Mountain weather
Northwest Highlands Mountain weather forecast table
Confidence
High for turning much more unsettled, lower for daily details.
This evening forecast
Mainly cloudy with a few showers, falling as snow above 800m, the odd heavy one near the west coast, few reaching the east. Patchy hill fog. Light winds.
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.
Strong Sunlight
Harmful UV levels from sunlight increase with altitude giving a greater risk of sunburn and eye damage, even on some overcast days. On breezy days, the cooling effect of wind on exposed skin may disguise any feeling of sunburn until it is too late. If there is snow cover, glare increases the effect of UV rays especially on the eyes. It is advisable to wear sun block, protective clothing such as a long-sleeved top and hat and have good quality eye protection.
Mountain weather forecast
Mainly dry and bright in east with some sunny intervals, but a few showers in the west with snow on the higher hills. Light winds.
| 00:00 | 03:00 | 06:00 | 09:00 | 12:00 | 15:00 | 18:00 | 21:00 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Weather (at 800m) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Chance of precipitation (at 800m) |
40% | 30% | 30% | 20% | 20% | 30% | 20% | 30% |
Wind direction and speed (mph)
Altitude above mean sea level
| 00:00 | 03:00 | 06:00 | 09:00 | 12:00 | 15:00 | 18:00 | 21:00 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1000m |
SW
11
|
S
8
|
SW
5
|
S
5
|
S
6
|
S
6
|
S
7
|
S
9
|
| 900m |
SW
11
|
S
9
|
SW
6
|
S
5
|
S
7
|
S
6
|
S
7
|
S
9
|
| 600m |
S
7
|
SW
5
|
S
4
|
S
3
|
S
5
|
S
4
|
S
5
|
S
7
|
| 300m |
SW
3
|
S
2
|
S
3
|
S
1
|
S
3
|
S
2
|
S
2
|
S
3
|
| Glen |
E
1
|
N
2
|
N
2
|
NE
2
|
S
2
|
S
1
|
SE
3
|
SE
3
|
Wind gust (mph)
Altitude above mean sea level
| 00:00 | 03:00 | 06:00 | 09:00 | 12:00 | 15:00 | 18:00 | 21:00 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1000m | 15 | 11 | 7 | 7 | 9 | 8 | 9 | 12 |
| 900m | 15 | 12 | 8 | 6 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 12 |
| 600m | 10 | 8 | 7 | 5 | 7 | 6 | 7 | 11 |
| 300m | 9 | 7 | 5 | 4 | 6 | 5 | 6 | 8 |
| Glen | 4 | 4 | 3 | 4 | 3 | 4 | 6 | 7 |
Altitude above mean sea level
| 00:00 | 03:00 | 06:00 | 09:00 | 12:00 | 15:00 | 18:00 | 21:00 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1000m |
-1°
|
-1°
|
-1°
|
-2°
|
-1°
|
-1°
|
-2°
|
-2°
|
| 900m |
0°
|
0°
|
0°
|
-1°
|
0°
|
0°
|
-1°
|
-2°
|
| 600m |
2°
|
2°
|
2°
|
1°
|
2°
|
2°
|
1°
|
1°
|
| 300m |
4°
|
3°
|
3°
|
2°
|
4°
|
4°
|
2°
|
2°
|
| Glen |
6°
|
5°
|
5°
|
5°
|
6°
|
6°
|
5°
|
5°
|
| Freezing Level |
900m
|
900m
|
900m
|
800m
|
800m
|
800m
|
700m
|
700m
|
Altitude above mean sea level
| 00:00 | 03:00 | 06:00 | 09:00 | 12:00 | 15:00 | 18:00 | 21:00 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1000m |
-6°
|
-5°
|
-4°
|
-4°
|
-4°
|
-5°
|
-6°
|
-6°
|
| 900m |
-5°
|
-4°
|
-4°
|
-4°
|
-4°
|
-4°
|
-5°
|
-6°
|
| 600m |
-1°
|
0°
|
0°
|
-1°
|
0°
|
0°
|
-2°
|
-3°
|
| 300m |
2°
|
2°
|
2°
|
0°
|
2°
|
3°
|
1°
|
0°
|
| Glen |
5°
|
5°
|
4°
|
4°
|
6°
|
6°
|
4°
|
3°
|
Additional weather information
Met Office Aberdeen meteorologist's view
Table looks fine
Weather
A lot of dry weather in east of area with variable cloud, and some clear, bright or sunny intervals. Occasional showers in the west, especially ranges closer to the west coast and over Skye, falling as snow above 700m.
Chance of cloud-free hill tops
40%
Low cloud and visibility
Broken or occasional cloud bases mostly 600-900m with some patches to 500m in west, and perhaps overcast in parts of west. Visibility away from cloud mostly good, but temporary deteriorations to moderate or poor in showers in west.
Mountain weather information
Weather
A mainly dry start but clouding over with rain, falling as snow above 500-600m arriving in the west in the morning extending northeast in the afternoon. This quite heavy for a time, before turning clearer with showers later, the showers falling as snow down to 400m, lower still in the evening.
Chance of cloud-free hill tops
20% rising 60% in evening
Maximum wind speed expected
South to southeast 35 gusts 50mph veering west to southwesterly later.
Temperature
- At 800m Minus 1 falling to Minus 3
- Glen Plus 4 falling to Plus 1 in the evening
- Freezing level 700m falling to 400m
Low cloud and visibility
Cloud at 450-750m, with poor visibility in rain and snow, then cloud becoming broken with mainly good visibility between showers in the evening
Mountain weather information
Fri 24 Jan
Sunrise:
Sunset:
Dry start to early hours but heavy snow later in night or early in the morning accompanied by southeasterly to easterly gales. The snow likely turning to rain on lower hills with the chance of a brief lull in the wind but storm force west or northwesterly winds will sweep in bringing frequent showers turning back to snow down to 450m, and to low levels in the evening. Some extreme conditions are expected with winds well in excess of 100mph on the mountains.
Sat 25 Jan
Sunrise:
Sunset:
Sunny intervals and occasional snow showers these becoming less frequent in the afternoon as the westerly gales gradually ease. Freezing levels around 300m.
Sun 26 Jan
Sunrise:
Sunset:
Probably dry for much of the day before cloud and snow arrive in the evening along with southeasterly gales.
Updated at:
Summit specific forecast
Mountain summit forecast map
Loading map…
Key
Mountain summits
Other points of interest
Cluster of multiple stations
Separated from the Grampians by the Great Glen the weather forecast area includes Wester Ross, Assynt, Sutherland, Knoydart, Torridon, Glen Affric and the Cuillin Hills on the Isle of Skye.
For snow and avalanche hazard forecasts please visit Scottish Avalanche Information Service