Mountain weather
Southwest Highlands Mountain weather forecast table
Confidence
Please note we are aware of an issue affecting forecast wind speeds and gusts for higher-elevation sites (typically above 500m) displayed on the Met Office website and app. The winds shown here in our Mountain Area Forecasts are not affected by this. Our teams are actively working to correct the issue and updates will be deployed as soon as possible. High confidence in a continuing southeast airflow throughout this period.
This evening forecast
Cloudy with outbreaks of snow this evening. Drier in the north. Strong southeasterly winds. Very cold.
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.
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.
Mountain weather forecast
Cloudy with outbreaks of snow, drier in west. A band of snow spreads northeastwards through the evening. Gale force winds may reach storm force. Very cold.
| 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) |
30% | 30% | 30% | 30% | 30% | 30% | 60% | 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 |
SE
32
|
SE
30
|
SE
32
|
SE
38
|
SE
42
|
SE
48
|
SE
55
|
SE
53
|
| 900m |
SE
26
|
SE
25
|
SE
25
|
SE
26
|
SE
30
|
SE
31
|
SE
38
|
SE
37
|
| 600m |
NE
28
|
E
25
|
E
26
|
NE
20
|
NE
23
|
NE
30
|
SE
40
|
SE
42
|
| 300m |
NE
10
|
NE
10
|
NE
9
|
E
8
|
E
11
|
E
13
|
SE
20
|
SE
18
|
| Glen |
NE
11
|
NE
11
|
NE
9
|
E
6
|
E
7
|
E
8
|
NE
8
|
NE
9
|
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 | 39 | 38 | 40 | 46 | 51 | 58 | 68 | 66 |
| 900m | 38 | 36 | 36 | 37 | 41 | 44 | 52 | 52 |
| 600m | 33 | 35 | 34 | 26 | 30 | 38 | 50 | 53 |
| 300m | 14 | 16 | 13 | 14 | 19 | 20 | 34 | 32 |
| Glen | 19 | 19 | 16 | 12 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 |
Altitude above mean sea level
| Time | 00:00 | 03:00 | 06:00 | 09:00 | 12:00 | 15:00 | 18:00 | 21:00 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1300m |
-5°
|
-6°
|
-6°
|
-6°
|
-6°
|
-6°
|
-6°
|
-6°
|
| 900m |
-2°
|
-2°
|
-2°
|
-2°
|
-2°
|
-2°
|
-2°
|
-3°
|
| 600m |
1°
|
2°
|
1°
|
0°
|
0°
|
1°
|
0°
|
0°
|
| 300m |
3°
|
3°
|
3°
|
3°
|
3°
|
3°
|
3°
|
3°
|
| Glen |
5°
|
5°
|
5°
|
5°
|
6°
|
6°
|
5°
|
5°
|
| Freezing Level |
600m
|
500m
|
500m
|
500m
|
500m
|
600m
|
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 |
-15°
|
-15°
|
-16°
|
-16°
|
-17°
|
-17°
|
-18°
|
-18°
|
| 900m |
-10°
|
-10°
|
-11°
|
-11°
|
-11°
|
-11°
|
-12°
|
-12°
|
| 600m |
-7°
|
-5°
|
-6°
|
-6°
|
-6°
|
-7°
|
-8°
|
-8°
|
| 300m |
-1°
|
-1°
|
-1°
|
-1°
|
-1°
|
-1°
|
-3°
|
-3°
|
| Glen |
2°
|
1°
|
2°
|
3°
|
3°
|
3°
|
3°
|
2°
|
Additional weather information
Met Office Aberdeen meteorologist's view
Mostly dry away from the east but cold and windy so care still needed on the hills. Conditions deteriorating in the evening with snow across all parts and winds strengthening, this will make for tricky navigation and difficult walking conditions.
Weather
Cloudy with light snow in the east for much of the day, elsewhere staying largely dry with brighter spells. Through the evening rain and hill snow will spread northeastwards over all parts, snow falling above 400m. Strong to gale force winds may reach storm force later. Very cold.
Chance of cloud-free hill tops
10% in east, 40% further west. 10% in the evening.
Low cloud and visibility
Low cloud bases 600-800m, these most widespread in the east but more occasional elsewhere with breaks in the cloud and tops becoming cloud free at times. Visibility good outside of cloud but becoming poor in cloud and very poor in snow.
Mountain weather information
Weather
Cloudy with snow becoming heavy through the morning and persisting for much of the day. Turning drier again during the evening. Snow falling above 400m. Gale to storm force winds with blizzard conditions possible. Very cold with severe wind chill.
Chance of cloud-free hill tops
10%, best chance in the north and the evening.
Maximum wind speed expected
Southeasterly 50-60mph gust 75-85mph.
Temperature
- At 800m Minus 2 Celsius.
- Glen Plus 4 Celsius.
- Freezing level 500m.
Low cloud and visibility
Low cloud bases 300-500m, cloud especially thick on southern slopes with a few breaks possible in the north. Visibility very poor in cloud and snow.
Mountain weather information
Wed 28 Jan
Sunrise:
Sunset:
Cloudy with snow to start but becoming drier later. Gale to storm force southeasterly winds soon easing. Freezing level 800m.
Thu 29 Jan
Sunrise:
Sunset:
Mostly cloudy with some outbreaks of snow. Strong to gale force southeasterly winds. Freezing level 800m becoming 400m.
Fri 30 Jan
Sunrise:
Sunset:
Cloudy with a few snow showers. Strong southeasterly winds. Freezing level 500m.
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