Mountain weather
Northwest Highlands Mountain weather forecast table
Confidence
High confidence in the overall evolution to much colder and windier conditions by the second half of this week and with drifting accumulations of snow likely at all levels by Friday.
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.
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
Dry and cold with sunny spells and some patchy cloud around summit level.
| Time | 06:00 | 09:00 | 12:00 | 15:00 | 18:00 | 21:00 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Weather (at 800m) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Chance of precipitation (at 800m) |
10% | <05% | <05% | <05% | <05% | <05% |
Wind direction and speed (mph)
Altitude above mean sea level
| Time | 06:00 | 09:00 | 12:00 | 15:00 | 18:00 | 21:00 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1000m |
E
13
|
E
9
|
SE
6
|
W
9
|
W
14
|
W
17
|
| 900m |
E
13
|
E
9
|
SE
4
|
W
8
|
W
14
|
W
16
|
| 600m |
E
7
|
E
5
|
SE
3
|
W
4
|
W
7
|
W
8
|
| 300m |
E
4
|
E
4
|
E
1
|
NW
2
|
NW
7
|
W
7
|
| Glen |
E
7
|
E
6
|
E
1
|
NW
2
|
NW
3
|
NW
3
|
Wind gust (mph)
Altitude above mean sea level
| Time | 06:00 | 09:00 | 12:00 | 15:00 | 18:00 | 21:00 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1000m | 16 | 11 | 7 | 11 | 18 | 20 |
| 900m | 16 | 11 | 5 | 9 | 17 | 18 |
| 600m | 10 | 7 | 4 | 5 | 10 | 10 |
| 300m | 12 | 10 | 3 | 7 | 13 | 14 |
| Glen | 12 | 9 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 |
Altitude above mean sea level
| Time | 06:00 | 09:00 | 12:00 | 15:00 | 18:00 | 21:00 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1000m |
-4°
|
-3°
|
-3°
|
-3°
|
-4°
|
-3°
|
| 900m |
-3°
|
-3°
|
-3°
|
-3°
|
-3°
|
-3°
|
| 600m |
-1°
|
-1°
|
-1°
|
-1°
|
-1°
|
-1°
|
| 300m |
0°
|
-1°
|
0°
|
0°
|
0°
|
0°
|
| Glen |
2°
|
2°
|
1°
|
1°
|
1°
|
2°
|
| Freezing Level |
100m
|
100m
|
200m
|
200m
|
200m
|
300m
|
Altitude above mean sea level
| Time | 06:00 | 09:00 | 12:00 | 15:00 | 18:00 | 21:00 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1000m |
-10°
|
-8°
|
-7°
|
-8°
|
-10°
|
-10°
|
| 900m |
-9°
|
-8°
|
-5°
|
-7°
|
-9°
|
-9°
|
| 600m |
-5°
|
-4°
|
-3°
|
-3°
|
-5°
|
-5°
|
| 300m |
-2°
|
-3°
|
-1°
|
-2°
|
-4°
|
-4°
|
| Glen |
-2°
|
-1°
|
0°
|
-1°
|
0°
|
0°
|
Additional weather information
Met Office Aberdeen meteorologist's view
A decent winter day in the mountains but note generally sub zero temperatures at all levels and a significant windchill at height.
Weather
During the day it will be dry and cold with some patchy hill fog but sunny spells too, especially across the south of the area. Winds generally light, but moderate to fresh at height and strengthening in the evening.
Chance of cloud-free hill tops
80%
Low cloud and visibility
A few patches of cloud around 1000m, mainly across northern ranges. Visibility will be excellent outside of cloud and any low level mist or fog patches.
Mountain weather information
Weather
A bright start but becoming rather cloudy with an increasing risk of showery outbreaks of rain through the day, these falling as snow above 1000m and becoming heavier for a time in the evening. Winds becoming strong at height through the afternoon bringing a bitterly cold wind chill.
Chance of cloud-free hill tops
40% at first, decreasing to 10% by the evening.
Maximum wind speed expected
Gusting to around 50mph by evening.
Temperature
- At 800m Minus 3 rising Plus 1 Celsius.
- Glen Minus 1 rising Plus 4 Celsius.
- Freezing level Surface to 200m at first, rising to 1000m.
Low cloud and visibility
Patches of cloud around 800-1000m during the morning becoming more extensive. Visibility will be generally good, but deteriorating to a few kilometres or less in showers especially later in the day.
Mountain weather information
Thu 1 Jan
Sunrise:
Sunset:
A bitterly cold day with frequent showers, increasingly falling as snow to lower levels through the day. Strong winds with gales at height.
Fri 2 Jan
Sunrise:
Sunset:
Frequent snow showers at all levels with drifting accumulations. Sub zero temperatures and gales making it feel bitterly cold.
Sat 3 Jan
Sunrise:
Sunset:
Remaining bitterly cold with snow showers at all levels. Strong to gale force winds at height.
Updated at:
Summit specific forecast
Mountain summit forecast map
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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