Mountain weather

Southwest Highlands

Southwest Highlands Mountain weather forecast table

Confidence

High confidence for showery conditions to continue until Monday.

Sunrise:
Sunset:

This evening forecast

Dry with some prolonged clear spells for many areas, cloudier towards the coastal ranges with bases around 800m or more. Feeling very cold in brisk north to northwesterly winds with some mountain wave activity..

Sunrise:
Sunset:
Mountain hazards

Mountain weather hazards

Hazards apply at or above 300m, reflecting the more severe conditions which can occur at altitude.

hazard 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.

hazard 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.
hazard 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

Mainly dry with sunny spells. A few light showers during daylight hours. Feeling very cold in fresh northerly winds.

00:00 03:00 06:00 09:00 12:00 15:00 18:00 21:00
Weather
(at 800m)
Clear night Clear night Sunny intervals Sunny intervals Sunny intervals Light snow shower (day) Sunny intervals Clear night
Chance of precipitation
(at 800m)
00% 00% <05% 10% 20% 20% 30% 10%

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 N
11
N
16
NE
18
NE
19
NE
16
NE
16
NE
16
NE
15
900m N
8
N
8
NE
11
NE
15
NE
13
NE
12
NE
12
NE
11
600m NW
7
NE
7
NE
11
NE
16
NE
14
NE
13
NE
14
NE
14
300m N
4
NE
4
NE
6
NE
10
NE
11
NE
11
N
11
N
7
Glen NW
4
W
3
N
4
NE
7
NE
8
NE
9
N
10
NE
6
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 14 20 22 26 22 22 22 19
900m 10 11 16 21 19 18 18 17
600m 9 10 15 22 20 19 20 18
300m 8 7 9 16 17 17 18 13
Glen 7 6 8 14 15 16 17 14

Altitude above mean sea level
00:00 03:00 06:00 09:00 12:00 15:00 18:00 21:00
1300m
-4°
-5°
-6°
-5°
-3°
-2°
-3°
-4°
900m
-2°
-2°
-3°
-1°
-2°
600m
300m
Glen
10°
Freezing Level
500m
500m
400m
400m
500m
600m
600m
500m

Altitude above mean sea level
00:00 03:00 06:00 09:00 12:00 15:00 18:00 21:00
1300m
-10°
-12°
-14°
-13°
-10°
-8°
-9°
-11°
900m
-6°
-6°
-8°
-6°
-3°
-2°
-4°
-7°
600m
-2°
-3°
-5°
-4°
-1°
-2°
-4°
300m
Glen

Additional weather information

Met Office Aberdeen meteorologist's view

Feeling cold in fresh northerly winds. Sunny spells during the day may require suitable eyewear.

Weather

Dry and mostly clear with a ground frost and perhaps some mist or fog forming in valleys before dawn. Cloud building through daylight hours with a few light showers at times, before becoming drier and clearer again into the evening. It will feel very cold in fresh northerly winds.

Chance of cloud-free hill tops

80% before dawn and in the evening, falling to 50% during daylight hours.

Low cloud and visibility

Mainly clear skies before dawn and in the evening, any cloud present above summit height. Cloud gradually building during daylight hours with bases typically 1000m or more, but falling rapidly in any showers that may pass through.

Sunrise:
Sunset:

Mountain weather information

Weather

Dry with clear spells in the morning with frost and perhaps a few mist or fog patches developing. Cloud will build through the day with a few light showers possible, falling as snow above 800m, before dying out in the evening. Continuing to feel cold in light northerly winds.

Chance of cloud-free hill tops

70% during daylight hours, otherwise more than 90%.

Maximum wind speed expected

Northerly 10-15mph, gusting 20-25mph

Temperature

  • At 800m Minus 2 to plus 2 Celsius.
  • Glen Plus 4 to plus 9 Celsius.
  • Freezing level 800-1000m

Low cloud and visibility

Only patchy cloud to 1000m in the morning and evening, thickening during daylight hours but mostly staying above 800m, though falling to 700-800m in isolated light snow showers, with associated moderate to poor visibilities.

Mountain weather information

Sat 27 Apr

Sunrise:
Sunset:

Scattered showers, mostly during daylight hours and towards the west coast. Freezing levels 800-1000m. Light southeasterly winds.

Sun 28 Apr

Sunrise:
Sunset:

Mostly dry with sunny spells, but a few showers possible. Freezing level 1000-1200m.

Mon 29 Apr

Sunrise:
Sunset:

Dry at first with scattered showers arriving from the west later. Freezing level 1200-1400m

Updated at:

Summit specific forecast

Mountain summit forecast map

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For snow and avalanche hazard forecasts please visit Scottish Avalanche Information Service