Mountain weather

Mountain weather

Southwest Highlands

Confidence

High confidence for more unsettled conditions over the next 5 days and for wet and windy weather at times. Lower confidence for timing and extent of rain from Monday.

Mountain hazards

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.

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.
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.
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

Generally cloudy and wet through much of the day, clearing into the evening to become dry with some clear spells developing. Fresh to strong south westerly winds.

Time
Time
00:00
03:00
06:00
09:00
12:00
15:00
18:00
21:00
Weather
(at 800m)
Weather symbols Light rain Light rain Heavy Rain Heavy Rain Heavy Rain Light rain Sunny intervals Partly cloudy (night)
Chance of
precipitation
(at 800m)
Chance of precipitation
60%
60%
60%
70%
40%
40%
20%
10%

Wind direction and speed

Altitude above mean sea level
Time
Time
00:00
03:00
06:00
09:00
12:00
15:00
18:00
21:00
1300m
1300m SW 31mph knots
SW
31mph
SW 33mph knots
SW
33mph
SW 37mph knots
SW
37mph
SW 43mph knots
SW
43mph
SW 42mph knots
SW
42mph
SW 40mph knots
SW
40mph
SW 34mph knots
SW
34mph
SW 26mph knots
SW
26mph
900m
900m SW 18mph knots
SW
18mph
SW 23mph knots
SW
23mph
SW 26mph knots
SW
26mph
SW 29mph knots
SW
29mph
SW 29mph knots
SW
29mph
SW 27mph knots
SW
27mph
SW 24mph knots
SW
24mph
SW 18mph knots
SW
18mph
600m
600m SW 23mph knots
SW
23mph
SW 29mph knots
SW
29mph
SW 34mph knots
SW
34mph
SW 38mph knots
SW
38mph
SW 34mph knots
SW
34mph
SW 30mph knots
SW
30mph
SW 26mph knots
SW
26mph
SW 18mph knots
SW
18mph
300m
300m SW 12mph knots
SW
12mph
SW 13mph knots
SW
13mph
S 16mph knots
S
16mph
SW 19mph knots
SW
19mph
SW 20mph knots
SW
20mph
SW 18mph knots
SW
18mph
SW 14mph knots
SW
14mph
SW 9mph knots
SW
9mph
Glen
Glen SW 11mph knots
SW
11mph
SW 9mph knots
SW
9mph
SW 12mph knots
SW
12mph
SW 16mph knots
SW
16mph
SW 16mph knots
SW
16mph
SW 14mph knots
SW
14mph
SW 10mph knots
SW
10mph
SW 8mph knots
SW
8mph

Wind gust

Altitude above mean sea level
Time
Time
00:00
03:00
06:00
09:00
12:00
15:00
18:00
21:00
1300m
1300m 37mph 41mph 47mph 55mph 54mph 51mph 44mph 33mph
900m
900m 25mph 31mph 35mph 40mph 40mph 36mph 33mph 24mph
600m
600m 29mph 36mph 42mph 48mph 45mph 40mph 36mph 25mph
300m
300m 19mph 21mph 26mph 31mph 32mph 28mph 22mph 16mph
Glen
Glen 22mph 20mph 25mph 32mph 30mph 29mph 20mph 17mph

Altitude above mean sea level
Time
Time
00:00
03:00
06:00
09:00
12:00
15:00
18:00
21:00
1300m
1300m 3 degrees Celsius 0 degrees Celsius -2 degrees Celsius -1 degrees Celsius -1 degrees Celsius -1 degrees Celsius -2 degrees Celsius -3 degrees Celsius
900m
900m 7 degrees Celsius 4 degrees Celsius 3 degrees Celsius 3 degrees Celsius 3 degrees Celsius 3 degrees Celsius 2 degrees Celsius 2 degrees Celsius
600m
600m 8 degrees Celsius 6 degrees Celsius 4 degrees Celsius 5 degrees Celsius 5 degrees Celsius 6 degrees Celsius 5 degrees Celsius 4 degrees Celsius
300m
300m 11 degrees Celsius 10 degrees Celsius 8 degrees Celsius 8 degrees Celsius 8 degrees Celsius 9 degrees Celsius 9 degrees Celsius 8 degrees Celsius
Glen
Glen 13 degrees Celsius 12 degrees Celsius 11 degrees Celsius 10 degrees Celsius 11 degrees Celsius 12 degrees Celsius 12 degrees Celsius 11 degrees Celsius
Freezing Level Freezing Level
2600m
2100m
2300m
2500m
2500m
2500m
2200m
1900m

Additional weather information

Meteorologist's view

Note a change of type from previous day's clear conditions, more precipitation and stronger winds.

Weather

Cloud with rain, heavy at times, through much of the day, brightening into the late afternoon.

Chance of cloud-free hill tops

20% to begin, rising to 60% by the evening.

Low cloud and visibility

Summits generally cloudy through much of the day with cloud down to 400-600m, this slowly rising through the day. Visibility poor in cloud and rain, otherwise good.

Ground conditions

No recent ground conditions report available.

Summit specific forecast