Mountain weather
Northwest Highlands Mountain weather forecast table
Confidence
High for dry and settled conditions at first with marked temperature inversions. Medium for cloud details. Medium in general developments from Saturday.
This evening forecast
Mainly clear and frosty. Freezing fog patches. Cloudy near the coast.
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.
Mountain weather forecast
Mostly sunny and frosty. Marked temperature inversion.
| 00:00 | 03:00 | 06:00 | 09:00 | 12:00 | 15:00 | 18:00 | 21:00 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Weather (at 800m) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Chance of precipitation (at 800m) |
00% | 00% | 00% | 00% | 00% | 00% | 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 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1000m |
SW
10
|
S
11
|
SW
13
|
SW
16
|
SW
17
|
SW
18
|
SW
18
|
S
20
|
| 900m |
SW
8
|
S
10
|
SW
13
|
SW
15
|
SW
16
|
SW
17
|
SW
17
|
S
19
|
| 600m |
SW
5
|
S
6
|
SW
8
|
SW
9
|
SW
9
|
SW
10
|
S
10
|
S
11
|
| 300m |
S
1
|
S
1
|
S
2
|
S
2
|
S
2
|
S
4
|
S
3
|
S
4
|
| Glen |
N
2
|
W
2
|
SW
2
|
SW
2
|
SW
3
|
S
4
|
S
4
|
S
4
|
Wind gust (mph)
Altitude above mean sea level
| 00:00 | 03:00 | 06:00 | 09:00 | 12:00 | 15:00 | 18:00 | 21:00 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1000m | 12 | 13 | 16 | 19 | 21 | 23 | 23 | 26 |
| 900m | 10 | 12 | 16 | 18 | 20 | 22 | 22 | 25 |
| 600m | 7 | 9 | 11 | 13 | 13 | 16 | 15 | 17 |
| 300m | 6 | 7 | 9 | 11 | 12 | 14 | 14 | 16 |
| Glen | 3 | 3 | 6 | 7 | 9 | 10 | 10 | 11 |
Altitude above mean sea level
| 00:00 | 03:00 | 06:00 | 09:00 | 12:00 | 15:00 | 18:00 | 21:00 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1000m |
1°
|
1°
|
0°
|
-1°
|
-2°
|
-2°
|
-2°
|
-2°
|
| 900m |
1°
|
1°
|
0°
|
-1°
|
-1°
|
-1°
|
-2°
|
-2°
|
| 600m |
2°
|
2°
|
1°
|
0°
|
0°
|
0°
|
0°
|
0°
|
| 300m |
0°
|
0°
|
0°
|
1°
|
2°
|
2°
|
2°
|
2°
|
| Glen |
2°
|
1°
|
2°
|
3°
|
4°
|
4°
|
4°
|
4°
|
| Freezing Level |
1,100m
|
1,100m
|
1,100m
|
1,100m
|
1,000m
|
800m
|
700m
|
700m
|
Altitude above mean sea level
| 00:00 | 03:00 | 06:00 | 09:00 | 12:00 | 15:00 | 18:00 | 21:00 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1000m |
-3°
|
-4°
|
-5°
|
-7°
|
-8°
|
-8°
|
-9°
|
-9°
|
| 900m |
-2°
|
-3°
|
-5°
|
-6°
|
-7°
|
-8°
|
-8°
|
-8°
|
| 600m |
-1°
|
-2°
|
-3°
|
-4°
|
-4°
|
-4°
|
-4°
|
-4°
|
| 300m |
-2°
|
-2°
|
-1°
|
-1°
|
0°
|
0°
|
0°
|
0°
|
| Glen |
0°
|
0°
|
0°
|
1°
|
3°
|
3°
|
3°
|
3°
|
Additional weather information
Met Office Aberdeen meteorologist's view
Caution around temperature-feels like temperature with some glens remaining below freezing throughout, but summit temperatures above freezing due to inversion.
Weather
Dry and mostly clear overnight with a frost and some freezing fog in the glens. Staying dry and mostly sunny by day, although cloud could be extensive over Skye, near the west coast and perhaps across Assynt and the north. However, a marked temperature inversion around 700m will keep the higher summits clear. Remaining frosty in most glens with some freezing fog patches, but the summits mostly above freezing due to the inversion. Little change in the evening.
Chance of cloud-free hill tops
90%
Low cloud and visibility
Mainly no significant low cloud, but extensive cloud base 300m possible, mainly around the west coast and over Skye, but capped around 700m due to the temperature inversion. Visibility mainly good or very good, but moderate to very poor in cloud, low level mist and freezing fog.
Mountain weather information
Weather
Cloudier skies expected with some rain, drizzle and hill fog.
Chance of cloud-free hill tops
20%
Maximum wind speed expected
West or Southwest 15 to 20mph.
Temperature
- At 800m Minus 1 Celsius rising to Plus 3 Celsius
- Glen Minus 1 Celsius rising to Plus 4 Celsius
- Freezing level Most levels at first rising above the summits during the day.
Low cloud and visibility
Extensive cloud, base 300 to 600m. Visibility moderate to very poor, but often good or very good low down.
Mountain weather information
Sat 14 Dec
Sunrise:
Sunset:
Mainly dry and bright or clear start, although the odd shower possible, any showers wintry above 660m. Rain, drizzle and low cloud later. West or southwest winds gradually strengthening, summit gales later. Freeing level around 700m rising above the summits later in the day.
Sun 15 Dec
Sunrise:
Sunset:
Rain, drizzle and low cloud, the rain heavy and persistent at times. Gale or severe gale west or southwest winds at height.
Mon 16 Dec
Sunrise:
Sunset:
Rain, drizzle and low cloud, the rain heavy and persistent at times. Gale or severe gale west or southwest winds at height.
Updated at:
Summit specific forecast
Mountain summit forecast map
Loading map…
Key
Mountain summits
Other points of interest
Cluster of multiple stations
Separated from the Grampians by the Great Glen the weather forecast area includes Wester Ross, Assynt, Sutherland, Knoydart, Torridon, Glen Affric and the Cuillin Hills on the Isle of Skye.
For snow and avalanche hazard forecasts please visit Scottish Avalanche Information Service