Mountain weather
Southwest Highlands Mountain weather forecast table
Confidence
High confidence for drier, brighter conditions in high pressure until Saturday evening then bands of rain or snow pushing east Saturday night into Monday with drier conditions returning Tuesday. Lower confidence in rain or snow detail.
This evening forecast
The occasional clear spell interspersed with the odd light shower, wintry on the hills. Fresh westerly summit winds.
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.
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 sunny periods and a freshening south to southeast summit wind.
| 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% | 00% | 00% | 00% | 00% | 00% | 30% |
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 |
E
14
|
E
11
|
SE
8
|
S
5
|
S
10
|
S
20
|
S
27
|
SE
34
|
| 900m |
N
6
|
NW
4
|
W
4
|
S
5
|
S
9
|
S
15
|
S
20
|
S
23
|
| 600m |
SE
5
|
SW
5
|
SW
4
|
S
5
|
SE
8
|
S
16
|
S
25
|
S
31
|
| 300m |
SE
4
|
E
3
|
E
3
|
S
2
|
SW
5
|
S
10
|
S
10
|
SE
14
|
| Glen |
SW
1
|
S
1
|
SE
1
|
E
1
|
S
3
|
S
7
|
S
7
|
S
8
|
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 | 16 | 13 | 9 | 7 | 13 | 25 | 34 | 41 |
| 900m | 8 | 7 | 6 | 6 | 12 | 20 | 28 | 31 |
| 600m | 6 | 6 | 5 | 6 | 10 | 20 | 30 | 39 |
| 300m | 5 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 7 | 16 | 18 | 22 |
| Glen | 3 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 6 | 13 | 17 | 19 |
Altitude above mean sea level
| Time | 00:00 | 03:00 | 06:00 | 09:00 | 12:00 | 15:00 | 18:00 | 21:00 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1300m |
-5°
|
-5°
|
-5°
|
-5°
|
-5°
|
-5°
|
-6°
|
-6°
|
| 900m |
-5°
|
-5°
|
-5°
|
-4°
|
-1°
|
-1°
|
-3°
|
-3°
|
| 600m |
0°
|
0°
|
0°
|
0°
|
1°
|
2°
|
1°
|
1°
|
| 300m |
2°
|
1°
|
1°
|
2°
|
3°
|
4°
|
3°
|
2°
|
| Glen |
2°
|
0°
|
0°
|
2°
|
6°
|
7°
|
5°
|
4°
|
| Freezing Level |
200m
|
100m
|
100m
|
0m
|
300m
|
400m
|
400m
|
500m
|
Altitude above mean sea level
| Time | 00:00 | 03:00 | 06:00 | 09:00 | 12:00 | 15:00 | 18:00 | 21:00 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1300m |
-12°
|
-11°
|
-10°
|
-8°
|
-11°
|
-13°
|
-15°
|
-16°
|
| 900m |
-9°
|
-8°
|
-8°
|
-7°
|
-6°
|
-7°
|
-10°
|
-11°
|
| 600m |
-3°
|
-3°
|
-3°
|
-3°
|
-3°
|
-4°
|
-6°
|
-7°
|
| 300m |
0°
|
0°
|
0°
|
0°
|
1°
|
1°
|
-1°
|
-2°
|
| Glen |
0°
|
-2°
|
-2°
|
1°
|
4°
|
4°
|
2°
|
1°
|
Additional weather information
Met Office Aberdeen meteorologist's view
While the day stays dry and bright it will continue to feel bitterly cold in the strengthening summit wind.
Weather
The odd remaining shower over Lochaber will clear overnight. The morning will begin frosty but dry with cloud over western coastal ranges at first and sunny periods in the east. Dry conditions continue through the day with sunny periods for most. Cloud will build for a time in the afternoon but will clear later with a band of cloud moving in from the west from the late afternoon. Outbreaks of rain and hill snow follow from the late evening.
Chance of cloud-free hill tops
90%, becoming 30% during evening.
Low cloud and visibility
The visibility will be mainly good with cloud patchy 400-600m at first, rising to 1000-1200m by the afternoon. Cloud becoming more extensive above 600m during the evening.
Mountain weather information
Weather
Cloudy with outbreaks of rain and hill snow, heavy at times, moving northeast across the area in the morning. The snow will fall to 500-600m. After a brief break around mid-morning showers follow from the southwest, these heavy at times. Further outbreaks of locally heavy rain build from the west from the late afternoon.
Chance of cloud-free hill tops
40%.
Maximum wind speed expected
South 30-35mph gust 45mph increasing 40-45mph gust 55mph for a time around midday.
Temperature
- At 800m Plus 3C.
- Glen Minus 1C rising to plus 8C
- Freezing level 800m soon rising above the summits.
Low cloud and visibility
Extensive cloud with base 700-900m will lower to 400-600m in rain or snow. The visibility will fall poor at times in rain or snow.
Mountain weather information
Mon 2 Mar
Sunrise:
Sunset:
Outbreaks of locally heavy rain with hill snow turns showery by the afternoon. Near gale southerly summit winds turn northwest later. Freezing level above the summits lowering to 500m later.
Tue 3 Mar
Sunrise:
Sunset:
A dry day with sunny spells becoming cloudy in the afternoon. Near gale westerly summit winds. Freezing level 500m rising to 1000m later.
Wed 4 Mar
Sunrise:
Sunset:
Dry and bright becoming cloudy in the afternoon with rain or snow towards the evening. Near gale southerly summit winds. Freezing level 800m.
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