Mountain weather
Southwest Highlands Mountain weather forecast table
Confidence
Generally high to the end of the week, but moderate for timing of rain on Saturday. Low for cloud amounts and chance of rain on Monday and Tuesday, but rain not expected to be heavy.
This evening forecast
Low cloud with patchy drizzle, wet snow on the higher summits. Strong west-northwest winds. Freezing level above the summits, but dropping to 1200m by late evening.
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.
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
Low cloud and a few showers to start. Soon turning dry with sunny spells. Cold 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% | 40% | 30% | 10% | <05% | <05% | 00% | 00% |
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 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1300m |
NW
35
|
NW
32
|
N
30
|
N
28
|
N
26
|
NW
26
|
N
22
|
N
18
|
| 900m |
NW
23
|
NW
21
|
NW
19
|
N
21
|
N
21
|
NW
22
|
N
19
|
NW
12
|
| 600m |
W
18
|
NW
17
|
N
16
|
N
19
|
N
18
|
NW
19
|
N
14
|
N
9
|
| 300m |
NW
12
|
NW
12
|
NW
9
|
N
14
|
N
14
|
N
15
|
N
12
|
NW
5
|
| Glen |
W
9
|
W
8
|
NW
6
|
NW
11
|
N
11
|
N
12
|
NW
9
|
NW
5
|
Wind gust (mph)
Altitude above mean sea level
| 00:00 | 03:00 | 06:00 | 09:00 | 12:00 | 15:00 | 18:00 | 21:00 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1300m | 43 | 39 | 37 | 37 | 35 | 36 | 31 | 23 |
| 900m | 31 | 28 | 26 | 30 | 29 | 31 | 27 | 16 |
| 600m | 25 | 23 | 22 | 26 | 26 | 28 | 22 | 13 |
| 300m | 20 | 17 | 15 | 21 | 22 | 24 | 19 | 9 |
| Glen | 18 | 16 | 14 | 21 | 22 | 22 | 17 | 9 |
Altitude above mean sea level
| 00:00 | 03:00 | 06:00 | 09:00 | 12:00 | 15:00 | 18:00 | 21:00 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1300m |
-2°
|
-3°
|
-4°
|
-4°
|
-3°
|
-2°
|
-3°
|
-4°
|
| 900m |
1°
|
0°
|
-1°
|
-1°
|
1°
|
2°
|
1°
|
-1°
|
| 600m |
3°
|
3°
|
2°
|
2°
|
3°
|
4°
|
4°
|
2°
|
| 300m |
6°
|
5°
|
4°
|
5°
|
6°
|
7°
|
6°
|
4°
|
| Glen |
8°
|
7°
|
6°
|
7°
|
10°
|
10°
|
9°
|
6°
|
| Freezing Level |
1,000m
|
900m
|
700m
|
600m
|
600m
|
700m
|
700m
|
700m
|
Altitude above mean sea level
| 00:00 | 03:00 | 06:00 | 09:00 | 12:00 | 15:00 | 18:00 | 21:00 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1300m |
-11°
|
-12°
|
-13°
|
-14°
|
-12°
|
-11°
|
-11°
|
-11°
|
| 900m |
-6°
|
-6°
|
-7°
|
-8°
|
-6°
|
-5°
|
-5°
|
-6°
|
| 600m |
-2°
|
-3°
|
-4°
|
-4°
|
-2°
|
-1°
|
-1°
|
-2°
|
| 300m |
2°
|
1°
|
1°
|
1°
|
3°
|
3°
|
3°
|
2°
|
| Glen |
5°
|
5°
|
4°
|
4°
|
7°
|
7°
|
7°
|
5°
|
Additional weather information
Met Office Aberdeen meteorologist's view
Strong winds will give a significant wind chill despite the sunshine.
Weather
Low cloud and scattered showers through the early hours. Then a cloudy start with a few showers, snow above 700m. Any showers dying out by mid-morning with sunny spells developing. Sunny spells increasing through the afternoon with largely clear spells to start the night.
Chance of cloud-free hill tops
20% early morning, rising to 90% by late morning.
Low cloud and visibility
Often poor at first in frequent cloud above 600m. Visibility becoming very good or excellent by mid-morning with increasing cloud breaks, and bases lifting to around 1200m. Cloud above the summits in the afternoon.
Mountain weather information
Weather
Dry through the early hours with high cloud thickening. Then most likely a dry overcast start, but cloud lowering through the morning with outbreaks of mainly light rain from around midday. Low cloud persisting with patchy light drizzle in the evening.
Chance of cloud-free hill tops
70% at first, falling to 10% by the afternoon.
Maximum wind speed expected
Mainly West 10-15 mph, gusting 20 mph.
Temperature
- At 800m Plus 1 Celsius rising to 5 Celsius.
- Glen Plus 3 Celsius rising to 11 Celsius.
- Freezing level 900m rising above the summits by midday.
Low cloud and visibility
Mostly good visibility to start, but patchy cloud above 900-1000m. Cloud becoming extensive with bases lowering to 700-900m by midday, then 400-500m by late afternoon.
Mountain weather information
Sun 21 Apr
Sunrise:
Sunset:
Some low cloud to start, but this expected to lift giving a dry bright day, with mainly high cloud. Light winds.
Mon 22 Apr
Sunrise:
Sunset:
Most likely a dry bright day with some early morning fog and high cloud through the day. However, a slight chance that light rain cloud spread in from the east. Light northerly winds.
Tue 23 Apr
Sunrise:
Sunset:
Most likely dry with bright or sunny spells, but a chance of cloudier conditions bringing a few spots of light rain at times. Moderate north or northeast winds.
Updated at:
Summit specific forecast
Mountain summit forecast map
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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
For snow and avalanche hazard forecasts please visit Scottish Avalanche Information Service