Mountain weather
Southwest Highlands Mountain weather forecast table
Confidence
Generally high out to Wednesday. Some uncertainty in timing of heavier pulses of rain on Sunday and timing of rain on Wednesday. Low confidence in details for Thursday.
This evening forecast
Heavy rain and storm force southwest winds. Freezing level well above the summits.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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
Persistent, often heavy rain. Summit gales, perhaps storm force in the afternoon.
| 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) |
>95% | 80% | 70% | 80% | 80% | 80% | 90% | 80% |
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
53
|
SW
45
|
S
40
|
S
40
|
S
50
|
S
54
|
S
55
|
SW
34
|
| 900m |
SW
36
|
SW
31
|
SW
27
|
S
28
|
S
34
|
S
35
|
S
36
|
SW
23
|
| 600m |
SW
51
|
SW
43
|
S
37
|
S
36
|
S
45
|
S
45
|
S
46
|
SW
26
|
| 300m |
SW
25
|
SW
21
|
S
17
|
S
17
|
S
22
|
S
23
|
S
23
|
SW
13
|
| Glen |
SW
19
|
SW
16
|
SW
13
|
SW
11
|
S
16
|
S
15
|
SW
15
|
SW
12
|
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 | 65 | 55 | 49 | 50 | 62 | 67 | 68 | 43 |
| 900m | 48 | 41 | 37 | 37 | 44 | 46 | 48 | 31 |
| 600m | 62 | 52 | 45 | 44 | 56 | 56 | 57 | 34 |
| 300m | 36 | 31 | 26 | 25 | 31 | 33 | 34 | 21 |
| Glen | 37 | 32 | 27 | 24 | 33 | 31 | 32 | 24 |
Altitude above mean sea level
| Time | 00:00 | 03:00 | 06:00 | 09:00 | 12:00 | 15:00 | 18:00 | 21:00 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1300m |
4°
|
5°
|
4°
|
4°
|
4°
|
4°
|
4°
|
1°
|
| 900m |
6°
|
6°
|
6°
|
6°
|
6°
|
6°
|
6°
|
4°
|
| 600m |
8°
|
8°
|
8°
|
9°
|
9°
|
9°
|
8°
|
6°
|
| 300m |
10°
|
10°
|
10°
|
10°
|
10°
|
10°
|
10°
|
7°
|
| Glen |
11°
|
11°
|
11°
|
11°
|
12°
|
12°
|
12°
|
9°
|
| Freezing Level |
2,300m
|
2,000m
|
2,000m
|
2,300m
|
2,400m
|
2,400m
|
2,300m
|
1,600m
|
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°
|
-3°
|
-3°
|
-4°
|
-3°
|
-4°
|
-6°
|
| 900m |
0°
|
0°
|
0°
|
0°
|
0°
|
0°
|
0°
|
-2°
|
| 600m |
2°
|
2°
|
3°
|
4°
|
3°
|
3°
|
3°
|
0°
|
| 300m |
6°
|
6°
|
7°
|
7°
|
6°
|
6°
|
6°
|
4°
|
| Glen |
7°
|
8°
|
8°
|
9°
|
9°
|
9°
|
9°
|
7°
|
Additional weather information
Met Office Aberdeen meteorologist's view
Very challenging conditions on the hills with a high risk of being blown over. Heavy rain will make any river crossings hazardous, often impassable. Flooding of footpaths and access roads is possible.
Weather
Heavy rain is likely to ease during the early hours, but persistent rain continuing throughout the day, turning heavy at times, particularly in the morning and late afternoon, this, combined with summit gales increasing to storm force winds in the afternoon will give very challenging conditions on the hills. Rain beginning to ease late evening.
Chance of cloud-free hill tops
Nil
Low cloud and visibility
Very poor visibility in persistent extensive cloud down to lower slopes and heavy rain.
Mountain weather information
Weather
Any remaining rain will clear southeast in the early hours with some clear spells developing. Then a dry sunny morning, but very wet underfoot with many watercourses still high after previous rainfall. High cloud increases in the afternoon, with lower cloud and a chance of a few showers across western Lochaber in the evening.
Chance of cloud-free hill tops
80%
Maximum wind speed expected
Southwest 25 gusting 30-35 mph
Temperature
- At 800m Plus 2 Celsius.
- Glen Plus 3 Celsius rising to 7 Celsius.
- Freezing level 1000m.
Low cloud and visibility
Patchy cloud above 700m around dawn, gradually breaking up by mid-morning. Hills then largely cloud free with very good visibility, perhaps the odd patch of cloud on the higher summits in the west. More extensive cloud down to 700m late evening.
Mountain weather information
Tue 16 Dec
Sunrise:
Sunset:
A few showers possible across western hills, falling as snow above 700-800m, Otherwise dry. Some hill fog in the west, brighter in the east. Fresh to strong southwest winds. Freezing level 800-1000m.
Wed 17 Dec
Sunrise:
Sunset:
Strong south or southwest winds with summit gales, storm force at first. Rain, preceded by summit snow, spreads east, clearing later on. Freezing level rising above the summits, 1200m in the evening.
Thu 18 Dec
Sunrise:
Sunset:
Large uncertainty in details, but likely to be a stormy day with a risk of severe gales and heavy rain, perhaps snow at first on the tops. Freezing level rising above the summits.
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