Mountain weather
Southwest Highlands Mountain weather forecast table
Confidence
High initially, becoming low by Monday due to uncertainty on a developing low in the south.
Mountain weather hazards
Hazards apply at or above 300m, reflecting the more severe conditions which can occur at altitude.
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.
Mountain weather forecast
Largely dry with sunny spells, feeling very cold.
| 06:00 | 09:00 | 12:00 | 15:00 | 18:00 | 21:00 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Weather (at 800m) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Chance of precipitation (at 800m) |
10% | 30% | 30% | 30% | 30% | 30% |
Wind direction and speed (mph)
Altitude above mean sea level
| 06:00 | 09:00 | 12:00 | 15:00 | 18:00 | 21:00 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1300m |
S
4
|
E
5
|
SE
6
|
SE
6
|
SE
6
|
SE
6
|
| 900m |
S
5
|
S
4
|
S
5
|
SE
7
|
SE
5
|
SE
6
|
| 600m |
NE
5
|
E
4
|
E
5
|
E
4
|
E
4
|
E
4
|
| 300m |
E
3
|
NE
3
|
NE
3
|
E
3
|
E
4
|
E
3
|
| Glen |
NE
1
|
NE
1
|
NE
1
|
NE
1
|
NE
2
|
NE
2
|
Wind gust (mph)
Altitude above mean sea level
| 06:00 | 09:00 | 12:00 | 15:00 | 18:00 | 21:00 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1300m | 6 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 7 | 8 |
| 900m | 7 | 5 | 7 | 8 | 7 | 8 |
| 600m | 5 | 5 | 7 | 5 | 5 | 5 |
| 300m | 4 | 4 | 5 | 5 | 6 | 5 |
| Glen | 2 | 3 | 4 | 3 | 4 | 5 |
Altitude above mean sea level
| 06:00 | 09:00 | 12:00 | 15:00 | 18:00 | 21:00 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1300m |
-6°
|
-6°
|
-6°
|
-6°
|
-6°
|
-6°
|
| 900m |
-4°
|
-4°
|
-3°
|
-4°
|
-4°
|
-4°
|
| 600m |
-2°
|
-1°
|
-1°
|
-1°
|
-2°
|
-2°
|
| 300m |
0°
|
0°
|
1°
|
1°
|
0°
|
0°
|
| Glen |
0°
|
0°
|
2°
|
1°
|
-1°
|
-1°
|
| Freezing Level |
0m
|
100m
|
200m
|
200m
|
100m
|
100m
|
Altitude above mean sea level
| 06:00 | 09:00 | 12:00 | 15:00 | 18:00 | 21:00 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1300m |
-9°
|
-9°
|
-10°
|
-10°
|
-10°
|
-10°
|
| 900m |
-7°
|
-6°
|
-7°
|
-8°
|
-8°
|
-8°
|
| 600m |
-4°
|
-4°
|
-4°
|
-3°
|
-4°
|
-4°
|
| 300m |
-2°
|
-2°
|
-1°
|
0°
|
-2°
|
-2°
|
| Glen |
-2°
|
-2°
|
0°
|
-1°
|
-3°
|
-3°
|
Additional weather information
Met Office Aberdeen meteorologist's view
Feeling very cold, especially at height, be prepared with appropriate layers.
Weather
Scattered showers across the Western Isles but dry elsewhere, with some patchy cloud at times. Prolonged sunny spells inland, especially during the afternoon.
Chance of cloud-free hill tops
90%, but 30% in the far west in showers.
Low cloud and visibility
Scattered or broken low cloud in the far west from early morning, base 400-600m. Visibility moderate in showers, otherwise mainly good.
Mountain weather information
Weather
Dry and sunny in the north throughout the day on Saturday. Cloudy in the south with showers affecting southern and western parts, falling as sleet or snow to low levels inland. Feeling very cold.
Chance of cloud-free hill tops
80% in the north but 20-30% in the south.
Maximum wind speed expected
Light, variable winds in the north. South or southeasterly 5-10 mph in the south.
Temperature
- At 800m Minus 6 to minus 4 Celsius
- Glen Minus 2 to plus 2 Celsius
- Freezing level 0-200m
Low cloud and visibility
Scattered or broken cloud base 500-700m in the south, feeding in from the west from the early hours. Visibility moderate or poor in showers, good out with.
Mountain weather information
Sun 3 Dec
Sunrise:
Sunset:
Largely dry with patchy cloud and sunny spells on Sunday but fog perhaps affecting the far south. Freezing level 0-200m. Light, variable winds.
Mon 4 Dec
Sunrise:
Sunset:
Largely dry and sunny but chance of fog in far south once again. Freezing level 0-200m. Light, variable winds.
Tue 5 Dec
Sunrise:
Sunset:
Sunny spells and again staying dry. Light, variable winds.
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
The Southwest Highlands weather forecast area is an extensive area of mountains, moorland, islands and sea lochs. The area has a high density of steep and rugged Munros (Scottish mountains over 3000 feet) including the highest mountain in the British Isles, Ben Nevis (1,344 metres), attracting an estimated 100,000 ascents a year. The 700 metre cliffs of the north face are among the highest in the UK, providing classic scrambles and rock climbs of all difficulties for climbers and mountaineers. Glen Coe is also an iconic area for rock climbing and scrambling and includes the Aonach Eagach, an exposed and narrow ridge which stands 900m above the floor of the glen below.
The Loch Lomond and Trossachs National park was the first of the two national parks in Scotland and includes Ben Lomond which is the most southerly Munro. Running past the foot of Ben Lomond is The West Highland Way which is Scotland's first long distance walking route. It stretches for 96 miles from Milngavie on the edge of Glasgow to Fort William.
The Isle of Arran is in the far south of the area, often referred to as Scotland in miniature, it includes Goat Fell with its fine panoramic views and the Glen Rosa horseshoe with sections of rock scrambling.
For snow and avalanche hazard forecasts please visit Scottish Avalanche Information Service