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.
Tuesday's Forecast
Windy, walking impeded
Blustery conditions enough to give buffeting on higher terrain or affect balance on exposed ridges. 25 to 40mph.
Snow
Snowfall continuous or frequent over the mountains, beware of conditions becoming challenging on higher terrain. At lower elevations falling as rain.
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.
Snow
Snowfall continuous or frequent over the mountains, beware of conditions becoming challenging on higher terrain. At lower elevations falling as rain.
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
Tuesday 18th November 2025
Last updated
Mon 17th Nov 25 at
4:00PM
Summary for all mountain areas
Extensive snow Scottish Highlands, falling to lower elevations inland, later showers of snow & hail in north/west. Wind varied in Scotland, then strengthening northerlies. Rain and some snow over higher tops England and Wales plus westerlies up to gale force. Cloud covering most higher terrain.
Headline for West Highlands
Varied at times strong wind. Snow in morning, coastal rain/hail.
How windy? (On the Munros)
West-northwesterly in morning 25-35mph, strongest coasts and toward south, may be much less for a time inland Lochaber. A brief easing widely into afternoon, switching north-northeasterly, increasing dusk into evening widely to 30-40mph.
Effect of the wind on you?
Locally varied, blustery especially more southern areas with considerable wind chill; may be small effects for a time inland; some improvement in south, but widely deteriorating as night falls.
How Wet?
Persistent snow inland morning; coasts wetter, but showers with hail.
Snow from pre-dawn into morning, some heavy, falling to lower slopes well inland, but near coast more rain, toward higher slopes on islands. Tending to ease from midday to flurries, locally drier inland. Clusters of showers near to coast, frequent in south, with risk of hail.
Cloud on the hills?
Extensive, some rise afternoon
Shrouding the hills widely during snow, to some lower elevations. Bases tend to rise into afternoon from north, brief breaks possible, but likely to persist over most higher slopes. Bases varied in and out of showers near coasts.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
10%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Overcast with near-zero visibility during snow; generally poor in coastal showers also. Chance of brighter breaks during afternoon.
How Cold? (at 900m)
-2C inland, 0C toward islands and coastal Loch Lomond NP, up to 1C Arran; lowering all areas from north into evening to -4C. Wind chill in stronger speeds near -15C, or after dark toward -20C.
Freezing Level
Locally varied, inland much terrain frozen, near freezing into glens all day. Toward coast & islands up to 800-1000m, lowering later from north, after dark 400-500m.
Viewing Forecast For
West Highlands
Wednesday 19th November 2025
Last updated
Mon 17th Nov 25 at
4:00PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
Northerly 30 to 40mph, squally gusts locally in showers.
Effect of the wind on you?
At times challenging walking conditions on higher exposed terrain, significant wind chill, severe in places higher up.
How Wet?
Snow and hail showers mostly coasts
Snow and hail showers mostly toward coastal mountains, risk frequent in places, chance of isolated lightning. A few showers may come into Lochaber at times from the north. More often dry central highlands. Snow lying into glens.
Cloud on the hills?
Patches higher tops, mostly coasts
Banks of cloud most frequent over coastal slopes, varied above 600-900m in and out of showers. Inland, often above 900m with breaks higher up. Further south, patchier cloud, often breaking above many tops inland.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
50%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Sunshine best inland around Loch Lomond NP, bursts of sun elsewhere. Visibility excellent, but suddenly very poor in showers.
How Cold? (at 900m)
-4C. Wind chill feeling like -15 to -20C.
Freezing Level
Most terrain frozen from glens upward, freezing level lifting up to 400-500m near coast and on islands.
Viewing Forecast For
West Highlands
Thursday 20th November 2025
Last updated
Mon 17th Nov 25 at
4:00PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
Northerly 25 to 40mph, strongest in morning; dropping lighter from dusk into evening.
Effect of the wind on you?
Challenging walking on higher terrain early in day, significant wind chill; gradually improving, but blustery most of daytime.
How Wet?
Largely dry, local snow showers
A few snow and hail showers continuing to run down west coast, mainly areas near Mull, tending to fade out. Some snow flurries also into Creag Meagaidh area, but largely dry many places all day.
Cloud on the hills?
Patches higher tops
Some patchy cloud drifting over higher slopes, mostly Ben Nevis group to Creag Meagaidh, also toward Mull. Further south, many mountains often clear.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
60%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Sunshine best across southern mountains, bursts of sun elsewhere. Visibility mostly excellent.
How Cold? (at 900m)
-4C (to -6 or -7C Ben Nevis top). Wind chill feeling like -15C, to -20C early in day high tops.
Freezing Level
Terrain frozen from glens upward, partial thawing only lowest sunlit slopes, up to 500m coastal slopes.
Planning Outlook
Snow lying most widely in Scottish Highlands, to lower slopes inland, some high tops elsewhere into midweek. Strong to gale force northerlies Wednesday-Thursday, bringing snow and hail showers focused on northern Scotland and onto north-facing coastal districts elsewhere. Sunnier from central Scotland southward through northern England. By Friday into next weekend, winds shift back westerly and freezing levels rise to upper slopes - some rain likely, snow on high tops at times.