Mountain weather
Northwest Highlands Mountain weather forecast table
Confidence
High confidence for extremely cold conditions to be setting in from Thursday with drifting accumulations of snow likely at all levels.
This evening forecast
A dry evening with some clear spells at first before cloud increases later. Light northwest winds.
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.
Mountain weather forecast
Mainly cloudy with showery outbreaks of rain and summit snow. Winds strengthening with severe gales at height in the afternoon.
| 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) |
<05% | <05% | <05% | 40% | 60% | 60% | 30% | 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 |
W
16
|
W
20
|
W
25
|
W
30
|
W
35
|
W
37
|
W
40
|
W
40
|
| 900m |
W
15
|
W
20
|
W
25
|
W
29
|
W
33
|
W
35
|
W
38
|
W
38
|
| 600m |
W
8
|
SW
12
|
W
14
|
SW
16
|
W
21
|
W
23
|
W
25
|
W
25
|
| 300m |
W
5
|
W
5
|
W
5
|
W
5
|
W
7
|
W
10
|
W
11
|
W
12
|
| Glen |
W
2
|
W
3
|
SW
2
|
NW
5
|
W
9
|
W
12
|
W
15
|
W
17
|
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 | 19 | 25 | 32 | 39 | 44 | 48 | 52 | 53 |
| 900m | 18 | 25 | 33 | 38 | 43 | 46 | 50 | 50 |
| 600m | 11 | 17 | 22 | 24 | 31 | 34 | 38 | 38 |
| 300m | 13 | 17 | 20 | 24 | 28 | 33 | 36 | 37 |
| Glen | 4 | 6 | 7 | 10 | 23 | 26 | 30 | 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°
|
-3°
|
-2°
|
-2°
|
-1°
|
-1°
|
-2°
|
-2°
|
| 900m |
-2°
|
-2°
|
-2°
|
-1°
|
0°
|
0°
|
-1°
|
-1°
|
| 600m |
0°
|
0°
|
0°
|
1°
|
2°
|
2°
|
2°
|
1°
|
| 300m |
0°
|
0°
|
1°
|
2°
|
4°
|
4°
|
4°
|
3°
|
| Glen |
1°
|
2°
|
3°
|
5°
|
6°
|
6°
|
6°
|
6°
|
| Freezing Level |
400m
|
400m
|
500m
|
800m
|
1,000m
|
900m
|
800m
|
800m
|
Altitude above mean sea level
| Time | 00:00 | 03:00 | 06:00 | 09:00 | 12:00 | 15:00 | 18:00 | 21:00 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1000m |
-10°
|
-10°
|
-10°
|
-11°
|
-10°
|
-10°
|
-11°
|
-11°
|
| 900m |
-9°
|
-9°
|
-10°
|
-10°
|
-9°
|
-9°
|
-10°
|
-10°
|
| 600m |
-5°
|
-5°
|
-5°
|
-5°
|
-4°
|
-4°
|
-5°
|
-6°
|
| 300m |
-3°
|
-2°
|
-1°
|
0°
|
1°
|
1°
|
0°
|
-1°
|
| Glen |
-1°
|
1°
|
1°
|
3°
|
3°
|
3°
|
2°
|
2°
|
Additional weather information
Met Office Aberdeen meteorologist's view
Very difficult walking conditions at height, especially in the afternoon with a significant risk of being blown over. Be prepared for sudden increases in wind on lee slopes.
Weather
Mainly cloudy with outbreaks of light rain, falling as snow above 800m. Further showery outbreaks of rain expected for the evening, these turning increasingly wintry to lower levels through the night. Bitterly cold with winds becoming strong on upper slopes and severe gales on summits by the evening.
Chance of cloud-free hill tops
30% decreasing to 10%.
Low cloud and visibility
Cloud around 800-1000m to start the day, thickening and occasionally lowering slightly in outbreaks of rain, sleet and hill snow. Visibility will be generally good below cloud bases but perhaps deteriorating to a couple of kilometres or less in sleet and snow.
Mountain weather information
Weather
A bitterly cold and windy day with frequent showers falling as snow and hail down to low levels and with drifting accumulations.
Chance of cloud-free hill tops
30%
Maximum wind speed expected
Northwest 30-40mph, gusting to 50-55mph on the summits.
Temperature
- At 800m Minus 2 decreasing minus 5 Celsius.
- Glen Plus 1 decreasing minus 2 Celsius.
- Freezing level 400m falling to the surface in the afternoon.
Low cloud and visibility
Generally good visibility, but quickly deteriorating poor or very poor in snow showers with cloud bases 700-900m or perhaps lower at times.
Mountain weather information
Fri 2 Jan
Sunrise:
Sunset:
Bitterly cold with sunny spells and snow or hail showers falling and accumulating at all levels.
Sat 3 Jan
Sunrise:
Sunset:
Remaining very cold with strong winds and snow or hail showers accumulating at all levels and extreme wind chill at height.
Sun 4 Jan
Sunrise:
Sunset:
Another severely cold day with sunny spells and snow or hail showers accumulating at all levels. Strong 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