Mountain weather

Northwest Highlands

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Northwest Highlands Mountain weather forecast table

Confidence

High for a changeable week, lower for details especially on Wednesday.

This evening forecast

Sunrise:
Sunset:

Cloudy with prolonged rain, heavy at times. Hill fog and strong to gale south to southeasterly winds.

Sunrise:
Sunset:
Mountain hazards

Mountain weather hazards

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

hazard Heavy persistent rain
Heavy and persistent rain can lead to drenched clothing and footwear with waterproofs often becoming soaked through, especially if accompanied by strong winds. This can lead to significant loss of body heat and an increased likelihood of hypothermia. Terrain may turn increasingly boggy underfoot while streams can flood and become impassable. There may also be a risk of flooding in valleys or glens. If there is snow cover, a heightened avalanche hazard is possible and avalanche reports should be consulted where available.

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 Gales
Gale force winds (gusts over 50mph) make walking difficult and strenuous with a potential to be blown over by gusts. There is often a marked increase in winds through cols or on exposed ridges and summits. Distances can take longer to cover and compass bearings become harder to follow accurately.
Mountain hazards explained

Mountain weather forecast

Cloudy with occasional rain, though brightening somewhat in the afternoon.

Wind direction and speed (mph)
Altitude above mean sea level
Wind gust (mph)
Altitude above mean sea level

Altitude above mean sea level

Altitude above mean sea level

Additional weather information

Met Office Aberdeen meteorologist's view

Any brighter weather not expected to last long

Weather

Cloudy with further heavy rain overnight. The rain becoming lighter in the morning before it dies out for a time in the afternoon with the sun breaking through in the south, perhaps across to Skye, though cloud lingering in the north. Then further showery rain spreading from the south to reach Glen Affric and Ben Wyvis towards late evening.

Chance of cloud-free mountain/hill tops at 800m

10% overnight and in the morning with extensive cloud at this level, chances improving to 50% for a time in the afternoon with some western hills becoming clear before falling to 20% by evening as cloud returns.

Visibility

Moderate to poor at other times in the rain becoming good in the west in the afternoon

Sunrise:
Sunset:

Mountain weather information

Weather

Staying cloudy with some hill fog and some rain, this not as heavy as recently though may turn to snow above about 900m in the evening.

Chance of cloud-free mountain/hill tops at 800m

20%

Maximum wind speed expected

South to southeast 25-35mph in early hours becoming lighter and variable in direction in the morning before becoming north to northwesterly in the afternoon, increasing 35 gusts 50mph in the evening.

Temperature

  • At 800m Plus 6 Celsius falling to Plus 3 Celsius
  • Glen Plus 9 Celsius
  • Freezing level Above summits, falling close to highest tops later

Visibility

Occasionally good at lower levels but moderate to poor in rain and, later, summit snow.

Mountain weather information

Thursday 22 October

Sunrise:
Sunset:

Remaining cloud and rain with summit snow clearing in early hours. Mainly dry with some sunshine by day, the odd light shower wintry on the tops. Strong northwest winds easing. Freezing level 8-900m.

Friday 23 October

Sunrise:
Sunset:

Rain at first clearing to sunny intervals and occasional showers during the morning. Freezing level above summits falling to 1000m so any showers of snow on the Munro tops. Rain may arrive late evening.

Saturday 24 October

Sunrise:
Sunset:

Very windy with severe gale to storm force summit winds bringing some outbreaks of rain, heavy at times

Updated at:
Mountain weather explained

Separated from the Grampians by the Great Glen the region includes Sutherland, Ben Wyvis, Wester Ross, The Cuillin, Glen Affric, Glen Shiel and Knoydart.

The Cuillin Hills on the Isle of Skye are among the steepest mountains in the UK and include 15 peaks above 3,000 feet (900 metres). There are two main ridges; the magnificent Black Cuillins and the Red Cuillins around Loch Coruisk to the south.

Torridon has some of the most spectacular mountain scenery in Scotland which includes Beinn Eighe, a long ridge with many spurs and summits, two of which are classified as Munros. Beinne Eighe also includes Britain's first ever national nature reserve where you may spot golden eagles, buzzards, pine martins and wild cats on your travels.

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

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