Mountain weather
Northwest Highlands Mountain weather forecast table
Confidence
High for Tuesday and Wednesday. High for a change to unsettled weather from Thursday onwards.
This evening forecast
Scattered snow and hail showers with a chance of thunder, will spread east through the evening.
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
Partly cloudy with scattered snow showers
| 00:00 | 03:00 | 06:00 | 09:00 | 12:00 | 15:00 | 18:00 | 21:00 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Weather (at 800m) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Chance of precipitation (at 800m) |
70% | 70% | 30% | 30% | 30% | 30% | 30% | 30% |
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 |
S
20
|
SW
16
|
SW
15
|
S
16
|
S
21
|
SW
18
|
S
13
|
S
12
|
| 900m |
S
19
|
SW
14
|
SW
14
|
S
15
|
S
20
|
SW
17
|
S
13
|
S
11
|
| 600m |
S
12
|
SW
8
|
SW
8
|
S
10
|
S
13
|
SW
11
|
S
9
|
S
7
|
| 300m |
S
3
|
SW
3
|
SW
3
|
S
3
|
S
6
|
SW
5
|
S
4
|
S
3
|
| Glen |
S
7
|
SE
4
|
SW
3
|
SW
4
|
S
8
|
SW
6
|
S
6
|
E
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 | 24 | 21 | 19 | 21 | 26 | 24 | 18 | 16 |
| 900m | 23 | 18 | 18 | 20 | 25 | 23 | 17 | 14 |
| 600m | 17 | 13 | 12 | 14 | 19 | 17 | 13 | 11 |
| 300m | 14 | 12 | 11 | 12 | 17 | 15 | 11 | 9 |
| Glen | 16 | 7 | 8 | 11 | 18 | 14 | 13 | 9 |
Altitude above mean sea level
| 00:00 | 03:00 | 06:00 | 09:00 | 12:00 | 15:00 | 18:00 | 21:00 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1000m |
0°
|
-1°
|
-1°
|
-1°
|
-1°
|
-1°
|
-1°
|
-2°
|
| 900m |
1°
|
0°
|
0°
|
0°
|
0°
|
0°
|
0°
|
-1°
|
| 600m |
3°
|
2°
|
2°
|
2°
|
2°
|
2°
|
2°
|
1°
|
| 300m |
5°
|
4°
|
4°
|
3°
|
4°
|
4°
|
3°
|
3°
|
| Glen |
8°
|
6°
|
6°
|
6°
|
7°
|
7°
|
6°
|
6°
|
| Freezing Level |
1,200m
|
1,000m
|
900m
|
900m
|
900m
|
900m
|
900m
|
900m
|
Altitude above mean sea level
| 00:00 | 03:00 | 06:00 | 09:00 | 12:00 | 15:00 | 18:00 | 21:00 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1000m |
-6°
|
-7°
|
-7°
|
-7°
|
-8°
|
-7°
|
-6°
|
-7°
|
| 900m |
-5°
|
-5°
|
-6°
|
-6°
|
-7°
|
-6°
|
-5°
|
-6°
|
| 600m |
-1°
|
-1°
|
-2°
|
-2°
|
-2°
|
-2°
|
-2°
|
-2°
|
| 300m |
3°
|
3°
|
2°
|
2°
|
2°
|
2°
|
2°
|
2°
|
| Glen |
6°
|
5°
|
5°
|
4°
|
5°
|
5°
|
4°
|
4°
|
Additional weather information
Met Office Aberdeen meteorologist's view
Nothing to add
Weather
Snow showers, occasionally heavy, are expected in the early hours. Then the rest of the day will see variable amounts of cloud and a few snow showers but some spells of drier weather too, the east of the area seeing the best of the drier weather.
Chance of cloud-free hill tops
50%, best chance towards the Great Glen and Ben Wyvis
Low cloud and visibility
Poor in areas of cloud down to 500 to 900 metres in association with snow showers shrouding the summits at times, especially along the west coast. Otherwise good visibility with good air clarity.
Mountain weather information
Weather
A few snow showers along coastal ranges at first. Otherwise it will be dry with clear or sunny periods.
Chance of cloud-free hill tops
70%
Maximum wind speed expected
Southeasterly 10 mph
Temperature
- At 800m 0 Celsius
- Glen Minus 4 rising to 3 Celsius
- Freezing level 800 metres
Low cloud and visibility
Generally very good visibility with great air clarity. Patchy cloud down to 750 metres, more especially along the west coast shrouding the summits at times.
Mountain weather information
Thu 23 Jan
Sunrise:
Sunset:
A few snow showers in the south at first. A band of sleet of snow will extend northeast across the area later in the morning. Clearer weather with a few snow showers will follow on in the afternoon. Freezing level 1000 metres falling to 600 metres later.
Fri 24 Jan
Sunrise:
Sunset:
A spell of rain, preceded by snow, will move quickly northeast across the area at first. Then the rest of the day will see frequent heavy sleet, snow and hail showers with blizzard like conditions developing at times. Very windy with severe gale or storm force summits winds. Freezing level briefly rising above summits before lowering to 400 metres later on.
Sat 25 Jan
Sunrise:
Sunset:
Cold and very windy with frequent rain, sleet and snow showers. Severe gale force westerly winds. Freezing level 400 metres.
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