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West Highland: latest weather
Wednesday, 8 February 2012: dawn to dusk
Printable view Forecast issued: 1719 on Wednesday, 8 February 2012
Overview for Thursday
A band of cloud and rain across Scotland through the morning will become confined Lochaber, Argyll, The Trossachs and the southern Perthshire Hills during the afternoon with brighter conditions developing in north.
| Hazards | Risk | Explanation |
|---|---|---|
| Blizzards | No Risk | |
| Heavy snow | No Risk | |
| Storm force winds | No Risk | |
| Gales | Medium | Southwesterly winds in south expected to gust around 50mph over ridges and summits in morning. |
| Severe chill effect | Low | Strong winds, outbreaks of rain and temperatures just above freezing produce a significant chill. |
| Persistent and extensive hill fog | High | Persistent hill fog above 600m lowering to 300m at times in more persistent rain. |
| Thunderstorms | No Risk | |
| Heavy persistent rain | Medium | Occasionally heavy overnight rain continuing into the morning across Argyll and Lochaber |
| Strong Sunlight | No Risk |
key to hazards and forecast content
| Dawn to 0900 | 0900 to 1200 | 1200 to 1500 | 1500 to dusk |
 Heavy Rain |
 Light rain |
Light rain |
 Cloudy |
| 90% | 80% | 60% | 40% |
Detailed mountain weather forecast: West Highlands
Thursday
Weather
A cloudy morning with outbreaks of rain, the rain heaviest and most persistent across Lochaber and Argyll through the morning. Towards the end of the morning brighter, drier conditions reach the far northwest and then spread southeast across the Northwest Highlands with the rain becoming confined to Argyll and the Trossachs. A gradual thaw at all levels is expected.
Visibility
Good falling moderate or poor in rain.
Hill fog
Periods or persistent above about 600m lowering to above 300m in more persistent rain, with patches above 150m over ranges close to the coast. However during the afternoon hill fog becoming occasional at times across more northern hills.
Maximum winds above 600m
Southwesterly 30 to 35mph, with gusts around 50mph over southern ridges and summits through the morning. Winds in the north becoming westerly at around 15mph during the afternoon.
Temperature
| Glens | Plus 2 Celsius rising to plus 7 Celsius. |
| 900 m | Plus 5 Celsius. |
| Freezing level | Above the summits. |
Friday
Weather
A rather cloudy day with outbreaks of mostly light rain, the rain most persistent across more western parts of Argyll and the Northwest Highlands. The best of any brighter spells expected across the hill of Caithness and eastern Sutherland
Visibility
Very good with some reasonable views of surrounding hills although many Munro's capped with cloud, falling moderate at times in rain.
Hill fog
Periods or persistent above 600m, but becoming occasional above 750m across Caithness and eastern Sutherland during the afternoon, with periods above 450m developing at times in rain.
Maximum winds above 600m
Southerly or southwesterly 30 to 40mph with gusts around 55mph over ridges and summits, easing towards dusk.
Temperature
| Glens | Plus 5 Celsius rising to plus 8 Celsius. |
| 900 m | Plus 5 Celsius |
| Freezing level | Above the summits. |
Outlook
Saturday
Rather cloudy but mostly dry, although Argyll and the Trossachs may see some patchy rain, sleet or snow. Mainly light northerly winds. Freezing level around 750m.
Sunday
Rather cloudy with a little rain across western hills, although Caithness and eastern Sutherland should see some bright if not sunny spells. Strengthening southwesterly winds with risk of gales in the afternoon. Freezing level around 750m.
Monday
Cloudy start with outbreaks of rain but becoming drier and brighter from the northwest through the morning with some sunny spells and occasional showers developing, these turning increasingly to snow. Strong southwesterly then northwesterly winds. Turning much colder as freezing levels fall from above the summits to 450m through the day.
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