Mountain weather

Southwest Highlands

Southwest Highlands Mountain weather forecast table

Confidence

High confidence for continuing unsettled conditions with rain and showers at times. Low confidence for detail on Monday.

Sunrise:
Sunset:

This evening forecast

Cloudy with outbreaks of rain, heavy at times. Storm force southwest summit winds.

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 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 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 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.

Mountain weather forecast

Storm force summit winds will gradually decrease from the afternoon. Cloudy with increasing rain.

Time 00:00 03:00 06:00 09:00 12:00 15:00 18:00 21:00
Weather
(at 800m)
Heavy rain Cloudy Partly cloudy (night) Sunny intervals Heavy rain Heavy rain Heavy rain Sleet
Chance of precipitation
(at 800m)
80% 20% 10% 10% 60% 70% 40% 70%

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 SW
58
S
51
S
60
S
66
S
61
S
41
SW
25
SW
21
900m SW
39
SW
35
S
41
S
42
S
40
S
28
SW
17
SW
16
600m SW
52
SW
47
S
52
S
56
S
53
S
36
SW
17
SW
15
300m SW
28
S
24
S
27
S
28
S
28
S
18
S
8
SW
8
Glen SW
20
SW
18
S
18
S
15
S
17
S
13
SW
5
SW
5
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 71 62 74 81 75 51 31 26
900m 51 45 53 55 53 37 22 21
600m 64 57 64 68 66 44 22 19
300m 41 36 38 39 40 27 13 13
Glen 38 36 36 33 35 27 12 13

Altitude above mean sea level
Time 00:00 03:00 06:00 09:00 12:00 15:00 18:00 21:00
1300m
-1°
900m
600m
300m
Glen
10°
10°
11°
10°
Freezing Level
1,900m
1,300m
1,400m
1,900m
1,800m
1,600m
1,400m
1,200m

Altitude above mean sea level
Time 00:00 03:00 06:00 09:00 12:00 15:00 18:00 21:00
1300m
-7°
-10°
-12°
-11°
-9°
-6°
-6°
-6°
900m
-3°
-5°
-6°
-6°
-4°
-2°
-2°
-3°
600m
-1°
-2°
-3°
-1°
-1°
300m
Glen

Additional weather information

Met Office Aberdeen meteorologist's view

Storm force winds make walking almost impossible on exposed ground. It will feel bitterly cold in rain and the strong winds.

Weather

Early rain will clear to leave the overnight period dry with clear spells. After a dry start cloud will increase and thicken through the morning with rain soon spreading northeast. Storm force summit winds will gradually decrease from the afternoon.

Chance of cloud-free hill tops

30% soon lowering 10%.

Low cloud and visibility

Early cloud with base 700-900m will soon increase and lower to 400-600m. Early good visibility will fall poor in rain and cloud later.

Sunrise:
Sunset:

Mountain weather information

Weather

The morning will be dry with sunny spells. Cloud will increase during the afternoon with showers soon building in the northwest, wintry above 700m. The showers will be heavy and thundery at times.

Chance of cloud-free hill tops

80% lowering 40% in the afternoon.

Maximum wind speed expected

Southwest 25-30mph gust 45mph increasing 40-45mph gust 55mph by the afternoon.

Temperature

  • At 800m Plus 2C
  • Glen Plus 2C rising Plus 8C
  • Freezing level 800m rising 1000m

Low cloud and visibility

Patchy cloud 700-900m becomes broken 500-700m during the afternoon

Mountain weather information

Sat 13 Dec

Sunrise:
Sunset:

After a dry morning the afternoon becomes cloudy with persistent and heavy rain. Storm force southwest summit winds. Freezing level 1000m soon rising above the summits.

Sun 14 Dec

Sunrise:
Sunset:

Cloudy with scattered showers, wintry above 800m. Severe gale southwest summit winds. Freezing level 1000m lowering 800m later.

Mon 15 Dec

Sunrise:
Sunset:

Cloudy with outbreaks of rain, heavy at times. Storm force south summit winds. Freezing level 1000m.

Updated at:

Summit specific forecast

Mountain summit forecast map

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