Mountain weather

Southwest Highlands

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Southwest Highlands Mountain weather forecast table

Confidence

High for mostly dry cold and settled next few days, low for timing of the change to more changeable conditions with rain and snow later in the weekend or early next week.

This evening forecast

Sunrise:
Sunset:

Dry, mainly cloudy but a few clear interludes. Some hill fog. Light northeast breeze.

Sunrise:
Sunset:
Mountain hazards

Mountain weather hazards

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

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 hazards explained
Avalanche information for Scotland. Scottish Avalanche Information Service.

Mountain weather forecast

Cloudy with a little rain and snow in the morning becoming brighter and drier 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

Although winds not strong, the lowering temperatures and a significant wind chill still lead to a very low feels like temperature.

Weather

Cloudy in the morning with some showery rain, with snow above 600m, but this will be light and some areas could escape dry. Then all areas becoming dry in the afternoon, with cloud lifting and breaking to allow some sunny intervals. A dry evening with clear spells and frost developing at all levels.

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

50% in the morning, rising to 90% in the afternoon.

Visibility

Briefly moderate in light rain or snow in the morning, with poor visibility in cloud based at 900-1200m with a few patches to 750m, before it breaks up and lifts in the afternoon and bringing very good visibility in the clean Arctic airstream.

Sunrise:
Sunset:

Mountain weather information

Weather

A dry day with some clear or sunny spells.

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

>95% with any cloud above the summits.

Maximum wind speed expected

Light and variable in the morning becoming south to southwest 10-15mph gusts 20-25mph in the afternoon.

Temperature

  • At 800m Minus 5 Celsius
  • Glen Minus 5 to Minus 10 at dawn rising to Plus 5 in the afternoon then back down to Minus 5 in the evening.
  • Freezing level All levels, rising 500m for a time during the day.

Visibility

Very good.

Mountain weather information

Saturday 6 March

Sunrise:
Sunset:

Much of the day dry and in the morning at least some long sunny spells are expeceted. Cloud probably increasing from the west in the afternoon with a little light rain and, above 600m, snow, will develop along with lower cloud and some hill fog. A moderate southerly breeze, fresh on the tops.

Sunday 7 March

Sunrise:
Sunset:

Low confidence. Likely to be cloudy with a little light rain and hill snow above 700m, but some cloud breaks are also possible. Light winds.

Monday 8 March

Sunrise:
Sunset:

Confidence remains low. Probably cloudy with a little rain, summit snow, with winds increasing later.

Updated at:
Mountain weather explained

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

The Southwest Highlands weather forecast area is an extensive area of mountains, moorland, islands and sea lochs. The area has a high density of steep and rugged Munros (Scottish mountains over 3000 feet) including the highest mountain in the British Isles, Ben Nevis (1,344 metres), 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. Glen Coe is also an iconic area for rock climbing and scrambling and includes the Aonach Eagach, an exposed and narrow ridge which stands 900m above the floor of the glen below.

The Loch Lomond and Trossachs National park was the first of the two national parks in Scotland and includes Ben Lomond which is the most southerly Munro. Running past the foot of Ben Lomond is The West Highland Way which is Scotland's first long distance walking route. It stretches for 96 miles from Milngavie on the edge of Glasgow to Fort William.

The Isle of Arran is in the far south of the area, often referred to as Scotland in miniature, it includes Goat Fell with its fine panoramic views and the Glen Rosa horseshoe with sections of rock scrambling.

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

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