Mountain weather
Southwest Highlands Mountain weather forecast table
Confidence
High for most aspects of the forecast. A couple of hours uncertainty on timing of rain on Sunday, and low confidence in exact wind speeds and rain amounts on Tuesday and Wednesday.
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.
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
Low cloud, heavy rain spreading northeast, sleet or snow on highest summits.
| Time | 06:00 | 09:00 | 12:00 | 15:00 | 18:00 | 21:00 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Weather (at 800m) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Chance of precipitation (at 800m) |
20% | 20% | 40% | >95% | 80% | 50% |
Wind direction and speed (mph)
Altitude above mean sea level
| Time | 06:00 | 09:00 | 12:00 | 15:00 | 18:00 | 21:00 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1300m |
S
19
|
SE
21
|
SE
24
|
SE
31
|
SE
33
|
SW
29
|
| 900m |
S
12
|
SE
15
|
SE
20
|
SE
24
|
SE
23
|
SW
20
|
| 600m |
S
13
|
SE
14
|
SE
14
|
SE
21
|
SE
24
|
SW
22
|
| 300m |
S
6
|
SE
11
|
E
11
|
E
14
|
E
10
|
SW
12
|
| Glen |
E
1
|
SE
5
|
S
4
|
NE
8
|
E
7
|
SW
7
|
Wind gust (mph)
Altitude above mean sea level
| Time | 06:00 | 09:00 | 12:00 | 15:00 | 18:00 | 21:00 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1300m | 23 | 25 | 30 | 38 | 41 | 36 |
| 900m | 16 | 19 | 26 | 32 | 31 | 27 |
| 600m | 15 | 17 | 19 | 27 | 30 | 28 |
| 300m | 9 | 17 | 20 | 22 | 16 | 19 |
| Glen | 4 | 10 | 9 | 17 | 15 | 16 |
Altitude above mean sea level
| Time | 06:00 | 09:00 | 12:00 | 15:00 | 18:00 | 21:00 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1300m |
2°
|
1°
|
0°
|
0°
|
0°
|
0°
|
| 900m |
3°
|
3°
|
2°
|
2°
|
2°
|
2°
|
| 600m |
6°
|
7°
|
7°
|
6°
|
6°
|
4°
|
| 300m |
8°
|
8°
|
7°
|
7°
|
7°
|
6°
|
| Glen |
7°
|
8°
|
9°
|
8°
|
8°
|
8°
|
| Freezing Level |
1,600m
|
1,400m
|
1,300m
|
1,500m
|
1,500m
|
1,200m
|
Altitude above mean sea level
| Time | 06:00 | 09:00 | 12:00 | 15:00 | 18:00 | 21:00 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1300m |
-4°
|
-5°
|
-7°
|
-8°
|
-8°
|
-8°
|
| 900m |
-1°
|
-2°
|
-3°
|
-4°
|
-4°
|
-4°
|
| 600m |
3°
|
4°
|
4°
|
2°
|
0°
|
-1°
|
| 300m |
7°
|
4°
|
4°
|
4°
|
4°
|
3°
|
| Glen |
7°
|
7°
|
8°
|
6°
|
6°
|
6°
|
Additional weather information
Met Office Aberdeen meteorologist's view
Difficult mountain conditions. Heavy rain may result in some flooding of paths and access roads. High water courses will make any river crossing hazardous. Note very wet conditions will enhance the wind-chill effect.
Weather
Low cloud with some patchy light rain or drizzle through the morning. Heavy rain spreads into Arran around late morning, then across all ranges by early afternoon, often sleet or wet snow above 1100m, persisting until after dark. Rain turning light and patchy from the southwest in the evening, but heavier showers towards midnight.
Chance of cloud-free hill tops
10%
Low cloud and visibility
Very poor visibility for much of the day. Persistent cloud down to lower slopes through the early hours and morning. The munro tops may get fleeting cloud breaks around lunchtime. Persistent cloud above 800m in the afternoon, patches to lower slopes but visibility poor on lower slopes in heavy rain. Cloud dropping to lower slopes again in the evening.
Mountain weather information
Weather
Low cloud and some patchy showery rain, snow at munro level, through the early hours. This turns to heavier more persistent rain and summit snow shortly before dawn, with further showery outbreaks of rain, snow at munro level, for much of the day, heavy at times. Turning drier around dusk with any remaining showers lighter. Dry by midnight.
Chance of cloud-free hill tops
Nil.
Maximum wind speed expected
Southwest 35-40 gusting 50-55 mph. Turning southerly in the evening.
Temperature
- At 800m Plus 3 Celsius.
- Glen Plus 2 Celsius rising to 6 Celsius.
- Freezing level 1200-1300m.
Low cloud and visibility
Very poor visibility in low cloud, bases 400m, occasionally lower slopes on western hills.
Mountain weather information
Tue 9 Dec
Sunrise:
Sunset:
Some uncertainty in details, but a very windy day with a high chance of storm force southwest winds across the tops and gales likely to lower levels. Outbreaks of often heavy rain throughout. Freezing levels above the summits.
Wed 10 Dec
Sunrise:
Sunset:
Very windy with storm force southwesterly summit winds and heavy rain, slowly easing through the day as winds turn northwesterly. Dry with moderate winds by evening. Freezing level 1400m, lowering to 1000m late evening.
Thu 11 Dec
Sunrise:
Sunset:
A dry bright start, but southerly winds increasing through the day with rain later. Freezing level 900m, rising above the summits.
Updated at:
Summit specific forecast
Mountain summit forecast map
Loading map…
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