Mountain weather
Southwest Highlands Mountain weather forecast table
Confidence
High for settled weather through the working week but low for exact cloud detail on a daily basis. High for transition to more unsettled weather from Sunday, but moderate for exact detail.
Mountain weather hazards
Hazards apply at or above 300m, reflecting the more severe conditions which can occur at altitude.
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.
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.
Mountain weather forecast
Cloudy coasts, brighter inland. Chilly. Light winds.
| Time | 06:00 | 09:00 | 12:00 | 15:00 | 18:00 | 21:00 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Weather (at 800m) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Chance of precipitation (at 800m) |
<05% | <05% | <05% | <05% | 10% | 10% |
Wind direction and speed (mph)
Altitude above mean sea level
| Time | 06:00 | 09:00 | 12:00 | 15:00 | 18:00 | 21:00 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1300m |
N
12
|
N
8
|
NW
6
|
N
5
|
NE
4
|
E
5
|
| 900m |
NW
6
|
N
6
|
NW
3
|
N
3
|
E
3
|
E
3
|
| 600m |
N
4
|
N
5
|
N
3
|
NW
3
|
SE
2
|
SE
3
|
| 300m |
NE
3
|
NE
2
|
N
2
|
NW
2
|
S
3
|
SE
3
|
| Glen |
NW
1
|
E
1
|
E
1
|
SW
2
|
W
3
|
W
2
|
Wind gust (mph)
Altitude above mean sea level
| Time | 06:00 | 09:00 | 12:00 | 15:00 | 18:00 | 21:00 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1300m | 14 | 9 | 8 | 7 | 5 | 6 |
| 900m | 7 | 7 | 5 | 5 | 4 | 4 |
| 600m | 5 | 6 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 4 |
| 300m | 3 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 4 | 4 |
| Glen | 2 | 4 | 2 | 4 | 5 | 3 |
Altitude above mean sea level
| Time | 06:00 | 09:00 | 12:00 | 15:00 | 18:00 | 21:00 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1300m |
5°
|
4°
|
3°
|
3°
|
3°
|
2°
|
| 900m |
5°
|
6°
|
6°
|
6°
|
5°
|
3°
|
| 600m |
5°
|
6°
|
6°
|
7°
|
7°
|
6°
|
| 300m |
6°
|
6°
|
8°
|
10°
|
9°
|
8°
|
| Glen |
5°
|
7°
|
10°
|
12°
|
10°
|
9°
|
| Freezing Level |
2,200m
|
2,300m
|
2,300m
|
2,200m
|
2,200m
|
2,200m
|
Altitude above mean sea level
| Time | 06:00 | 09:00 | 12:00 | 15:00 | 18:00 | 21:00 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1300m |
1°
|
2°
|
0°
|
1°
|
1°
|
0°
|
| 900m |
3°
|
4°
|
5°
|
5°
|
4°
|
2°
|
| 600m |
4°
|
4°
|
5°
|
6°
|
6°
|
5°
|
| 300m |
5°
|
5°
|
8°
|
9°
|
8°
|
8°
|
| Glen |
4°
|
7°
|
10°
|
12°
|
10°
|
8°
|
Additional weather information
Met Office Aberdeen meteorologist's view
Nothing to add.
Weather
A frosty start under clear skies inland with any low-level mist or fog patches in glens slow to clear in the morning. Staying dry with variable cloud and some good clear spells over inland ranges throughout the day. Staying overcast throughout the day over coastal and island ranges. Cloud likely spreading in to all areas through the evening Light winds.
Chance of cloud-free hill tops
70% inland, but 20% or less over coastal and island ranges.
Low cloud and visibility
In the more sheltered inland ranges cloud will be quite well broken allowing for often clear summits and good visibilities. Over coastal and island ranges fairly extensive areas of cloud down to 400-600m at times bringing poor visibilities in hill fog.
Mountain weather information
Weather
A dry day of variable cloud and some bright spells. Greater chance of brighter spells developing inland later.
Chance of cloud-free hill tops
40%, best chances inland later
Maximum wind speed expected
Light variable winds becoming south to south-easterly 10-15mph later.
Temperature
- At 800m Plus 4 to plus 7 Celsius.
- Glen Plus 6 rising to plus 11 Celsius.
- Freezing level Above summits.
Low cloud and visibility
Fairly extensive cloud down to 500-700m at first bringing poor visibilities in hill fog. This lifting and breaking up to an extent through the day, particularly in the more sheltered inland ranges as winds become southerly. Good visibilities outwith low cloud and hill fog.
Mountain weather information
Sat 18 Oct
Sunrise:
Sunset:
Variable cloud and some bright or sunny spells. Fresh to strong south to southeast winds. Freezing level above summits.
Sun 19 Oct
Sunrise:
Sunset:
Turning unsettled with rain spreading from the west. Fresh to strong south to southeast winds. Freezing level above summits.
Mon 20 Oct
Sunrise:
Sunset:
Showers or perhaps longer spells of rain, may be heavy at times. Light to moderate winds. Freezing level above summits.
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