Mountain weather
Southwest Highlands Mountain weather forecast table
Confidence
High confidence in generally unsettled conditions. Low confidence in details Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday.
This evening forecast
Showers feed in from the west through the evening, heavy at times and falling as snow above 700-800m. Visibilities falling poor and cloud extensive down to 500-700m as showers pass through with limited temporary breaks in-between. Southwest winds 35-45mph, gusting 45-60mph at times. Feeling cold at height.
Mountain weather hazards
Hazards apply at or above 300m, reflecting the more severe conditions which can occur at altitude.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Mountain weather forecast
Heavy showers morning. Drier afternoon. Rain evening.
| 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) |
90% | 90% | 80% | 80% | 50% | 30% | 50% | 90% |
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
36
|
SW
36
|
SW
41
|
SW
41
|
W
35
|
SW
26
|
S
17
|
SE
17
|
| 900m |
SW
25
|
SW
25
|
SW
26
|
W
25
|
W
25
|
W
20
|
SW
13
|
SE
14
|
| 600m |
SW
31
|
SW
28
|
SW
30
|
SW
29
|
SW
28
|
SW
19
|
S
13
|
S
12
|
| 300m |
SW
15
|
SW
16
|
SW
15
|
SW
14
|
W
14
|
SW
11
|
S
6
|
S
6
|
| Glen |
SW
10
|
SW
13
|
SW
12
|
SW
11
|
W
12
|
SW
9
|
SW
5
|
S
7
|
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 | 46 | 46 | 50 | 51 | 45 | 34 | 22 | 21 |
| 900m | 35 | 34 | 35 | 35 | 35 | 27 | 17 | 18 |
| 600m | 40 | 37 | 39 | 38 | 37 | 27 | 17 | 17 |
| 300m | 26 | 26 | 24 | 24 | 23 | 18 | 12 | 13 |
| Glen | 23 | 27 | 25 | 27 | 26 | 18 | 13 | 12 |
Altitude above mean sea level
| Time | 00:00 | 03:00 | 06:00 | 09:00 | 12:00 | 15:00 | 18:00 | 21:00 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1300m |
-2°
|
-2°
|
-2°
|
-2°
|
-1°
|
-1°
|
-1°
|
-1°
|
| 900m |
0°
|
0°
|
0°
|
1°
|
2°
|
2°
|
2°
|
1°
|
| 600m |
2°
|
2°
|
3°
|
3°
|
4°
|
5°
|
4°
|
4°
|
| 300m |
5°
|
5°
|
5°
|
6°
|
7°
|
7°
|
6°
|
6°
|
| Glen |
6°
|
6°
|
7°
|
8°
|
9°
|
10°
|
8°
|
7°
|
| Freezing Level |
1,000m
|
1,000m
|
1,000m
|
1,000m
|
1,100m
|
1,100m
|
1,100m
|
1,500m
|
Altitude above mean sea level
| Time | 00:00 | 03:00 | 06:00 | 09:00 | 12:00 | 15:00 | 18:00 | 21:00 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1300m |
-11°
|
-11°
|
-11°
|
-12°
|
-10°
|
-8°
|
-7°
|
-7°
|
| 900m |
-7°
|
-7°
|
-7°
|
-6°
|
-5°
|
-4°
|
-3°
|
-4°
|
| 600m |
-5°
|
-4°
|
-4°
|
-4°
|
-2°
|
0°
|
0°
|
0°
|
| 300m |
0°
|
0°
|
1°
|
1°
|
3°
|
4°
|
4°
|
4°
|
| Glen |
3°
|
3°
|
3°
|
5°
|
6°
|
8°
|
7°
|
6°
|
Additional weather information
Met Office Aberdeen meteorologist's view
Gusts of perhaps 45-60mph over the highest summits in the morning 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. Feeling cold at height so suitable clothing is advised. Keep up to date with the latest forecast from the Scottish Avalanche Information Service (SAIS). Underfoot conditions may still be quite icy at moderate elevations with ongoing thaw of snow.
Weather
Quite frequent showers feed in from the west through the morning, falling as snow above 900-1000m, and heavy at times with a small risk of thunder. These showers will die out through the early afternoon, becoming mostly dry for a time. Then cloud and rain spread northeast through the evening. Strong winds in the morning will ease in the afternoon.
Chance of cloud-free hill tops
25% or less at first, rising 70% in the afternoon. Falling 20% or less in the evening.
Low cloud and visibility
Quite extensive cloud down to 500-700m and visibilities falling poor as showers pass through. Limited and temporary clear breaks in the morning, becoming more frequent and prolonged in the afternoon with only patches of cloud around summit height. Cloud becomes extensive again in the southwest through the evening.
Mountain weather information
Weather
Low confidence. Rain clears north in the early hours. Then cloudy but mainly dry in the morning. Further rain spreads east in the evening. Chance of persistent and at times heavy rain lasting all day towards Mull, Lochaber and Moidart. Strong winds. A touch milder than Monday, but still cold at height.
Chance of cloud-free hill tops
25% or less.
Maximum wind speed expected
South to southwest 35-45mph, gusting 50-60mph possible at height.
Temperature
- At 800m Plus 2C to plus 5C.
- Glen Plus 7C rising to plus 11C.
- Freezing level 1400-1600m or higher.
Low cloud and visibility
Quite extensive cloud down to 400-600m with poor visibilities in hill fog and outbreaks of rain.
Mountain weather information
Wed 25 Feb
Sunrise:
Sunset:
Cloud and rain, clearing later in the day. Freezing level above summits falling to 1200-1400m or so later. Strong southerly winds easing.
Thu 26 Feb
Sunrise:
Sunset:
Rain or showers, heavy at times. Strong southwest winds. Freezing level around 1200-1400m.
Fri 27 Feb
Sunrise:
Sunset:
Rain in the morning, then showers, heavy at times. Strong southwest winds veer northwest. Freezing level around 1200-1400m falling to 600m or so later
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