Mountain weather

Southwest Highlands

Southwest Highlands Mountain weather forecast table

Confidence

High for changeable weather to continue into next week. Low for extent of rain on Tuesday and Wednesday.

Sunrise:
Sunset:
Mountain hazards

Mountain weather hazards

Hazards apply at or above 300m, reflecting the more severe conditions which can occur at altitude.

hazard 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.
hazard 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.

hazard 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.

hazard 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.
hazard 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.
hazard 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.
hazard Thunderstorms
Lightning is a significant mountain hazard which can result in serious injury or death. Mountain terrain often leaves one highly exposed to lightning strikes. Hail may give unpleasant conditions with torrential rain and localised flash flooding also possible, mainly in Summer months.
hazard 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.
hazard 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

Cold and windy with frequent showers, falling as snow above 800-900m.

Time 06:00 09:00 12:00 15:00 18:00 21:00
Weather
(at 800m)
Heavy rain Sleet Sleet shower (day) Sleet Heavy snow Heavy snow shower (night)
Chance of precipitation
(at 800m)
80% 80% 80% 80% 80% 80%

Wind direction and speed (mph)
Altitude above mean sea level
Time 06:00 09:00 12:00 15:00 18:00 21:00
1300m SW
43
SW
36
SW
38
SW
36
SW
35
SW
33
900m SW
29
SW
24
SW
27
SW
26
SW
23
SW
22
600m SW
41
SW
31
SW
32
SW
31
SW
27
SW
27
300m SW
18
SW
15
SW
17
SW
17
SW
14
SW
13
Glen SW
13
SW
12
SW
13
SW
12
SW
11
SW
9
Wind gust (mph)
Altitude above mean sea level
Time 06:00 09:00 12:00 15:00 18:00 21:00
1300m 53 45 47 45 43 41
900m 39 32 36 36 31 31
600m 48 38 41 39 34 35
300m 30 24 27 26 23 22
Glen 27 25 26 26 23 21

Altitude above mean sea level
Time 06:00 09:00 12:00 15:00 18:00 21:00
1300m
-2°
-2°
-2°
-2°
-3°
900m
600m
300m
Glen
Freezing Level
1,100m
1,000m
1,000m
900m
900m
800m

Altitude above mean sea level
Time 06:00 09:00 12:00 15:00 18:00 21:00
1300m
-10°
-11°
-11°
-11°
-12°
-12°
900m
-5°
-6°
-6°
-7°
-7°
-7°
600m
-3°
-4°
-4°
-4°
-4°
-4°
300m
Glen

Additional weather information

Met Office Aberdeen meteorologist's view

Be prepared for winter conditions on the higher tops with frequent snow showers, gales and severe wind chill. Progress will be slow with a risk of being blown over.

Weather

Variable amounts of cloud and blustery showers, these of rain on lower hills, but increasingly wintry higher up with snow above 800-900m, perhaps a little lower towards evening, and during the heaviest showers. Occasional blizzard conditions on the higher summits. Chance of an isolated thunderstorm, especially near to the west coast.

Chance of cloud-free hill tops

40%

Low cloud and visibility

Areas of cloud down to 800 metres as showers pass by with patches to 500m, and persistent cloud in some exposed areas above 1000m. Away from cloud, visibility good away from showers but falling to poor as the showers pass through especially above the snow line.

Sunrise:
Sunset:

Mountain weather information

Weather

Further showers during the morning, these frequent and occasionally heavy with snow above 800-900m . Showers will die out during the afternoon but rain, briefly preceded by higher summit snow, reaching Kintyre and Arran by mid afternoon, will extend northeast during the evening.

Chance of cloud-free hill tops

30% rising to 60%, best chance around middle of day, falling 10% during the evening

Maximum wind speed expected

Westerly average speeds of 40 mph with gusts to 60 mph on the higher tops, easing through the afternoon

Temperature

  • At 800m Minus 1 Celsius, rising to plus 3 Celsius late evening
  • Glen Plus 5 rising to 8 Celsius
  • Freezing level 1000 metres, rising above summits late evening

Low cloud and visibility

Poor in snow showers. Poor in areas of cloud down to 600-800 metres, although this tending to become less prevalent by afternoon. Cloud lowering to 600 metres later in the evening, lower still near the west coast.

Mountain weather information

Tue 24 Feb

Sunrise:
Sunset:

A mostly cloudy day with spells of rain mainly across the west of the area. Strong to gale summit southwesterly winds. Freezing level above summits.

Wed 25 Feb

Sunrise:
Sunset:

Cloudy with spells of rain. Strong southwesterly winds easing. Freezing level above summits.

Thu 26 Feb

Sunrise:
Sunset:

Variable amounts of cloud and a chance of showers, wintry on the tops. Freezing level 1200 metres.

Updated at:

Summit specific forecast

Mountain summit forecast map

Loading map…

For snow and avalanche hazard forecasts please visit Scottish Avalanche Information Service