Mountain weather
Southwest Highlands Mountain weather forecast table
Confidence
High for general evolution, but low for precipitation details on Wednesday and Thursday, and again on Sunday.
This evening forecast
Dry with clear spells through the evening with summits staying clear and good visibilities. Feeling cold in strengthening southerly winds, 30-40mph.
Mountain weather hazards
Hazards apply at or above 300m, reflecting the more severe conditions which can occur at altitude.
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.
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
Cloudy with outbreaks of rain. Chilly. Gusty.
| 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) |
<05% | 20% | 40% | 70% | 80% | 70% | 60% | 40% |
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
24
|
SE
30
|
SE
30
|
S
31
|
S
33
|
S
32
|
S
30
|
S
37
|
| 900m |
SE
17
|
S
19
|
SE
18
|
S
19
|
S
20
|
S
21
|
S
20
|
S
23
|
| 600m |
S
12
|
S
20
|
S
15
|
S
17
|
S
21
|
S
23
|
S
24
|
S
28
|
| 300m |
S
6
|
SE
8
|
S
6
|
S
6
|
S
10
|
S
13
|
S
12
|
S
14
|
| Glen |
S
3
|
S
3
|
S
5
|
S
6
|
SW
7
|
S
8
|
SW
8
|
S
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 | 29 | 36 | 37 | 38 | 41 | 42 | 40 | 47 |
| 900m | 23 | 26 | 24 | 26 | 28 | 30 | 30 | 33 |
| 600m | 16 | 26 | 20 | 22 | 28 | 31 | 33 | 37 |
| 300m | 10 | 14 | 10 | 11 | 18 | 22 | 22 | 24 |
| Glen | 7 | 10 | 10 | 13 | 16 | 19 | 17 | 22 |
Altitude above mean sea level
| Time | 00:00 | 03:00 | 06:00 | 09:00 | 12:00 | 15:00 | 18:00 | 21:00 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1300m |
-2°
|
-3°
|
-3°
|
-1°
|
0°
|
1°
|
1°
|
1°
|
| 900m |
-2°
|
-2°
|
-1°
|
1°
|
2°
|
3°
|
3°
|
3°
|
| 600m |
3°
|
2°
|
3°
|
4°
|
5°
|
6°
|
6°
|
6°
|
| 300m |
4°
|
3°
|
4°
|
5°
|
7°
|
8°
|
8°
|
7°
|
| Glen |
4°
|
4°
|
6°
|
6°
|
8°
|
9°
|
9°
|
9°
|
| Freezing Level |
600m
|
700m
|
1,200m
|
1,500m
|
1,500m
|
1,500m
|
1,500m
|
1,600m
|
Altitude above mean sea level
| Time | 00:00 | 03:00 | 06:00 | 09:00 | 12:00 | 15:00 | 18:00 | 21:00 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1300m |
-10°
|
-12°
|
-11°
|
-8°
|
-8°
|
-7°
|
-6°
|
-7°
|
| 900m |
-8°
|
-8°
|
-7°
|
-5°
|
-4°
|
-3°
|
-2°
|
-3°
|
| 600m |
-1°
|
-3°
|
-2°
|
-1°
|
-1°
|
1°
|
1°
|
0°
|
| 300m |
2°
|
0°
|
2°
|
3°
|
4°
|
5°
|
4°
|
4°
|
| Glen |
2°
|
3°
|
4°
|
5°
|
6°
|
8°
|
8°
|
7°
|
Additional weather information
Met Office Aberdeen meteorologist's view
Gusty winds will give difficult walking conditions with a risk of being blown off balance. Navigation could be challenging with energy output significantly increased when walking into the wind. Chance of gale force gusts over the highest summits.
Weather
Dry with clear spells at first with some frost developing, starting to cloud over from the south before dawn. Cloud continuing to spread north through the morning with some showery outbreaks of rain at times, remaining similar through the rest of the day. Feeling cold at height with occasionally strong, gusty winds.
Chance of cloud-free hill tops
Falling little to no chance by dawn
Low cloud and visibility
Clear summits and good visibilities in the early hours but quite widespread cloud down to 400-600m spreading north through the early morning with visibilities falling moderate or poor in hill fog and rain.
Mountain weather information
Weather
Cloud and rain push east through the day, clearing east through the late afternoon to allow some dry and clear spells to develop. Rain turning to snow on the summits from late morning as the freezing level falls. The odd shower may follow from the west through the evening. Feeling cold.
Chance of cloud-free hill tops
Little chance in the morning. Rising to 90% by evening.
Maximum wind speed expected
Southerly 35-45mph - possibly gusting up to 60mph - at first, easing and veering west to northwest.
Temperature
- At 800m Plus 3C falling to minus 2C.
- Glen Plus 7C to plus 10C.
- Freezing level 1600m falling to 500m.
Low cloud and visibility
Widespread low cloud down to 400-600m and poor visibilities in hill fog and rain or summit snow in the morning. Cloud lifting and clearing through the afternoon to allow mostly clear summits and good visibilities, conditions will temporarily deteriorate again should any showers pass through.
Mountain weather information
Fri 6 Mar
Sunrise:
Sunset:
Dry with bright or sunny spells, likely cloudier later. Freezing level rising to around 1000m. Strong south to southwest winds developing.
Sat 7 Mar
Sunrise:
Sunset:
Staying dry with bright spells and variable cloud. Strong to gale south to southwest winds. Freezing level around 1200m.
Sun 8 Mar
Sunrise:
Sunset:
Bright spells and variable cloud. Chance of some showery rain spreading north. Fresh to strong southerly winds. Freezing level around 1000-1200m.
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