Mountain weather
Southwest Highlands Mountain weather forecast table
Confidence
High confidence in remaining cold with wintry weather. High confidence for more persistent precipitation Tuesday and Thursday, but low confidence in exact details. Low confidence in developments for Friday.
This evening forecast
Scattered snow showers feed into Moidart from the north, with a few showers also into north Argyll and the island ranges. These combined with strong north to northwest winds will bring temporary blizzard conditions including very poor visibilities. Some hail in the heavier showers. Staying dry with good clear spells elsewhere. Feeling bitterly cold with a severe wind chill even down to glen level.
Mountain weather hazards
Hazards apply at or above 300m, reflecting the more severe conditions which can occur at altitude.
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.
Blizzards
Blizzards and whiteouts present challenging and serious conditions due to a combination of falling or blowing snow, strong winds and cold temperatures. They can be highly disorientating, often resulting in near-zero visibility with limited or no visual references and no distinction between ground and sky. Cliff edges and cornices may not be apparent, even close up. These conditions require very good navigational skills.
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.
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.
Mountain weather forecast
Mostly dry, bright. Very cold. A few snow showers early morning.
| 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) |
40% | 30% | 20% | 10% | 10% | <05% | <05% | 10% |
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 |
N
31
|
N
31
|
N
26
|
NE
24
|
N
20
|
N
18
|
NW
19
|
SW
19
|
| 900m |
N
16
|
NW
15
|
N
14
|
N
10
|
N
9
|
NW
8
|
NW
8
|
W
10
|
| 600m |
N
16
|
N
13
|
W
10
|
SW
10
|
SW
8
|
W
8
|
SW
8
|
SW
10
|
| 300m |
NW
8
|
W
6
|
NW
9
|
N
6
|
NE
4
|
SE
3
|
SE
4
|
S
5
|
| Glen |
NW
3
|
NW
3
|
NW
4
|
NW
5
|
NW
4
|
NW
4
|
W
3
|
SW
3
|
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 | 36 | 36 | 31 | 27 | 23 | 20 | 22 | 22 |
| 900m | 20 | 20 | 18 | 13 | 11 | 12 | 11 | 13 |
| 600m | 19 | 17 | 12 | 12 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 13 |
| 300m | 10 | 9 | 11 | 8 | 6 | 5 | 5 | 7 |
| Glen | 9 | 10 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 8 | 6 | 5 |
Altitude above mean sea level
| Time | 00:00 | 03:00 | 06:00 | 09:00 | 12:00 | 15:00 | 18:00 | 21:00 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1300m |
-10°
|
-10°
|
-10°
|
-10°
|
-9°
|
-9°
|
-9°
|
-8°
|
| 900m |
-7°
|
-7°
|
-7°
|
-8°
|
-7°
|
-7°
|
-7°
|
-7°
|
| 600m |
-5°
|
-5°
|
-5°
|
-5°
|
-4°
|
-4°
|
-4°
|
-4°
|
| 300m |
-3°
|
-3°
|
-3°
|
-3°
|
-2°
|
-2°
|
-3°
|
-2°
|
| Glen |
-2°
|
-2°
|
-2°
|
-2°
|
0°
|
0°
|
-2°
|
-2°
|
| Freezing Level |
0m
|
0m
|
0m
|
0m
|
0m
|
0m
|
0m
|
0m
|
Altitude above mean sea level
| Time | 00:00 | 03:00 | 06:00 | 09:00 | 12:00 | 15:00 | 18:00 | 21:00 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1300m |
-21°
|
-21°
|
-20°
|
-20°
|
-18°
|
-18°
|
-18°
|
-17°
|
| 900m |
-15°
|
-15°
|
-15°
|
-14°
|
-12°
|
-12°
|
-12°
|
-12°
|
| 600m |
-12°
|
-12°
|
-10°
|
-10°
|
-9°
|
-9°
|
-9°
|
-9°
|
| 300m |
-7°
|
-7°
|
-8°
|
-7°
|
-5°
|
-4°
|
-6°
|
-6°
|
| Glen |
-4°
|
-4°
|
-4°
|
-5°
|
-3°
|
-3°
|
-4°
|
-4°
|
Additional weather information
Met Office Aberdeen meteorologist's view
Note the extremely low feels like temperatures. Windy conditions will give difficult walking conditions with a risk of being blown off balance. Navigation could be challenging with energy output significantly increased when walking into the wind. In any strong winds and snow showers there will be blizzard conditions at times with visibility severely impacted. Keep up to date with the latest avalanche forecast from the SAIS (Scottish Avalanche Information Service). Note the risk of glare off any snow pack in sunny conditions.
Weather
Staying mostly dry with clear then sunny spells. A few snow showers reaching North Argyll and the island ranges in the morning, these dying out through the afternoon. Feeling bitterly cold even down to glen level.
Chance of cloud-free hill tops
Generally 90% or higher. 60% in north and west in early morning.
Low cloud and visibility
Generally good visibilities and clear summits. Where a few showers fall through the morning temporarily poor visibilities in blizzard conditions with areas of cloud down to 300-500m.
Mountain weather information
Weather
A band of snow spreads east through the morning with precipitation turning to rain for a time below around 500-700m, particularly around western coastal ranges. This clears east through the afternoon allowing good brighter and clearer spells, but a few snow showers will feed in to island ranges and the north with freshening winds.
Chance of cloud-free hill tops
20% or less much of the day, rising to 75% by the evening.
Maximum wind speed expected
Northwest 25-35mph, gusting 35-50mph.
Temperature
- At 800m Minus 6C to minus 1C.
- Glen Minus 4C rising to plus 4C.
- Freezing level Rising to 600-800m during the morning, falling to all levels again by evening.
Low cloud and visibility
Widespread cloud down to 300-500m and visibilities dropping poor in persistent snow in the morning. Becoming largely clear with good visibilities through late afternoon and evening, though any showers from the north may bring brief blizzard conditions later.
Mountain weather information
Wed 7 Jan
Sunrise:
Sunset:
Generally dry, bright by day. A few snow showers in the north and west in the morning. Very cold. Light to moderate winds. Persistent snow spreads northeast through evening.
Thu 8 Jan
Sunrise:
Sunset:
Persistent snow at first. Then bright spells, and scattered snow showers from the west. Moderate to strong southwest veering northwest winds. Very cold.
Fri 9 Jan
Sunrise:
Sunset:
Low confidence. Likely cold with light winds, bright spells and some snow showers. Chance of more persistent snow.
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