West Highland mountain area forecast

Monday

Weather

After a mainly fine start with some good sunny spells, but mist and fog in the straths and glens at first, cloud will increase from the west. Outbreaks of rain, falling as sleet and snow on the Munros are expected to reach Lochaber and the Cuillins soon after mid-day and then edge east through the afternoon, turning persistent and heavy at times across western hills.

Visibility

Excellent, but poor with fog patches in the straths and glens at first, falling moderate or poor in rain

Hill fog

Once again there is a risk of a thin layer of hill fog developing for a time as mist and fog lifts from the straths and glens, otherwise small amounts through the morning but becoming persistent above 750m in rain during the afternoon and periods above 450m in more persistent and heavier rain.

Maximum winds above 600m

Southerly 15mph or less increasing 35mph, gusts 50mph over ridges and summits.

Temperature

Outlook

Tuesday

Cloudy with outbreaks of mainly light rain, risk of snow on Munros, but brighter drier conditions reaching western hills by mid-morning and spreading east through the rest of the day, clearing eastern hills by mid-afternoon. Strong southwesterly winds veering westerly and decreasing. Freezing level around 1200m.

Wednesday

Mainly dry with long sunny spells. Cloud increasing above the summits in the west towards dusk. Strengthening southerly winds. Freezing level around 1000m.

Thursday

Generally cloudy and wet with persistent and at times heavy rain, risk of snow on the summits, the rain likely to be patchier across the northern Cairngorms and the Northwest Highlands. Gale force southeasterly winds. Freezing level expected to be just above the highest summits.