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.
Monday's Forecast
Windy, walking impeded
Blustery conditions enough to give buffeting on higher terrain or affect balance on exposed ridges. 25 to 40mph.
Heavy snow and hail showers, isolated lightning
Showery precipitation, often heavy, may merge to become constant for periods. A mix of snow and hail often falling to lower slopes. Risk of very localised thunder and lightning.
Whiteout
Fog and lying snow over the mountains, possibly with falling or blowing snow, very disorientating. Map and compass essential, beware of unseen hazards.
Cold
Air temperature below 0C all day on higher mountains. Significant chill factor if exposed to strong winds. Suitable protective clothing required.
Winter kit required on higher terrain
Snow cover over higher mountains. Safe progress over some terrain will require suitable footwear - possibly crampons and ice-axe where necessary.
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Windy, walking impeded
Blustery conditions enough to give buffeting on higher terrain or affect balance on exposed ridges. 25 to 40mph.
Heavy snow and hail showers, isolated lightning
Showery precipitation, often heavy, may merge to become constant for periods. A mix of snow and hail often falling to lower slopes. Risk of very localised thunder and lightning.
Whiteout
Fog and lying snow over the mountains, possibly with falling or blowing snow, very disorientating. Map and compass essential, beware of unseen hazards.
Cold
Air temperature below 0C all day on higher mountains. Significant chill factor if exposed to strong winds. Suitable protective clothing required.
Winter kit required on higher terrain
Snow cover over higher mountains. Safe progress over some terrain will require suitable footwear - possibly crampons and ice-axe where necessary.
Viewing Forecast For
West Highlands
Monday 16th February 2026
Last updated
Sun 15th Feb 26 at
3:30PM
Summary for all mountain areas
Snow over northwestern mountains in Scotland will tend to extend further into Lochaber and Cairngorms by afternoon as NW'ly winds strengthen, some hail mixed in. Strong westerlies for England, gale-force on Welsh mountains, heavy showers merging into longer periods rain, snow confined to higher tops.
Headline for West Highlands
Increasingly windy. Snow and hail showers.
How windy? (On the Munros)
West to northwest 20mph early morning, a lull in Lochaber for an hour or so. Becoming northwesterly 25mph, increasing to 35mph at times afternoon, squally gusts toward coasts. After dark, rapid increase to 50-60mph.
Effect of the wind on you?
Increasingly blustery, affecting comfortable walking more into afternoon. Wind chill becoming significant. Deteriorating quickly after dark to more severe conditions later evening.
How Wet?
Snow showers coastal hills, more widely Lochaber with time.
Snow and hail showers, most common in coastal areas and on islands in morning, rain lowest slopes. Increasingly into afternoon, more frequent snow develops from northwest into Lochaber, later falling to lower elevations inland. Chance isolated thunder. Least precipitation east of Loch Lomond and Rannoch Moor.
Cloud on the hills?
Extensive; highest cloud base well inland and southward.
Cloud base varying, sometimes quickly, between 400m near precipitation and otherwise 600 to 800m. Toward the central highlands and Loch Lomond NP, cloud rarely below 700m and breaks toward 1000m.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
20% Lochaber, to 40% toward central highlands.
Sunshine and air clarity?
Occasional sunshine mainly central highlands and Loch Lomond NP. Very varied visibility; intermittently appalling or near zero in snow; more often very good toward central highlands.
How Cold? (at 900m)
-1 or -2C, dropping toward -4C by late afternoon Lochaber, elsewhere by evening. Directly in the wind feeling like -12 to -15C into afternoon, colder after dark.
Freezing Level
700 to 800m, plus slight frost some inland glens at first. Lowering from north during afternoon, to 400-500m up to dusk in Lochaber, soon after dark elsewhere.
Viewing Forecast For
West Highlands
Tuesday 17th February 2026
Last updated
Sun 15th Feb 26 at
3:30PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
Northerly 25 to 35mph in the morning, strongest Ben Nevis range, dropping to 15-20mph afternoon, locally less.
Effect of the wind on you?
Prepare for considerable wind chill in the morning, blustery conditions for a few hours at least, but improving.
How Wet?
Snow showers or flurries dying out
Snow and hail showers near the coast will largely fade in the morning.
Cloud on the hills?
Becoming confined to higher areas and increasingly clearing
Cloud banks mostly on higher slopes near the coast in the morning, but patchy elsewhere. By afternoon patches above 750 to 900m, but increasingly mountains free of cloud.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
80% by afternoon
Sunshine and air clarity?
Bright sunshine increasingly. Superb visibility.
How Cold? (at 900m)
-5C. Early in day, feeling like -15C directly in the wind, easing.
Freezing Level
300-400m but most terrain frozen; slight rise toward coast, partial thawing lowest sunlit slopes inland.
Viewing Forecast For
West Highlands
Wednesday 18th February 2026
Last updated
Sun 15th Feb 26 at
3:30PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
South-southeasterly 25-35mph, strengthening, 45mph south coast later. Powerful gusts, not just on high terrain.
Effect of the wind on you?
Strenuous walking/considerable buffeting, deteriorating south to challenging conditions and severe wind chill.
How Wet?
No precipitation expected
Cloud on the hills?
Little or none
A few cloud caps may graze highest tops from the southern islands to Mull, but Munros substantially clear of cloud all day.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
90%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Likely sunny though becoming weakened by high cloud from the south. Excellent visibility.
How Cold? (at 900m)
-4C inland, -2 or -3C along the coast. Little or no change with added height. Feeling as cold as -20C in strongest wind.
Freezing Level
Most terrain frozen from dawn, low sun-exposed slopes thawing, up to 500m coastal Lochaber.
Planning Outlook
Much terrain frozen into midweek, frost into valleys and glens. Uncertain extent of strengthening winds by Wednesday, and possible snow moving into Wales. Late in the week and through next weekend, a switch to southwesterly winds is expected, bringing a change to milder conditions - lifting above freezing to tops in England and Wales, and generally higher freezing levels in Scotland; periods of thawing likely over the mountains, though some further snowfall at times on higher Munros. Rain most frequent over western hills. Generally windy with upland gales.