Mountain weather

Southwest Highlands

Southwest Highlands Mountain weather forecast table

Confidence

High confidence through the period and for a change to more wintry conditions from Thursday.

Sunrise:
Sunset:

This evening forecast

Fog in the glens otherwise dry with clear periods and a light northeast summit wind.

Sunrise:
Sunset:
Mountain hazards

Mountain weather hazards

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

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.

Mountain weather forecast

Fog will affect the glens through the day otherwise most ranges will be dry. Light northeast summit winds freshen later.

Time 00:00 03:00 06:00 09:00 12:00 15:00 18:00 21:00
Weather
(at 800m)
Partly cloudy (night) Partly cloudy (night) Partly cloudy (night) Sunny intervals Sunny intervals Sunny intervals Partly cloudy (night) Partly cloudy (night)
Chance of precipitation
(at 800m)
00% 00% 00% 00% 20% 10% 00% 00%

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 NE
9
NE
9
NE
13
NE
14
NE
16
NE
19
E
19
E
16
900m NE
7
NE
10
NE
14
E
14
NE
15
NE
16
E
18
E
16
600m NE
9
NE
12
NE
16
NE
14
NE
14
NE
17
NE
18
E
17
300m NE
4
N
4
N
5
N
4
N
5
NE
7
N
6
W
5
Glen NE
2
N
3
NE
3
N
2
N
2
N
4
NE
6
NE
6
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 11 12 16 17 20 23 24 20
900m 9 12 17 18 20 21 23 21
600m 11 15 19 17 17 21 22 21
300m 7 6 6 6 7 10 9 8
Glen 6 6 9 6 4 11 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°
-2°
-3°
-4°
900m
-1°
-1°
-1°
-2°
-2°
600m
300m
Glen
-2°
-1°
-1°
-1°
Freezing Level
0m
100m
200m
600m
800m
700m
500m
500m

Altitude above mean sea level
Time 00:00 03:00 06:00 09:00 12:00 15:00 18:00 21:00
1300m
-4°
-3°
-4°
-6°
-8°
-9°
-10°
-10°
900m
-3°
-4°
-6°
-6°
-6°
-7°
-9°
-9°
600m
-4°
-4°
-3°
-3°
-3°
-4°
-5°
-5°
300m
-2°
-2°
-2°
-1°
-1°
-1°
-2°
Glen
-5°
-3°
-3°
-3°
-1°
-1°

Additional weather information

Met Office Aberdeen meteorologist's view

Fog will lower the visibility significantly at low levels but the peaks are likely to remain above the fog. Appropriate clothing will be required as it will feel bitterly cold from moderate heights in the fresh breeze.

Weather

Fog is likely to linger in the glens overnight and through much of the day. This will leave the peaks cloud free, cloud will then spread over northern parts from mid-morning with the odd shower following over the northeast during the afternoon, these wintry above 600m. A few bright or sunny spells are possible in the west and the south where the day will stay dry.

Chance of cloud-free hill tops

60%.

Low cloud and visibility

Fog will make the visibility very poor in the glens. Cloud will be patchy with base 700-900m during the morning, this cloud will increase in the north from late morning. The visibility will be mostly good above the fog.

Sunrise:
Sunset:

Mountain weather information

Weather

There remains a continuing risk of fog in the glens, though these may clear for a time in the afternoon. Above any low lying fog the day will stay dry with patchy cloud.

Chance of cloud-free hill tops

70%

Maximum wind speed expected

Northwest 10-15mph gust 25mph increasing 20-25mph gust 35mph by late afternoon

Temperature

  • At 800m Minus 4C
  • Glen Minus 3C rising plus 4C
  • Freezing level 700m

Low cloud and visibility

The visibility will be very poor in fog in the glens but good above about 400m. Patchy cloud with a base 700-900m will linger through the morning and the visibility will be good above the fog.

Mountain weather information

Wed 31 Dec

Sunrise:
Sunset:

Cloudy with showers spreading south and becoming frequent and wintry at height from the afternoon. Gale westerly summit winds, increase severe gale at times. Freezing level 1000m.

Thu 1 Jan

Sunrise:
Sunset:

Bright spells interspersed with snow showers, these falling as snow to low levels. Gale northwest summit winds. Freezing level 300m.

Fri 2 Jan

Sunrise:
Sunset:

Cloudy with frequent snow showers. Strong northwest summit winds. Freezing level 200m.

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