Mountain weather
Northwest Highlands Mountain weather forecast table
Confidence
High for some rain and extensive hill fog on Friday and at first on Saturday. Also high confidence for mostly dry, brighter and settled weather for rest of weekend and into next week.
This evening forecast
Cloudy this evening with outbreaks of rain, becoming more persistent and turning heavier in the north. Windy with strong southwesterly winds.
Mountain weather hazards
Hazards apply at or above 300m, reflecting the more severe conditions which can occur at altitude.
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.
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 weather forecast
Cloudy morning with outbreaks of rain. Drier afternoon, some brighter interludes in north. Winds becoming light.
| 00:00 | 03:00 | 06:00 | 09:00 | 12:00 | 15:00 | 18:00 | 21:00 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Weather (at 800m) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Chance of precipitation (at 800m) |
30% | 60% | 80% | 80% | 30% | 20% | 10% | 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 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1000m |
SW
39
|
W
34
|
W
23
|
NW
12
|
N
9
|
NE
8
|
E
11
|
E
12
|
| 900m |
SW
37
|
W
32
|
W
22
|
NW
12
|
N
9
|
NE
8
|
E
11
|
E
12
|
| 600m |
SW
28
|
W
23
|
W
16
|
N
10
|
N
7
|
NE
7
|
E
9
|
E
10
|
| 300m |
SW
10
|
W
9
|
W
7
|
N
5
|
N
5
|
NE
3
|
E
6
|
E
5
|
| Glen |
SW
13
|
W
13
|
W
11
|
N
11
|
N
9
|
N
7
|
NE
8
|
E
8
|
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 | 51 | 45 | 31 | 17 | 13 | 11 | 15 | 17 |
| 900m | 49 | 43 | 31 | 17 | 13 | 11 | 15 | 17 |
| 600m | 40 | 33 | 24 | 15 | 12 | 10 | 14 | 15 |
| 300m | 36 | 32 | 24 | 15 | 12 | 9 | 12 | 13 |
| Glen | 27 | 26 | 22 | 19 | 16 | 12 | 13 | 12 |
Altitude above mean sea level
| 00:00 | 03:00 | 06:00 | 09:00 | 12:00 | 15:00 | 18:00 | 21:00 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1000m |
6°
|
6°
|
5°
|
2°
|
1°
|
1°
|
0°
|
0°
|
| 900m |
7°
|
6°
|
6°
|
3°
|
2°
|
2°
|
1°
|
1°
|
| 600m |
8°
|
8°
|
8°
|
5°
|
4°
|
4°
|
3°
|
4°
|
| 300m |
9°
|
9°
|
9°
|
7°
|
7°
|
7°
|
5°
|
4°
|
| Glen |
11°
|
11°
|
11°
|
9°
|
9°
|
10°
|
8°
|
8°
|
| Freezing Level |
2,500m
|
2,600m
|
2,300m
|
2,000m
|
1,400m
|
1,200m
|
1,200m
|
1,400m
|
Altitude above mean sea level
| 00:00 | 03:00 | 06:00 | 09:00 | 12:00 | 15:00 | 18:00 | 21:00 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1000m |
0°
|
0°
|
0°
|
-2°
|
-2°
|
-2°
|
-4°
|
-4°
|
| 900m |
0°
|
1°
|
1°
|
-1°
|
-2°
|
-1°
|
-3°
|
-3°
|
| 600m |
4°
|
4°
|
4°
|
2°
|
2°
|
2°
|
0°
|
0°
|
| 300m |
7°
|
7°
|
7°
|
5°
|
5°
|
6°
|
3°
|
2°
|
| Glen |
9°
|
9°
|
9°
|
7°
|
7°
|
8°
|
6°
|
5°
|
Additional weather information
Met Office Aberdeen meteorologist's view
Note marked reduction in wind strength during the morning, but continuing to feel bitterly cold on higher tops.
Weather
Cloudy overnight with outbreaks of rain. Strong westerly winds and feeling bitterly cold. It will remain mostly cloudy during the day with rain clearing southwards in the morning. Drier in the afternoon with brighter/clearer interludes developing, especially over north Highlands. Winds will become much lighter.
Chance of cloud-free hill tops
30% improving 50% during afternoon, best in north.
Low cloud and visibility
Poor visibility in rain and also in fog which will be extensive above about 600 to 700m in the morning, with patches lower down. Away from rain, visibility will become good beneath the clouds, bases lifting higher up the hills, with some breaks developing, especially over north Highlands.
Mountain weather information
Weather
Mostly cloudy morning with patchy drizzle, mostly over mountains close to West Coast. Dry, brighter weather in the east, developing more widely in the afternoon.
Chance of cloud-free hill tops
30% improving 60% in afternoon, best in east.
Maximum wind speed expected
Southerly winds with average speeds of 10 to 15mph on lower slopes, 25mph over higher ridges, summits.
Temperature
- At 800m Plus 7 Celsius.
- Glen 8 Celsius rising to 13 Celsius.
- Freezing level Above the summits.
Low cloud and visibility
Poor visibility in patchy drizzle and in clouds, extensive above about 600 to 700m in west. Mostly good visibility in the east with more broken cloud cover, higher up the hills, extending to many ranges in afternoon.
Mountain weather information
Sun 3 Nov
Sunrise:
Sunset:
Mostly dry and rather cloudy but some sunshine likely in east of area. Light southwest winds.
Mon 4 Nov
Sunrise:
Sunset:
Dry with sunny spells, best over north Highlands. Freshening southerly winds on the tops.
Tue 5 Nov
Sunrise:
Sunset:
The dry weather looks set to continue with some sunshine. Fresh southerly winds, strong over higher peaks.
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