Mountain weather
Southwest Highlands Mountain weather forecast table
Confidence
High for a changeable southeasterly flow to persist for the next few days. Low for detail for precipitation on a daily basis. Please note we are aware of an issue affecting forecast wind speeds and gusts for higher-elevation sites (typically above 500m) displayed on the Met Office website and app. The winds shown here in our Mountain Area Forecasts are not affected by this. Our teams are actively working to correct the issue and updates will be deployed as soon as possible.
This evening forecast
Cloudy with snow showers, and strong to gale summit winds leading to severe wind chill.
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.
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.
Heavy Persistent Snow
Heavy snow can lead to rapid changes in underfoot conditions and paths may become treacherous or hidden. It also brings very poor visibility and often makes navigation much more challenging. When deep snow accumulates progress is often time consuming and strenuous, significantly affecting the distance one can travel on foot. Deep drifts can develop if snow is combined with strong winds. A heightened avalanche risk is possible and avalanche reports should be consulted where available.
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.
Mountain weather forecast
Cold and windy with snow and severe wind chill. Drier in the northwest.
| 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) |
20% | 20% | 50% | 50% | 50% | 50% | 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
33
|
SE
39
|
SE
44
|
SE
45
|
SE
47
|
SE
41
|
SE
37
|
SE
35
|
| 900m |
SE
29
|
SE
30
|
SE
34
|
SE
35
|
SE
32
|
SE
31
|
SE
28
|
SE
27
|
| 600m |
SE
34
|
NE
26
|
NE
29
|
E
35
|
E
39
|
SE
39
|
E
31
|
E
29
|
| 300m |
E
13
|
NE
12
|
NE
14
|
NE
13
|
E
14
|
E
13
|
E
12
|
NE
10
|
| Glen |
E
7
|
NE
10
|
NE
12
|
NE
12
|
NE
13
|
NE
13
|
E
11
|
NE
9
|
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 | 44 | 47 | 54 | 55 | 58 | 53 | 47 | 44 |
| 900m | 42 | 43 | 48 | 49 | 45 | 43 | 41 | 39 |
| 600m | 45 | 33 | 36 | 44 | 48 | 49 | 40 | 39 |
| 300m | 21 | 18 | 20 | 21 | 23 | 24 | 21 | 19 |
| Glen | 12 | 17 | 21 | 22 | 22 | 21 | 21 | 17 |
Altitude above mean sea level
| Time | 00:00 | 03:00 | 06:00 | 09:00 | 12:00 | 15:00 | 18:00 | 21:00 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1300m |
-7°
|
-7°
|
-7°
|
-6°
|
-6°
|
-5°
|
-5°
|
-5°
|
| 900m |
-3°
|
-4°
|
-3°
|
-3°
|
-2°
|
-2°
|
-2°
|
-2°
|
| 600m |
0°
|
-1°
|
0°
|
0°
|
1°
|
1°
|
1°
|
2°
|
| 300m |
2°
|
2°
|
2°
|
2°
|
3°
|
3°
|
3°
|
3°
|
| Glen |
4°
|
4°
|
4°
|
5°
|
5°
|
6°
|
6°
|
6°
|
| Freezing Level |
400m
|
400m
|
400m
|
400m
|
500m
|
600m
|
600m
|
600m
|
Altitude above mean sea level
| Time | 00:00 | 03:00 | 06:00 | 09:00 | 12:00 | 15:00 | 18:00 | 21:00 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1300m |
-17°
|
-18°
|
-19°
|
-18°
|
-18°
|
-16°
|
-16°
|
-15°
|
| 900m |
-12°
|
-13°
|
-13°
|
-13°
|
-12°
|
-11°
|
-11°
|
-10°
|
| 600m |
-8°
|
-8°
|
-8°
|
-8°
|
-8°
|
-7°
|
-6°
|
-5°
|
| 300m |
-3°
|
-3°
|
-3°
|
-2°
|
-2°
|
-1°
|
-1°
|
-1°
|
| Glen |
2°
|
1°
|
0°
|
1°
|
1°
|
2°
|
2°
|
3°
|
Additional weather information
Met Office Aberdeen meteorologist's view
Wind speeds will reach 60 to 70 mph at times across the higher tops of the Nevis ranges. Strong winds at height will lead to severe wind chill and drifting of fresh snow.
Weather
Scattered snow showers across the Trossachs and eastern Argyll in the early hours, largely dry elsewhere. Persistent snow will spread Kintyre and Loch Lomond around dawn then quickly northwards across most of Argyll. Snow will then persist across most of Argyll except the far northwest for the rest of the day. Elsewhere there will be a few snow showers.
Chance of cloud-free hill tops
30%, best chance across southern Lochaber and northwest Argyll
Low cloud and visibility
Poor in snow and widespread low cloud down to 400 to 700 metres, lowest bases along coastal ranges. Cloud somewhat higher and more broken in the northwest with patches down to 800 metres.
Mountain weather information
Weather
Spells of snow across southern Argyll through the day. Elsewhere it will be dry but with a good deal of cloud although some breaks in the northwest.
Chance of cloud-free hill tops
40%, best chance across the northwest of the area
Maximum wind speed expected
Southeasterly average speeds of 25 mph with gusts to 45 mph on the higher tops
Temperature
- At 800m 0 Celsius
- Glen Plus 2 rising to 5 Celsius
- Freezing level 800 metres
Low cloud and visibility
Poor in snow and extensive low cloud down to 500 to 800 metres, but only patches down to 800 metres across northwest Argyll and southern Lochaber with much better visibility.
Mountain weather information
Sun 1 Feb
Sunrise:
Sunset:
Generally dry with broken cloud and light winds, small chance of a snow shower. Freezing level 800 metres.
Mon 2 Feb
Sunrise:
Sunset:
Snow showers likely across southern and eastern Argyll, otherwise dry and windy. Strong to gale summit southeasterly winds. Freezing level 600 metres.
Tue 3 Feb
Sunrise:
Sunset:
Snow showers in the east of the area otherwise dry. Spells of snow may spread north later in the day. Strong to gale southeasterly summit winds. Freezing level 600 metres.
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