Mountain weather
Southwest Highlands Mountain weather forecast table
Confidence
High for generally quiet, but slightly changeable weather, lower for cloud and rainfall details and timing.
Mountain weather hazards
Hazards apply at or above 300m, reflecting the more severe conditions which can occur at altitude.
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.
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.
Mountain weather forecast
Rather cloudy start with some hill fog, patchy rain, brightening up for a time before lower cloud and drizzle edges in from west again later.
| Time | 06:00 | 09:00 | 12:00 | 15:00 | 18:00 | 21:00 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Weather (at 800m) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Chance of precipitation (at 800m) |
30% | 10% | 30% | 30% | 30% | 10% |
Wind direction and speed (mph)
Altitude above mean sea level
| Time | 06:00 | 09:00 | 12:00 | 15:00 | 18:00 | 21:00 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1300m |
SW
13
|
SW
13
|
SW
16
|
SW
18
|
SW
16
|
W
15
|
| 900m |
SW
11
|
W
11
|
SW
14
|
SW
15
|
SW
13
|
W
13
|
| 600m |
SW
12
|
SW
11
|
SW
14
|
SW
17
|
SW
14
|
SW
12
|
| 300m |
SW
6
|
SW
7
|
SW
9
|
SW
11
|
SW
8
|
SW
5
|
| Glen |
SW
4
|
SW
5
|
SW
9
|
SW
10
|
W
6
|
W
6
|
Wind gust (mph)
Altitude above mean sea level
| Time | 06:00 | 09:00 | 12:00 | 15:00 | 18:00 | 21:00 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1300m | 16 | 17 | 21 | 24 | 20 | 19 |
| 900m | 14 | 14 | 18 | 19 | 18 | 16 |
| 600m | 15 | 14 | 19 | 23 | 19 | 16 |
| 300m | 10 | 9 | 14 | 15 | 13 | 8 |
| Glen | 8 | 8 | 14 | 17 | 13 | 14 |
Altitude above mean sea level
| Time | 06:00 | 09:00 | 12:00 | 15:00 | 18:00 | 21:00 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1300m |
7°
|
6°
|
7°
|
9°
|
7°
|
7°
|
| 900m |
10°
|
10°
|
12°
|
11°
|
10°
|
9°
|
| 600m |
11°
|
12°
|
13°
|
13°
|
12°
|
11°
|
| 300m |
13°
|
14°
|
16°
|
14°
|
14°
|
13°
|
| Glen |
15°
|
17°
|
18°
|
16°
|
16°
|
15°
|
| Freezing Level |
3,100m
|
2,300m
|
2,700m
|
2,700m
|
2,200m
|
2,200m
|
Altitude above mean sea level
| Time | 06:00 | 09:00 | 12:00 | 15:00 | 18:00 | 21:00 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1300m |
4°
|
3°
|
4°
|
5°
|
3°
|
3°
|
| 900m |
7°
|
8°
|
9°
|
8°
|
7°
|
7°
|
| 600m |
9°
|
9°
|
11°
|
10°
|
10°
|
9°
|
| 300m |
12°
|
13°
|
14°
|
12°
|
13°
|
12°
|
| Glen |
15°
|
17°
|
17°
|
14°
|
16°
|
14°
|
Additional weather information
Met Office Aberdeen meteorologist's view
Nothing additional
Weather
Overnight and into the morning overcast with some patchy light rain or drizzle, this dying out during morning. Cloud then lifting and breaking to allow some sunshine for a time late morning into the afternoon, but Mull and west coast soon clouding over again with some drizzle, this spreading inland in the second half of the afternoon, cloud probably breaking again in the evening. Confidence low in the detail.
Chance of cloud-free hill tops
20% at first rising 80% for a time around middle of the day then falling 50%.
Low cloud and visibility
Fairly extensive cloud at 600-900m in morning lifting off summits by late morning for a time, but areas of cloud 500-750m spreading in later, with bases near 300m briefly on west coast. Further breaks in the evening. Details will be low confidence to variations in the Atlantic airmass. Visibility away from cloud will be mainly good, but could be poor in drizzle and mist at times later near west coast.
Mountain weather information
Weather
Rather cloudy with a few showers, perhaps quite heavy over the Trossachs, but generally light, with the west coast staying mainly dry with the best of the sunshine.
Chance of cloud-free hill tops
60% at first rising 90%
Maximum wind speed expected
North or northwesterly 20 gusts 30mph.
Temperature
- At 800m Plus 11 rising to Plus 14 Celsius
- Glen Plus 13 rising to Plus 20 Celsius
- Freezing level Above summits
Low cloud and visibility
Cloud occasionally down to 900m at first otherwise above tops. Away from cloud, visibility mainly good but could fall moderate in any heavier showers in Trossachs
Mountain weather information
Fri 1 Aug
Sunrise:
Sunset:
Bright with sunny spells and the small chance of a light shower. Moderate to fresh north to northwest breeze on tops
Sat 2 Aug
Sunrise:
Sunset:
Dry, broken cloud and some sunny spells, but clouding over towards evening with some rain. Lighter winds, but freshening southwesterlies later.
Sun 3 Aug
Sunrise:
Sunset:
Cloudy with hill fog and outbreaks of rain, brightening up during the day.
Updated at:
Summit specific forecast
Mountain summit forecast map
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Key
Mountain summits
Other points of interest
Cluster of multiple stations
Including Ben Nevis, Glen Coe and the rest of Lochaber, Argyll including the Isles, Loch Lomond, Trossachs and Arran
For snow and avalanche hazard forecasts please visit Scottish Avalanche Information Service