West Highlands
Western Highlands accessible from, and south of, Glenfinnan (Road to the Isles) and Glen Spean (includes Creag Meagaidh). This area includes Ben Nevis and the mountains around Glencoe. In the east, from Ben Alder south to Loch Lomond and Trossachs NP. Also Arran and Mull.
Today's Forecast
Light wind, negligible impact
Little wind or walking hardly affected by the wind, but feeling chilly if exposed on tops. 10-15mph or less.
Drizzle
Light rain or drizzle, total amounts small, but may be persistently damp, especially where hills are shrouded in cloud.
Poor visibility
Very murky conditions, the mountains shrouded in fog, making navigation challenging. Map and compass essential.
Mild
Air temperature above freezing to highest summits. May feel pleasantly warm on lower ground, but take appropriate layers. Feeling chilly if exposed to wind.
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Light wind, negligible impact
Little wind or walking hardly affected by the wind, but feeling chilly if exposed on tops. 10-15mph or less.
Drizzle
Light rain or drizzle, total amounts small, but may be persistently damp, especially where hills are shrouded in cloud.
Poor visibility
Very murky conditions, the mountains shrouded in fog, making navigation challenging. Map and compass essential.
Mild
Air temperature above freezing to highest summits. May feel pleasantly warm on lower ground, but take appropriate layers. Feeling chilly if exposed to wind.
Viewing Forecast For
West Highlands
Tuesday 7th May 2024
Last updated
Mon 6th May 24 at
4:30PM
Summary for all mountain areas
High pressure extends in from the west, but remnants of previous showers leave a zone of low cloud and drizzly rain over central Scotland which may linger. Local showers forming. Brighter but rather cool for the northern Highlands. Fairly cloudy England & Wales, isolated showers. Light winds overall.
Headline for West Highlands
Cloudy, locally dull, drizzly; slow improvement, risk showers.
How windy? (On the Munros)
Variable 5-10mph or less.
Effect of the wind on you?
Small
How Wet?
Drizzly, local showers may form
Pockets of drizzle early in the day, may be damp in places for a few hours, but fading. Chance of local showers forming into the afternoon, mainly inland and around Loch Lomond NP.
Cloud on the hills?
Extensive, some breaks forming
Banks of cloud at various heights in the morning, but shrouding many hills especially Loch Lomond NP where may persist. Patchy fog in some glens. Some breaks forming toward tops, best and soonest in Lochaber and near coast.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
20% rising to 60%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Mostly cloudy, sun best near west coast in afternoon, glimpses developing inland. Misty in places early in the day, visibility becoming good.
How Cold? (at 900m)
4 to 6C, locally rising to 8C toward Kintyre in afternoon.
Freezing Level
Above the summits
Viewing Forecast For
West Highlands
Wednesday 8th May 2024
Last updated
Mon 6th May 24 at
4:30PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
South to southwesterly 20 to 25mph, strengthening to 35mph locally 40mph at times Ben Nevis range to Mull.
Effect of the wind on you?
Affecting comfortable walking and balance where exposed on higher tops and toward the west. Marked wind chill.
How Wet?
Rain developing from west
Patchy drizzly rain developing from the west, risk becoming steadier rain over west coastal mountains near Mull, later in the day more widespread light rain.
Cloud on the hills?
Lowering from west
Varied banks of cloud over the hills, some breaks inland for periods. Lowering cloud filling in over coastal mountains to become blanket low cloud, later extending further inland to cover most higher terrain.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
40%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Occasional sun at first, high cloud thickens to become overcast from west. Visibility good, but reducing to become poor as rain develops near coast.
How Cold? (at 900m)
5 to 7C. Feeling sub-zero on tops where exposed to the wind, near -5C higher summits.
Freezing Level
Above the summits
Viewing Forecast For
West Highlands
Thursday 9th May 2024
Last updated
Mon 6th May 24 at
4:30PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
West or southwesterly 15 to 25mph.
Effect of the wind on you?
Fairly small
How Wet?
A little rain, fading
Rain and drizzle from overnight likely to continue into the morning, mostly light and patchy, but may linger for a few hours, tending to fade to leave drizzly showers.
Cloud on the hills?
Extensive, may improve south
Shrouding many mountains much of the day, from low to mid-elevations upward near to coasts. Some improvement with time as bases slowly lift and may break up further in southern areas.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
30%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Overcast and dull especially near coast near and west of Loch Linnhe. A little sun breaking through inland and in southern areas, visibility improving.
How Cold? (at 900m)
7 to 9C.
Freezing Level
Above the summits
Planning Outlook
High pressure is nearby during the week ahead, but weak fronts drifting in from the Atlantic on southwesterly winds bring periods of rain and drizzle to western Scotland - the mountains often covered in cloud here. Drier with higher cloud bases toward the central and eastern Highlands. England and Wales mostly dry, isolated showers, hills often clear, light winds and mild or increasingly warm. Dry and warm for much of Britain to start the weekend with southerly breezes, but a greater risk of some rain or showers by Sunday. Showery conditions more likely into the start of next week with lower pressure likely.