Mountain weather

Southwest Highlands

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Southwest Highlands Mountain weather forecast table

Confidence

High confidence for showery conditions to become established through Saturday and for the best of the weather to be in the south over the next few days. Also high for settled weather later on Sunday and Monday. Lower for details of hill fog throughout.

This evening forecast

Sunrise:
Sunset:

Cloudy across most areas with showery outbreaks of rain spreading southwest on fresh to strong northeasterly winds. Hill fog likely quite widespread above around 600m in the east, 800m in the west. Mostly dry across Arran.

Sunrise:
Sunset:
Mountain hazards

Mountain weather hazards

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

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.
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.
Mountain hazards explained

Mountain weather forecast

Frequent showers across the north, brighter with sunshine in the south.

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

Weather

Showery rain will clear southwards through the early hours. The morning will start with largely clear skies across much of the region and this sunshine will last for much of the day in the south, but further north across Lochaber cloud will generally be thicker with a few showers possible here. Dry with clear spells into the evening.

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

40% during the morning with some areas of hill fog around 700m across the north, but this will lift by late morning to leave a 90% chance across the area thereafter. Chance may reduce to 70% in the afternoon in and around any showers.

Visibility

Generally very good outside of showers with some far reaching views on offer.

Met Office Aberdeen meteorologist's view

Fresh to strong northerly winds and summit temperatures around freezing. Risk of summit gales for much of the morning.

Sunrise:
Sunset:

Mountain weather information

Weather

A largely dry day with some long clear and sunny periods across all ranges, but this tempered by fresh to strong northerly winds in the morning. Often a little cloudier across Lochaber but even here summits should remain fog free throughout.

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

90% with summits predominantly clear.

Maximum wind speed expected

Northerly 25-30mph with gusts to 40mph during the morning, but winds will gradually ease through the day to 10-15mph or lighter by evening.

Temperature

  • At 800m Around zero.
  • Glen Around zero, rising to 8 Celsius.
  • Freezing level 800-1000m.

Visibility

Excellent with good clarity to the air.

Mountain weather information

Monday 21 October

Sunrise:
Sunset:

A clear, crisp morning with frost and the odd mist patch in the glens. Plenty of dry and fine weather but sunshine will turn hazy later and southwesterly winds will strengthen, perhaps reaching gale force on summits by midnight. Freezing level 900m rising above summits.

Tuesday 22 October

Sunrise:
Sunset:

Windy with occasional summit gales across Lochaber but bright and largely dry throughout. Perhaps a little rain across the north later where there will also be some areas of hill fog. Freezing level above summits.

Wednesday 23 October

Sunrise:
Sunset:

Likely unsettled with strong winds, but these may ease later in the day. Freezing level above summits.

Updated at:
Mountain weather explained

Summit specific forecast

Mountain summit forecast map

Includes Ben Nevis, Glen Coe and the rest of Lochaber, Argyll including the Isles, Loch Lomond, Trossachs and Arran

The South West Highlands is an extensive area of mountains, moorland, islands and sea which is home to several distinctly different cultures. The West Highland Way was Scotland's first long distance route and remains by far the most popular. It stretches for 94 miles from Milngavie on the edge of Glasgow to Fort William at the foot of Ben Nevis.

The South West Highlands area is very sparsely populated, with many mountain ranges including the highest mountain in the British Isles, Ben Nevis, standing at 1,344 metres. This mountain is a popular destination attracting an estimated 100,000 ascents a year. The 700 metre cliffs of the north face are among the highest in the UK, providing classic scrambles and rock climbs of all difficulties for climbers and mountaineers.

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

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