Mountain weather

Southwest Highlands

Southwest Highlands Mountain weather forecast table

Confidence

High for changeable weather to continue into the weekend.

Sunrise:
Sunset:

This evening forecast

Clear periods and just a few snow showers, otherwise becoming generally dry.

Sunrise:
Sunset:
Mountain hazards

Mountain weather hazards

Hazards apply at or above 300m, reflecting the more severe conditions which can occur at altitude.

hazard 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.

hazard 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.

hazard 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.
hazard Heavy Persistent Rain
Heavy and persistent rain can lead to drenched clothing and footwear with waterproofs often becoming soaked through, especially if accompanied by strong winds. This can lead to significant loss of body heat and an increased likelihood of hypothermia. Terrain may turn increasingly boggy underfoot while streams can flood and become impassable. There may also be a risk of flooding in valleys or glens. If there is snow cover, a heightened avalanche hazard is possible and avalanche reports should be consulted where available.

Mountain weather forecast

Outbreaks of snow extending east in the afternoon, turning to rain in the evening

Time 00:00 03:00 06:00 09:00 12:00 15:00 18:00 21:00
Weather
(at 800m)
Partly cloudy (night) Partly cloudy (night) Partly cloudy (night) Light snow Light snow Heavy snow Sleet Heavy rain
Chance of precipitation
(at 800m)
20% 20% 10% 30% 60% 70% 90% >95%

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 W
24
W
23
W
25
SW
19
SW
17
SW
21
S
30
S
32
900m NW
11
W
14
W
13
W
12
W
13
SW
16
S
18
S
19
600m SW
12
SW
12
SW
13
SW
11
SW
13
SW
18
S
23
S
23
300m W
7
SW
6
SW
6
SW
6
SW
9
SW
11
S
10
S
11
Glen W
4
W
3
W
3
SW
4
SW
6
SW
10
S
8
S
8
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 29 28 30 24 23 27 37 39
900m 16 19 18 17 19 22 25 27
600m 16 16 17 16 19 24 29 30
300m 10 10 9 10 14 18 17 19
Glen 8 8 7 8 12 19 19 19

Altitude above mean sea level
Time 00:00 03:00 06:00 09:00 12:00 15:00 18:00 21:00
1300m
-8°
-8°
-8°
-6°
-5°
-4°
-3°
-1°
900m
-5°
-5°
-5°
-3°
-1°
-1°
-1°
600m
-2°
-2°
-2°
-1°
300m
Glen
Freezing Level
100m
100m
0m
300m
500m
700m
800m
1,600m

Altitude above mean sea level
Time 00:00 03:00 06:00 09:00 12:00 15:00 18:00 21:00
1300m
-17°
-17°
-17°
-15°
-12°
-12°
-12°
-9°
900m
-11°
-12°
-12°
-9°
-7°
-7°
-7°
-6°
600m
-8°
-8°
-8°
-6°
-4°
-4°
-4°
-3°
300m
-3°
-3°
-3°
Glen

Additional weather information

Met Office Aberdeen meteorologist's view

Nothing to add

Weather

A generally dry start to the day with isolated snow showers in the morning. Cloudy in the afternoon with outbreaks of snow spreading east, although snow becoming confined to ground above 800 metres by late afternoon. The evening will see rain with any summit snow gradually turning to rain as the freezing level rises above the summits from the west.

Chance of cloud-free hill tops

60%, best chance in the morning

Low cloud and visibility

Very good visibility in the morning with only small amounts of summit cloud. Hill fog developing and becoming extensive through the afternoon down to 300 to 700 metres, lowest bases along the west coast.

Sunrise:
Sunset:

Mountain weather information

Weather

Rain soon clearing away in the early hours. Then a day of variable amounts of cloud and scattered snow or hail showers, these occasionally heavy. Strong to gale summit winds with significant wind chill.

Chance of cloud-free hill tops

70%

Maximum wind speed expected

Southwesterly average speeds of 35 mph gusting to 50 mph

Temperature

  • At 800m Plus 3 Celsius in the early hours, falling to minus 1 Celsius by afternoon
  • Glen Plus 2 rising to 7 Celsius
  • Freezing level Above the summits in the early hours, then falling to 600 metres by afternoon

Low cloud and visibility

Poor in areas of cloud down to 800 to 1000 metres at times, lowest bases as showers pass by. Visibility dropping as snow showers pass by.

Mountain weather information

Sat 28 Mar

Sunrise:
Sunset:

Cold and windy with snow or hail showers, these becoming less frequent towards evening. Strong to gale northwesterly winds. Freezing level 800 metres.

Sun 29 Mar

Sunrise:
Sunset:

Rain and summit snow, heavy at times, will spread east during the morning. Brighter in the afternoon with snow or hail showers, briefly heavy. Windy with gale force west or southwesterly summits. Freezing level 1200 metres falling to 600 metres.

Mon 30 Mar

Sunrise:
Sunset:

Snow showers at first otherwise becoming largely dry. Rain likely to spread northeast later in the day. Summit northwesterly backing southwesterly gales. Freezing level 600 metres, rising above summits later.

Updated at:

Summit specific forecast

Mountain summit forecast map

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For snow and avalanche hazard forecasts please visit Scottish Avalanche Information Service