud and visibility
Extensive cloud at 600-750m in the north and east, bases higher and often broken over the sheltered parts of the west coast and isles at 900m. Visibility away from cloud occasionally poor in rain, drizzle or snow, but mainly good on the west coast.
Mountain weather information
Weather
Mainly cloudy with some outbreaks of rain, with snow above 600m, mainly light but quite heavy in morning around Ben Wyvis. In the afternoon rain turning light and patchy, snow becoming confined to above 900m, and a few sunny intervals should break through in Wester Ross.
Chance of cloud-free hill tops
10% for most but 50% in southwest
Maximum wind speed expected
Southeasterly 30 gusts 45mph
Temperature
- At 800m Minus 1 rising to Plus 2 Celsius
- Glen Plus 4 rising to Plus 6 Celsius
- Freezing level 700m rising to 1000m
Low cloud and visibility
Extensive cloud at 500-750m but bases nearer 900m in southwest and occasionally broken in the afternoon. Away from hill fog due to cloud, some poor morning visibility in rain and snow especially in Easter Ross, becoming mainly good away from any lighter patches left over in the afternoon especially in the southwest.
Mountain weather information
Sun 8 Feb
Sunrise:
Sunset:
Cloudy with further rain, mainly light and occasional but some heavier outbreaks possible in Easter Ross, with snow above 700m. Fresh southeasterly winds.
Mon 9 Feb
Sunrise:
Sunset:
Rather cloudy with patchy rain but some drier brighter interludes. Snow above 900m. Fresh southerly winds.
Tue 10 Feb
Sunrise:
Sunset:
A return to southeasterly winds and occasional rain more persistent in the east of the area with snow restricted to the very highest summits.
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