Mountain weather
Southwest Highlands Mountain weather forecast table
Confidence
Medium.
This evening forecast
Rather cloudy with a few showers and the odd sunny or clear interval. Showers wintry on the Munro tops. Moderate to fresh westerly breeze.
Mountain weather hazards
Hazards apply at or above 300m, reflecting the more severe conditions which can occur at altitude.
Strong Sunlight
Harmful UV levels from sunlight increase with altitude giving a greater risk of sunburn and eye damage, even on some overcast days. On breezy days, the cooling effect of wind on exposed skin may disguise any feeling of sunburn until it is too late. If there is snow cover, glare increases the effect of UV rays especially on the eyes. It is advisable to wear sun block, protective clothing such as a long-sleeved top and hat and have good quality eye protection.
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 dry, a few sunny intervals, but chance of one or two light showers, with snow in the showers on higher hills. Moderate to fresh northerly 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) |
<05% | <05% | 10% | 10% | 10% | 20% | 10% | <05% |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1300m |
NW
18
|
NW
19
|
N
18
|
N
21
|
N
17
|
N
15
|
N
13
|
NE
9
|
| 900m |
NW
12
|
NW
12
|
NW
12
|
N
17
|
N
13
|
N
12
|
NE
10
|
NE
7
|
| 600m |
SW
11
|
SW
11
|
NW
10
|
N
17
|
NE
13
|
N
12
|
NE
11
|
NE
9
|
| 300m |
W
5
|
W
6
|
NW
6
|
N
12
|
N
10
|
N
9
|
NE
8
|
N
4
|
| Glen |
W
3
|
W
4
|
NW
4
|
N
10
|
NE
8
|
N
8
|
NE
7
|
N
4
|
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1300m | 22 | 23 | 22 | 29 | 24 | 21 | 18 | 13 |
| 900m | 16 | 16 | 16 | 23 | 20 | 18 | 15 | 12 |
| 600m | 14 | 14 | 14 | 24 | 20 | 18 | 15 | 13 |
| 300m | 9 | 9 | 10 | 20 | 16 | 15 | 14 | 10 |
| Glen | 8 | 8 | 9 | 18 | 15 | 15 | 13 | 10 |
Altitude above mean sea level
| Time | 00:00 | 03:00 | 06:00 | 09:00 | 12:00 | 15:00 | 18:00 | 21:00 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1300m |
-2°
|
-3°
|
-4°
|
-4°
|
-3°
|
-2°
|
-2°
|
-3°
|
| 900m |
1°
|
0°
|
-1°
|
-1°
|
1°
|
2°
|
2°
|
0°
|
| 600m |
4°
|
3°
|
2°
|
1°
|
3°
|
4°
|
4°
|
3°
|
| 300m |
6°
|
5°
|
4°
|
5°
|
6°
|
7°
|
7°
|
5°
|
| Glen |
8°
|
6°
|
7°
|
7°
|
10°
|
10°
|
10°
|
7°
|
| Freezing Level |
1,000m
|
700m
|
700m
|
500m
|
500m
|
600m
|
600m
|
500m
|
Altitude above mean sea level
| Time | 00:00 | 03:00 | 06:00 | 09:00 | 12:00 | 15:00 | 18:00 | 21:00 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1300m |
-8°
|
-10°
|
-11°
|
-12°
|
-10°
|
-8°
|
-8°
|
-8°
|
| 900m |
-4°
|
-5°
|
-6°
|
-7°
|
-4°
|
-2°
|
-3°
|
-4°
|
| 600m |
0°
|
-1°
|
-2°
|
-4°
|
-1°
|
0°
|
0°
|
-1°
|
| 300m |
4°
|
3°
|
2°
|
1°
|
3°
|
5°
|
4°
|
4°
|
| Glen |
7°
|
5°
|
5°
|
4°
|
8°
|
9°
|
8°
|
6°
|
Additional weather information
Met Office Aberdeen meteorologist's view
Note the unseasonably low freezing levels
Weather
Mainly dry with clear or sunny intervals, but a cloudier spell from mid morning to early afternoon with the chance of a few light showers, falling as snow above 600m.
Chance of cloud-free hill tops
Mostly 90% but 60% for a time as showers pass by.
Low cloud and visibility
Generally no low cloud, but the cloud could drop to 900m as showers pass by, with temporary hill fog on higher tops.
Mountain weather information
Weather
Mostly dry with some clear or sunny intervals, perhaps a few light showers in north, wintry on the Munro tops.
Chance of cloud-free hill tops
90%
Maximum wind speed expected
Southerly 10-15mph becoming southwesterly 25-30mph.
Temperature
- At 800m Minus 2 rising to Plus 2 Celsius
- Glen Plus 2 rising to Plus 11 Celsius
- Freezing level 500m rising 900m
Low cloud and visibility
Generally no low cloud and good visibility, perhaps some patches of cloud at 1200m in any showers.
Mountain weather information
Thu 7 May
Sunrise:
Sunset:
Still a lot of dry weather but cloudier at times with the chance of some showers, with snow above 1000m. Strong south to southwest breeze.
Fri 8 May
Sunrise:
Sunset:
Cloudy with occasional showers, freezing level above summits.
Sat 9 May
Sunrise:
Sunset:
Low confidence - some light showers at first with snow above 800m then brightening up. Freshening northeasterly winds.
Updated at:
Summit specific forecast
Mountain summit forecast map
Loading map…
Key
Mountain summits
Other points of interest
Cluster of multiple stations
Including Ben Nevis, Glen Coe and the rest of Lochaber, Argyll including the Isles, Loch Lomond, Trossachs and Arran
For snow and avalanche hazard forecasts please visit Scottish Avalanche Information Service