Mountain weather

Mountain weather

Southwest Highlands

Confidence

High for mostly settled weather into the coming week but low for extent of cloud on a daily basis.

Mountain hazards

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

Dry with variable amounts of cloud, south brightest.

Time
Time
06:00
09:00
12:00
15:00
18:00
21:00
Weather
(at 800m)
Weather symbols Cloudy Sunny intervals Sunny intervals Sunny intervals Sunny intervals Clear night
Chance of
precipitation
(at 800m)
Chance of precipitation
20%
20%
<5%
<5%
<5%
<5%

Wind direction and speed

Altitude above mean sea level
Time
Time
06:00
09:00
12:00
15:00
18:00
21:00
1300m
1300m NW 17mph knots
NW
17mph
NW 10mph knots
NW
10mph
NW 5mph knots
NW
5mph
NW 9mph knots
NW
9mph
NW 7mph knots
NW
7mph
N 5mph knots
N
5mph
900m
900m NW 8mph knots
NW
8mph
N 7mph knots
N
7mph
NW 6mph knots
NW
6mph
NW 8mph knots
NW
8mph
NW 7mph knots
NW
7mph
NW 5mph knots
NW
5mph
600m
600m W 8mph knots
W
8mph
NW 5mph knots
NW
5mph
W 5mph knots
W
5mph
W 9mph knots
W
9mph
W 8mph knots
W
8mph
NW 4mph knots
NW
4mph
300m
300m N 5mph knots
N
5mph
NW 5mph knots
NW
5mph
NW 6mph knots
NW
6mph
NW 8mph knots
NW
8mph
NW 7mph knots
NW
7mph
N 4mph knots
N
4mph
Glen
Glen W 5mph knots
W
5mph
NW 5mph knots
NW
5mph
W 8mph knots
W
8mph
W 11mph knots
W
11mph
W 11mph knots
W
11mph
W 6mph knots
W
6mph

Wind gust

Altitude above mean sea level
Time
Time
06:00
09:00
12:00
15:00
18:00
21:00
1300m
1300m 19mph 12mph 8mph 12mph 10mph 7mph
900m
900m 10mph 9mph 8mph 12mph 10mph 7mph
600m
600m 10mph 7mph 7mph 12mph 12mph 6mph
300m
300m 6mph 7mph 8mph 11mph 10mph 6mph
Glen
Glen 10mph 8mph 11mph 16mph 16mph 11mph

Altitude above mean sea level
Time
Time
06:00
09:00
12:00
15:00
18:00
21:00
1300m
1300m 3 degrees Celsius 4 degrees Celsius 7 degrees Celsius 8 degrees Celsius 7 degrees Celsius 8 degrees Celsius
900m
900m 9 degrees Celsius 10 degrees Celsius 12 degrees Celsius 13 degrees Celsius 12 degrees Celsius 10 degrees Celsius
600m
600m 8 degrees Celsius 11 degrees Celsius 13 degrees Celsius 14 degrees Celsius 13 degrees Celsius 12 degrees Celsius
300m
300m 12 degrees Celsius 14 degrees Celsius 16 degrees Celsius 17 degrees Celsius 16 degrees Celsius 14 degrees Celsius
Glen
Glen 14 degrees Celsius 16 degrees Celsius 18 degrees Celsius 18 degrees Celsius 17 degrees Celsius 15 degrees Celsius
Freezing Level Freezing Level
3000m
2600m
2700m
3100m
3100m
3200m

Additional weather information

Meteorologist's view

Be prepared for dehydration and sunburn on long hikes.

Weather

Chance of a light shower across the Mull and northern Lochaber at first. Otherwise dry with variable amounts of cloud, the afternoon seeing the best of the clearest skies away from the west coast.

Chance of cloud-free hill tops

70%, best chance in the east of the area.

Low cloud and visibility

Areas of cloud between 400 and 700 metres, this most extensive and lowest in the north of the area at first. Cloud breaking and lifting inland in the morning but patches lingering along the west coast and Lochaber into the afternoon.

Ground conditions

No recent ground conditions report available.

Summit specific forecast