Mountain weather
Northwest Highlands Mountain weather forecast table
Confidence
An unsettled week with a lot of uncertainty in the forecast towards the weekend. Showery at times on Tuesday and Wednesday with periods of strong winds. Freezing level mainly above 800m so any snow accumulations confined to high levels.
This evening forecast
A few showers during the evening, falling as snow above 800m, mist and fog forming easily in light winds.
Mountain weather hazards
Hazards apply at or above 300m, reflecting the more severe conditions which can occur at altitude.
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.
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
A cloudy day with scattered snow showers, perhaps some brighter spells in the east. Strengthening southwesterly 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) |
60% | 70% | 70% | 50% | 50% | 50% | 60% | 50% |
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 |
SE
14
|
S
20
|
S
26
|
S
31
|
S
37
|
S
38
|
S
36
|
S
36
|
| 900m |
SE
13
|
S
18
|
S
24
|
S
29
|
S
34
|
S
35
|
S
34
|
S
34
|
| 600m |
S
10
|
S
12
|
S
15
|
S
19
|
S
23
|
S
25
|
S
23
|
S
22
|
| 300m |
SE
3
|
S
2
|
S
3
|
S
6
|
S
8
|
S
9
|
S
8
|
S
8
|
| Glen |
SE
7
|
S
4
|
S
6
|
S
10
|
S
13
|
S
16
|
S
13
|
S
13
|
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 | 17 | 25 | 31 | 38 | 47 | 48 | 46 | 46 |
| 900m | 16 | 23 | 29 | 37 | 44 | 45 | 44 | 44 |
| 600m | 13 | 16 | 21 | 27 | 33 | 35 | 33 | 32 |
| 300m | 9 | 12 | 17 | 24 | 30 | 33 | 31 | 29 |
| Glen | 10 | 11 | 16 | 23 | 28 | 32 | 28 | 28 |
Altitude above mean sea level
| Time | 00:00 | 03:00 | 06:00 | 09:00 | 12:00 | 15:00 | 18:00 | 21:00 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1000m |
-1°
|
-1°
|
-1°
|
-1°
|
-1°
|
-1°
|
-1°
|
-1°
|
| 900m |
0°
|
-1°
|
0°
|
0°
|
0°
|
0°
|
0°
|
0°
|
| 600m |
2°
|
1°
|
2°
|
2°
|
2°
|
2°
|
2°
|
2°
|
| 300m |
2°
|
3°
|
3°
|
3°
|
4°
|
4°
|
4°
|
4°
|
| Glen |
6°
|
6°
|
6°
|
6°
|
7°
|
7°
|
7°
|
7°
|
| Freezing Level |
900m
|
900m
|
900m
|
900m
|
900m
|
1,000m
|
1,000m
|
1,000m
|
Altitude above mean sea level
| Time | 00:00 | 03:00 | 06:00 | 09:00 | 12:00 | 15:00 | 18:00 | 21:00 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1000m |
-6°
|
-8°
|
-9°
|
-9°
|
-10°
|
-10°
|
-9°
|
-10°
|
| 900m |
-5°
|
-7°
|
-8°
|
-8°
|
-8°
|
-8°
|
-8°
|
-8°
|
| 600m |
-2°
|
-3°
|
-4°
|
-4°
|
-4°
|
-4°
|
-4°
|
-4°
|
| 300m |
0°
|
2°
|
1°
|
1°
|
1°
|
1°
|
1°
|
1°
|
| Glen |
4°
|
4°
|
4°
|
3°
|
3°
|
3°
|
4°
|
4°
|
Additional weather information
Met Office Aberdeen meteorologist's view
Strong winds, summit gales in the afternoon will enhance the chill effect out on the hills. Wintry conditions continuing.
Weather
Scattered showers overnight, wintry above 900m. Quite a cloudy day with showers continuing, wintry above 900m, a few bright or sunny spells breaking through, especially towards the north and eastern hills. Further south and west towards Wester Ross cloud may be stubborn to clear and showers will be most frequent here.
Chance of cloud-free hill tops
40%, more chance further northeast towards Caithness.
Low cloud and visibility
Scattered or broken layers of low cloud above 600m for western ranges in the morning, further north east the cloud will be scattered above 700m and in the far north summits will be mostly clear. Cloud will lift at times from the summits but may linger around the higher coastal tops for much of the day. Visibility will dip moderate or poor in light snow showers in the morning but will generally be good beneath any cloud layers.
Mountain weather information
Weather
Cloudy with outbreaks of sleet or rain, freezing level likely to rise to 1200m so wintry on the higher summits only. Low cloud is likely to be a hazard at times around summits. Some sunny spells are likely to develop towards the northeast of the area, strong southerly winds through the day.
Chance of cloud-free hill tops
50% low cloud around more southern and western summits for much of the day.
Maximum wind speed expected
Southerly 20-25mph.
Temperature
- At 800m Plus 1 Celsius.
- Glen Plus 5 Celsius
- Freezing level 900m rising to 1200m.
Low cloud and visibility
Scattered low cloud layers are likely from 500m upwards, the cloud will be patchier and higher based further north and east.
Mountain weather information
Thu 4 Dec
Sunrise:
Sunset:
Showery conditions, wintry above 700m. Fresh southerly winds continuing.
Fri 5 Dec
Sunrise:
Sunset:
Strengthening southeasterly winds, rain spreading north, possibly turning wintry over the hills later.
Sat 6 Dec
Sunrise:
Sunset:
Strong southwesterly winds and outbreaks of rain or snow, a lot of uncertainty in the forecast for the weekend.
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