Mountain weather

Mountain weather

Southwest Highlands

Confidence

High generally, medium for any showers.

Mountain hazards

Mountain weather hazards

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

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.

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.
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.

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.

Mountain weather forecast

A cloudy damp start then brightening up with sunny intervals and the odd shower. Fresh westerly winds.

Time
Time
06:00
09:00
12:00
15:00
18:00
21:00
Weather
(at 800m)
Weather symbols Heavy Rain Heavy Rain Sunny intervals Light rain showers Light rain showers Cloudy
Chance of
precipitation
(at 800m)
Chance of precipitation
80%
30%
20%
20%
30%
20%

Wind direction and speed

Altitude above mean sea level
Time
Time
06:00
09:00
12:00
15:00
18:00
21:00
1300m
1300m SW 28mph knots
SW
28mph
SW 22mph knots
SW
22mph
SW 21mph knots
SW
21mph
W 20mph knots
W
20mph
W 18mph knots
W
18mph
W 18mph knots
W
18mph
900m
900m SW 17mph knots
SW
17mph
SW 16mph knots
SW
16mph
W 16mph knots
W
16mph
W 17mph knots
W
17mph
W 15mph knots
W
15mph
W 13mph knots
W
13mph
600m
600m SW 19mph knots
SW
19mph
SW 18mph knots
SW
18mph
SW 16mph knots
SW
16mph
W 18mph knots
W
18mph
W 15mph knots
W
15mph
W 13mph knots
W
13mph
300m
300m SW 8mph knots
SW
8mph
SW 11mph knots
SW
11mph
W 11mph knots
W
11mph
W 11mph knots
W
11mph
W 9mph knots
W
9mph
SW 7mph knots
SW
7mph
Glen
Glen S 6mph knots
S
6mph
SW 9mph knots
SW
9mph
SW 8mph knots
SW
8mph
W 11mph knots
W
11mph
W 9mph knots
W
9mph
SW 5mph knots
SW
5mph

Wind gust

Altitude above mean sea level
Time
Time
06:00
09:00
12:00
15:00
18:00
21:00
1300m
1300m 33mph 27mph 27mph 26mph 24mph 23mph
900m
900m 21mph 21mph 21mph 23mph 20mph 17mph
600m
600m 23mph 22mph 22mph 24mph 20mph 17mph
300m
300m 14mph 16mph 16mph 18mph 14mph 12mph
Glen
Glen 12mph 15mph 14mph 20mph 17mph 10mph

Altitude above mean sea level
Time
Time
06:00
09:00
12:00
15:00
18:00
21:00
1300m
1300m -1 degrees Celsius -2 degrees Celsius -1 degrees Celsius -1 degrees Celsius -2 degrees Celsius -2 degrees Celsius
900m
900m 3 degrees Celsius 3 degrees Celsius 4 degrees Celsius 4 degrees Celsius 4 degrees Celsius 3 degrees Celsius
600m
600m 5 degrees Celsius 6 degrees Celsius 7 degrees Celsius 8 degrees Celsius 7 degrees Celsius 6 degrees Celsius
300m
300m 9 degrees Celsius 9 degrees Celsius 10 degrees Celsius 11 degrees Celsius 11 degrees Celsius 10 degrees Celsius
Glen
Glen 12 degrees Celsius 12 degrees Celsius 14 degrees Celsius 14 degrees Celsius 13 degrees Celsius 12 degrees Celsius
Freezing Level Freezing Level
1800m
1900m
1800m
1900m
1800m
1900m

Additional weather information

Meteorologist's view

Note the high sunburn risk once the cloud breaks up

Weather

Heavy overnight rain, clearing Mull around dawn, and these drier conditions extending south to all by mid morning. Then mainly dry with broken cloud and sunny intervals but a few brief showers are possible, in the afternoon and evening.

Chance of cloud-free hill tops

10% at first improving 80% during the morning.

Low cloud and visibility

Low cloud at 450-600m at first in morning with poor visibility at lower levels in heavy rain. Cloud then lifting to mainly above tops in afternoon with mainly good visibility, but some patches above 900m near showers.

Ground conditions

No recent ground conditions report available.

Summit specific forecast