Mountain weather
Southwest Highlands Mountain weather forecast table
Confidence
High for changeable weather this week, medium for details.
This evening forecast
Mainly dry with clear interludes and perhaps a brief light shower or two - wintry above 500m. Fresh or strong westerly summit winds making it feel bitterly cold.
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.
Storm Force Winds
Storm force winds (gusts over 70mph) make walking very strenuous with any mobility virtually impossible over exposed ground. Where these conditions occur there is a high risk of being blown over and even standing may be impossible at times with a risk of being blown off one’s feet. Basic tasks such as using a map, eating, putting on extra clothing or communication become extremely difficult away from any shelter.
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
Dry bright start then clouding over, with rain, preceded by snow at higher elevations, arriving during the afternoon. Gales or severe gales developing.
| 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% | <05% | <05% | 10% | 30% | 70% | 80% |
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 |
SW
20
|
S
16
|
S
14
|
S
19
|
S
32
|
S
42
|
S
49
|
SW
51
|
| 900m |
W
12
|
SW
9
|
S
10
|
S
15
|
S
24
|
S
28
|
S
31
|
SW
33
|
| 600m |
SW
12
|
S
11
|
S
11
|
S
15
|
S
26
|
S
35
|
S
39
|
SW
40
|
| 300m |
SW
6
|
S
6
|
S
6
|
S
10
|
S
17
|
S
20
|
S
20
|
S
21
|
| Glen |
SW
5
|
SW
4
|
S
4
|
S
7
|
S
13
|
S
14
|
S
15
|
SW
16
|
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 | 24 | 19 | 18 | 25 | 43 | 54 | 63 | 67 |
| 900m | 16 | 13 | 14 | 21 | 34 | 39 | 44 | 48 |
| 600m | 16 | 14 | 14 | 20 | 36 | 47 | 52 | 54 |
| 300m | 9 | 9 | 10 | 16 | 28 | 32 | 35 | 37 |
| Glen | 9 | 8 | 9 | 14 | 26 | 30 | 32 | 35 |
Altitude above mean sea level
| Time | 00:00 | 03:00 | 06:00 | 09:00 | 12:00 | 15:00 | 18:00 | 21:00 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1300m |
-6°
|
-6°
|
-6°
|
-5°
|
-4°
|
-3°
|
-1°
|
1°
|
| 900m |
-3°
|
-3°
|
-3°
|
-2°
|
0°
|
0°
|
2°
|
3°
|
| 600m |
0°
|
0°
|
0°
|
1°
|
2°
|
3°
|
4°
|
5°
|
| 300m |
3°
|
3°
|
3°
|
4°
|
5°
|
5°
|
6°
|
8°
|
| Glen |
4°
|
4°
|
4°
|
6°
|
8°
|
7°
|
8°
|
9°
|
| Freezing Level |
400m
|
400m
|
400m
|
500m
|
600m
|
800m
|
1,800m
|
1,800m
|
Altitude above mean sea level
| Time | 00:00 | 03:00 | 06:00 | 09:00 | 12:00 | 15:00 | 18:00 | 21:00 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1300m |
-14°
|
-13°
|
-12°
|
-13°
|
-14°
|
-13°
|
-10°
|
-8°
|
| 900m |
-8°
|
-8°
|
-8°
|
-8°
|
-8°
|
-8°
|
-6°
|
-4°
|
| 600m |
-5°
|
-4°
|
-4°
|
-4°
|
-4°
|
-5°
|
-3°
|
-1°
|
| 300m |
0°
|
0°
|
0°
|
0°
|
0°
|
0°
|
1°
|
3°
|
| Glen |
2°
|
2°
|
2°
|
4°
|
4°
|
4°
|
4°
|
5°
|
Additional weather information
Met Office Aberdeen meteorologist's view
Nothing to add
Weather
After a dry night with some clear intervals, the morning will be dry but with higher cloud thickening up. Then outbreaks of rain reaching Mull and Northwest Lochaber by early afternoon and spreading east to all by mid to late afternoon, starting off as snow above about 800-900m. Much of the rain fairly light but a few heavy bursts especially later in the evening when it will become heavy and persistent.
Chance of cloud-free hill tops
More than 90% in morning and early afternoon, then falling steadily to 20% by late afternoon, falling near zero later evening.
Low cloud and visibility
No low cloud in morning, but cloud dropping to 800-900m mid afternoon and 500-750m by evening with lower patches in west. Visibility away from cloud will be good until early afternoon then fall poor at times in rain and early summit snow.
Mountain weather information
Weather
Heavy rain in early hours, turning showery by morning. The day bright with some sunny intervals and occasional showers, with snow above 900m at first but turning to snow down to 700m in the afternoon, 500m by evening and to 250m by midnight. The showers turning heavy with the chance of lightning.
Chance of cloud-free hill tops
10% in early hours rising to 60% during morning.
Maximum wind speed expected
Southwesterly 60 gusts 75mph early hours becoming west or southwest 40 gusts 55mph in the morning, easing 25 gusts 35mph later.
Temperature
- At 800m Plus 5 Celsius early hours falling to Plus 2 by morning, and Minus 2 in the evening.
- Glen Plus 8 Celsius falling Plus 6, then to Plus 2 in the evening,
- Freezing level Above summits early hours falling 1000m by dawn, 600m by evening and 400m by midnight.
Low cloud and visibility
Extensive cloud at 450-600m in early hours with some poor visibility at lower levels in rain. Cloud breaking and lifting to mostly above 750m during the day, but dropping 500m in heavier showers which will themselves bring poor visibility as snow showers turn heavier.
Mountain weather information
Wed 25 Mar
Sunrise:
Sunset:
Clear or sunny intervals and occasional showers, some heavy, with snow above 300m, perhaps to low levels at first. Strong to gale northwesterly winds on the tops so feeling very cold.
Thu 26 Mar
Sunrise:
Sunset:
A few wintry showers in north at first, then much of the day dry, quite bright but clouding over with the chance of a little rain or snow from mid-afternoon. Freezing level 400m rising above summits in the evening. Fresh northwest winds becoming southwest later.
Fri 27 Mar
Sunrise:
Sunset:
Early cloud and rain soon clearing then bright with a few showers, wintry on higher hills. Strong northwesterly winds, freezing level falling to 700m.
Updated at:
Summit specific forecast
Mountain summit forecast map
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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