Mountain weather
Northwest Highlands Mountain weather forecast table
Confidence
Please note we are aware of an issue affecting forecast wind speeds and gusts for higher-elevation sites (typically above 500m) displayed on the Met Office website and app. The winds shown here in our Mountain Area Forecasts are not affected by this. Our teams are actively working to correct the issue and updates will be deployed as soon as possible. High confidence in a continuing southeast airflow until Monday becoming medium due to uncertainty in the detail of an approaching front on Tuesday.
This evening forecast
Cloudy and mostly dry with the occasional clear spell, but cloudy with snow showers for Sutherland. Gale southeast summit 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.
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.
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
Gales on the tops with snow showers north and east, bright spells west and south.
| 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) |
20% | 30% | 20% | 30% | 30% | 30% | 20% | 20% |
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
41
|
E
41
|
E
44
|
E
42
|
E
38
|
E
35
|
E
36
|
E
33
|
| 900m |
E
37
|
E
38
|
E
40
|
E
39
|
E
35
|
E
32
|
E
33
|
E
31
|
| 600m |
E
25
|
E
26
|
E
27
|
E
26
|
E
24
|
E
21
|
E
21
|
E
20
|
| 300m |
E
5
|
E
5
|
E
6
|
E
6
|
E
6
|
E
5
|
E
6
|
E
6
|
| Glen |
E
14
|
E
15
|
E
15
|
E
14
|
E
14
|
E
12
|
E
12
|
E
11
|
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 | 50 | 51 | 54 | 52 | 48 | 44 | 45 | 43 |
| 900m | 46 | 47 | 50 | 48 | 45 | 41 | 43 | 41 |
| 600m | 35 | 36 | 38 | 36 | 34 | 31 | 32 | 31 |
| 300m | 32 | 34 | 37 | 35 | 31 | 29 | 29 | 27 |
| Glen | 32 | 36 | 35 | 33 | 31 | 27 | 27 | 25 |
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°
|
-2°
|
-2°
|
-3°
|
-3°
|
| 900m |
-2°
|
-2°
|
-2°
|
-2°
|
-1°
|
-1°
|
-2°
|
-2°
|
| 600m |
0°
|
0°
|
1°
|
1°
|
1°
|
2°
|
0°
|
0°
|
| 300m |
2°
|
3°
|
3°
|
3°
|
4°
|
4°
|
3°
|
2°
|
| Glen |
5°
|
6°
|
6°
|
6°
|
7°
|
7°
|
6°
|
5°
|
| Freezing Level |
500m
|
600m
|
700m
|
700m
|
700m
|
700m
|
600m
|
600m
|
Altitude above mean sea level
| Time | 00:00 | 03:00 | 06:00 | 09:00 | 12:00 | 15:00 | 18:00 | 21:00 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1000m |
-14°
|
-13°
|
-12°
|
-12°
|
-12°
|
-11°
|
-12°
|
-12°
|
| 900m |
-12°
|
-11°
|
-11°
|
-11°
|
-10°
|
-10°
|
-11°
|
-11°
|
| 600m |
-8°
|
-7°
|
-7°
|
-6°
|
-5°
|
-5°
|
-6°
|
-6°
|
| 300m |
0°
|
1°
|
1°
|
1°
|
2°
|
2°
|
0°
|
0°
|
| Glen |
0°
|
1°
|
2°
|
2°
|
3°
|
4°
|
2°
|
2°
|
Additional weather information
Met Office Aberdeen meteorologist's view
Strong winds will make walking difficult, with the risk of being blown over on exposed ridges and peaks. It will feel bitterly cold from low levels in the strong wind.
Weather
Mainly dry with bright spells in the south and the west but cloudy with snow showers elsewhere. Bitterly cold conditions will continue with gales on the tops easing slightly through the day.
Chance of cloud-free hill tops
60% in the south and the west otherwise 20%.
Low cloud and visibility
Extensive cloud 600-800m becomes patchy in the south and the west. Good visibility will fall poor or very poor in cloud and blowing snow on upper slopes.
Mountain weather information
Weather
Cloudy with a few snow showers in the east but mainly dry with bright spells in the west.
Chance of cloud-free hill tops
60% lowering 20% in the east.
Maximum wind speed expected
Southeast 35-40mph gust 50-60mph.
Temperature
- At 800m Minus 1C.
- Glen Plus 3C rising plus 6C.
- Freezing level 500m.
Low cloud and visibility
Extensive cloud 600-800m in the east will be patchy in the west. Good visibility will fall poor or very poor in cloud and blowing snow on upper slopes in the east.
Mountain weather information
Tue 27 Jan
Sunrise:
Sunset:
Cloudy and cold with scattered snow showers, drier and brighter in the south. Severe gale southeast summit winds. Freezing level 600m.
Wed 28 Jan
Sunrise:
Sunset:
Cloudy with snow showers, cold. Gale southeast summit winds. Freezing level 600m rising briefly 800m in the middle of the day.
Thu 29 Jan
Sunrise:
Sunset:
Cloudy and cold with snow showers. Gale southeast summit winds. Freezing level 600m, lowering 300m later.
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