Mountain weather
Northwest Highlands Mountain weather forecast table
Confidence
High for a changeable week, lower for rain timings on Wednesday and Friday
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.
Mountain weather forecast
Mainly dry with some sunny spells. Cloudier over Skye and Lochalsh. Strengthening south to southeast winds with summit gales
| 06:00 | 09:00 | 12:00 | 15:00 | 18:00 | 21:00 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Weather (at 800m) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Chance of precipitation (at 800m) |
<05% | <05% | <05% | <05% | <05% | 10% |
Wind direction and speed (mph)
Altitude above mean sea level
| 06:00 | 09:00 | 12:00 | 15:00 | 18:00 | 21:00 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1000m |
S
41
|
S
38
|
S
36
|
S
35
|
S
34
|
SE
34
|
| 900m |
S
38
|
S
36
|
S
33
|
S
31
|
S
30
|
SE
28
|
| 600m |
S
26
|
S
25
|
S
25
|
S
23
|
S
20
|
SE
17
|
| 300m |
S
1
|
S
2
|
S
5
|
S
4
|
SE
2
|
E
2
|
| Glen |
SE
3
|
E
8
|
SE
8
|
SE
10
|
SE
9
|
SE
9
|
Wind gust (mph)
Altitude above mean sea level
| 06:00 | 09:00 | 12:00 | 15:00 | 18:00 | 21:00 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1000m | 48 | 45 | 44 | 43 | 41 | 41 |
| 900m | 44 | 43 | 40 | 39 | 37 | 35 |
| 600m | 34 | 32 | 33 | 30 | 28 | 24 |
| 300m | 24 | 23 | 25 | 24 | 18 | 14 |
| Glen | 11 | 16 | 18 | 23 | 22 | 23 |
Altitude above mean sea level
| 06:00 | 09:00 | 12:00 | 15:00 | 18:00 | 21:00 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1000m |
3°
|
3°
|
5°
|
6°
|
6°
|
7°
|
| 900m |
4°
|
4°
|
6°
|
6°
|
6°
|
7°
|
| 600m |
6°
|
6°
|
8°
|
9°
|
9°
|
9°
|
| 300m |
6°
|
8°
|
10°
|
11°
|
10°
|
10°
|
| Glen |
8°
|
10°
|
13°
|
14°
|
13°
|
13°
|
| Freezing Level |
1,900m
|
1,900m
|
2,000m
|
2,100m
|
2,100m
|
2,800m
|
Altitude above mean sea level
| 06:00 | 09:00 | 12:00 | 15:00 | 18:00 | 21:00 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1000m |
-5°
|
-4°
|
-2°
|
-1°
|
0°
|
1°
|
| 900m |
-4°
|
-3°
|
0°
|
1°
|
1°
|
2°
|
| 600m |
0°
|
1°
|
4°
|
5°
|
5°
|
6°
|
| 300m |
6°
|
7°
|
10°
|
10°
|
9°
|
10°
|
| Glen |
7°
|
9°
|
12°
|
12°
|
11°
|
12°
|
Additional weather information
Met Office Aberdeen meteorologist's view
Summit winds could be 10-15mph stronger than the table shows in some areas.
Weather
Most ranges staying dry with sunny spells. More in the way of cloud over Skye and perhaps parts of Lochalsh and Knoydart. Staying generally dry but some spots of drizzle likely over the Cuillin Range then a chance of heavier bursts in the evening in the southwest.
Chance of cloud-free hill tops
90% for most ranges but 30% for Skye and 50% in Lochalsh and Knoydart.
Low cloud and visibility
Mainly good visibility with cloud well above the summits. More cloud at times over Skye, Knoydart and Lochalsh, bases 600-800m.
Mountain weather information
Weather
Cloudy with outbreaks of rain, some heavy with the chance of thunder, but some drier brighter spells too.
Chance of cloud-free hill tops
30% - some clearances but not reliable
Maximum wind speed expected
South to southeast 40 gusts 60mph in the morning gradually easing 25 gusts 40 in afternoon and easing further in the evening.
Temperature
- At 800m Plus 6 rising to Plus 9 Celsius
- Glen Plus 12 rising to Plus 15 Celsius
- Freezing level Above the summits
Low cloud and visibility
Frequent cloud at 750-900m with patches to 400m over Skye. Higher bases over Sutherland with a few breaks. Poor visibility even outwith cloud at times in heavier areas of rain.
Mountain weather information
Thu 17 Oct
Sunrise:
Sunset:
A brighter day with some sunny spells and lighter south to southwesterly winds. Perhaps a few showers in west later.
Fri 18 Oct
Sunrise:
Sunset:
A dry start then cloudy with spells of rain, hill fog and south to southwesterly gales. Probably brightening up later. Low confidence regarding onset and cessation of rain.
Sat 19 Oct
Sunrise:
Sunset:
Brighter again with some sunshine, perhaps a few showers, less windy. Freezing levels lowering a little but probably staying 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
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