Mountain weather

Mountain weather

Southwest Highlands

Confidence

High for showery on Friday and Saturday, then fair for Sunday, but lowering for detail of return to unsettled conditions from late Monday.

Mountain hazards

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.
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.

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.

Mountain weather forecast

A showery day with strong to gale summit winds.

Time
Time
06:00
09:00
12:00
15:00
18:00
21:00
Weather
(at 800m)
Weather symbols Light rain showers Light rain showers Light rain showers Heavy Rain Heavy Rain Heavy rain showers (night)
Chance of
precipitation
(at 800m)
Chance of precipitation
70%
60%
50%
70%
70%
60%

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 29mph knots
SW
29mph
SW 30mph knots
SW
30mph
SW 33mph knots
SW
33mph
SW 36mph knots
SW
36mph
SW 40mph knots
SW
40mph
SW 40mph knots
SW
40mph
900m
900m SW 21mph knots
SW
21mph
SW 23mph knots
SW
23mph
SW 27mph knots
SW
27mph
W 27mph knots
W
27mph
SW 27mph knots
SW
27mph
W 27mph knots
W
27mph
600m
600m SW 26mph knots
SW
26mph
SW 27mph knots
SW
27mph
SW 28mph knots
SW
28mph
SW 30mph knots
SW
30mph
SW 31mph knots
SW
31mph
SW 32mph knots
SW
32mph
300m
300m SW 12mph knots
SW
12mph
SW 13mph knots
SW
13mph
SW 16mph knots
SW
16mph
SW 18mph knots
SW
18mph
SW 17mph knots
SW
17mph
SW 15mph knots
SW
15mph
Glen
Glen SW 8mph knots
SW
8mph
SW 11mph knots
SW
11mph
SW 13mph knots
SW
13mph
SW 12mph knots
SW
12mph
SW 12mph knots
SW
12mph
SW 12mph knots
SW
12mph

Wind gust

Altitude above mean sea level
Time
Time
06:00
09:00
12:00
15:00
18:00
21:00
1300m
1300m 35mph 37mph 42mph 46mph 50mph 50mph
900m
900m 26mph 28mph 36mph 36mph 37mph 36mph
600m
600m 32mph 33mph 36mph 38mph 40mph 41mph
300m
300m 17mph 20mph 26mph 27mph 26mph 25mph
Glen
Glen 16mph 20mph 26mph 25mph 26mph 26mph

Altitude above mean sea level
Time
Time
06:00
09:00
12:00
15:00
18:00
21:00
1300m
1300m -4 degrees Celsius -4 degrees Celsius -5 degrees Celsius -6 degrees Celsius -6 degrees Celsius -6 degrees Celsius
900m
900m 0 degrees Celsius 0 degrees Celsius 1 degrees Celsius 0 degrees Celsius -1 degrees Celsius -2 degrees Celsius
600m
600m 2 degrees Celsius 2 degrees Celsius 3 degrees Celsius 2 degrees Celsius 2 degrees Celsius 1 degrees Celsius
300m
300m 6 degrees Celsius 7 degrees Celsius 8 degrees Celsius 7 degrees Celsius 6 degrees Celsius 5 degrees Celsius
Glen
Glen 10 degrees Celsius 10 degrees Celsius 12 degrees Celsius 10 degrees Celsius 9 degrees Celsius 8 degrees Celsius
Freezing Level Freezing Level
1700m
1700m
1600m
1600m
1600m
1500m

Additional weather information

Meteorologist's view

Severe wind chill at height in the strong to gale winds.

Weather

A day of showers and brighter spells. Outbreaks scattered and generally light through the morning, before building for the afternoon, and merging to longer periods of rain for a time, before dwindling mid to late evening.

Chance of cloud-free hill tops

During morning 80% in east, 30% in west, then in afternoon 50% in east, 20% in west.

Low cloud and visibility

Good falling moderate or poor in rain and showers, very poor within cloud which becomes quite extensive in the west for the afternoon.

Ground conditions

No recent ground conditions report available.

Summit specific forecast