Mountain weather
Southwest Highlands Mountain weather forecast table
Confidence
Generally high confidence in overall setup and for unsettled conditions to continue before colder air moves in from the north later in the week. Low confidence for exact timing of colder air becoming established.
This evening forecast
Cloudy with outbreaks of rain and hill snow. Freezing level of around 1000m so snow confined to hills above this height. Fresh southeasterly winds and feeling very cold.
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 with outbreaks of rain and snow. Dry and bright spells north and Isles. Very cold.
| 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) |
80% | 80% | 80% | 70% | 70% | 70% | 70% | 70% |
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 |
SE
20
|
SE
19
|
SE
16
|
SE
14
|
SE
17
|
SE
15
|
SE
14
|
SE
15
|
| 900m |
SE
14
|
SE
16
|
SE
14
|
SE
12
|
SE
12
|
SE
12
|
SE
13
|
SE
13
|
| 600m |
SE
13
|
SE
13
|
SE
10
|
SE
8
|
E
10
|
SE
10
|
S
8
|
SE
8
|
| 300m |
E
6
|
E
5
|
NE
5
|
NE
4
|
E
6
|
SE
6
|
NE
5
|
E
5
|
| Glen |
SE
2
|
SE
2
|
NE
3
|
E
3
|
E
4
|
E
4
|
E
3
|
E
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 | 25 | 24 | 20 | 18 | 21 | 19 | 18 | 19 |
| 900m | 19 | 21 | 20 | 18 | 17 | 16 | 17 | 18 |
| 600m | 17 | 16 | 13 | 11 | 13 | 13 | 11 | 12 |
| 300m | 10 | 9 | 8 | 7 | 10 | 10 | 8 | 8 |
| Glen | 8 | 6 | 10 | 8 | 9 | 8 | 8 | 8 |
Altitude above mean sea level
| Time | 00:00 | 03:00 | 06:00 | 09:00 | 12:00 | 15:00 | 18:00 | 21:00 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1300m |
-2°
|
-2°
|
-2°
|
-2°
|
-2°
|
-2°
|
-3°
|
-2°
|
| 900m |
0°
|
0°
|
0°
|
0°
|
1°
|
1°
|
0°
|
0°
|
| 600m |
4°
|
4°
|
3°
|
3°
|
3°
|
4°
|
3°
|
3°
|
| 300m |
5°
|
5°
|
5°
|
5°
|
6°
|
6°
|
5°
|
5°
|
| Glen |
7°
|
6°
|
6°
|
6°
|
8°
|
8°
|
7°
|
6°
|
| Freezing Level |
1,100m
|
1,000m
|
1,000m
|
1,000m
|
1,000m
|
1,000m
|
1,000m
|
1,000m
|
Altitude above mean sea level
| Time | 00:00 | 03:00 | 06:00 | 09:00 | 12:00 | 15:00 | 18:00 | 21:00 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1300m |
-9°
|
-9°
|
-9°
|
-8°
|
-9°
|
-8°
|
-8°
|
-8°
|
| 900m |
-5°
|
-6°
|
-5°
|
-5°
|
-4°
|
-4°
|
-5°
|
-5°
|
| 600m |
-1°
|
0°
|
0°
|
0°
|
0°
|
0°
|
0°
|
0°
|
| 300m |
3°
|
3°
|
3°
|
3°
|
4°
|
4°
|
3°
|
3°
|
| Glen |
6°
|
5°
|
5°
|
5°
|
6°
|
7°
|
6°
|
5°
|
Additional weather information
Met Office Aberdeen meteorologist's view
Low cloud with snow will make for tricky navigation on the hills.
Weather
A mostly cloudy day with outbreaks of rain, falling as snow above 800m. Some dry spells, the best of these along with any bright or sunny intervals will be in the north towards Lochaber and over the Isles. Feeling very cold with risk of severe wind chill.
Chance of cloud-free hill tops
20% in the north, otherwise little chance.
Low cloud and visibility
Low cloud with base down to 400-600m throughout the day. A few breaks in the north with summits here briefly becoming cloud free. Visibility good outside of cloud but poor to very poor in cloud snow.
Mountain weather information
Weather
Cloudy with outbreaks of rain and snow, snow falling above 800m. Some brighter spells possible in the north in the morning before clouding over. Feeling very cold. Fresh southeasterly winds becoming strong later.
Chance of cloud-free hill tops
10%, mainly in north.
Maximum wind speed expected
Southeastelry 30-35mph gusting 40-45mph.
Temperature
- At 800m 0 Celsius.
- Glen Plus 7 Celsius.
- Freezing level 800m.
Low cloud and visibility
Low cloud with base down to 400-600m throughout the day. Thick cloud for most parts but a few fleeting breaks in the north possible. Visibility good outside of cloud but poor to very poor in cloud and snow.
Mountain weather information
Wed 11 Feb
Sunrise:
Sunset:
Cloudy with outbreaks of rain and hill snow. Fresh to strong easterly winds. Freezing level 800m becoming 500m.
Thu 12 Feb
Sunrise:
Sunset:
Cloudy with rain and snow, becoming drier in the evening. Strong northerly winds. Freezing level falling to 100-200m.
Fri 13 Feb
Sunrise:
Sunset:
Mostly dry with bright or sunny spells, the odd snow shower possible. Fresh to strong northerly winds. Freezing level down to valley level.
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