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West Highlands Forecast

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

Moderate breeze, locally gusty
Frequent or persistent rain
Warm

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Click here to download the latest PDF Last Updated Fri 18th Jul 25 at 4:17PM Last Updated Fri 18th Jul 25 at 4:17PM
View our low-graphics version Last Updated Fri 18th Jul 25 at 4:17PM Last Updated Fri 18th Jul 25 at 4:17PM

Viewing Forecast For

West Highlands
Saturday 19th July 2025
Last updated Fri 18th Jul 25 at 4:17PM

Summary for all mountain areas

Some early rain near west coast, but the Highlands largely dry in morning. Into afternoon, bursts of rain becoming extensive heavy rain. A swathe of prolonged heavy rain moves north over England; intense downpours and thunderstorms, focused on Pennines. A few local showers Wales, but often dry. Fairly warm, locally gusty.

Headline for West Highlands

Local early rain; heavy rain develops afternoon. Breezy coast.

How windy? (On the Munros)

East or southeasterly 10 to 20mph, strongest winds mostly coastal areas, gusts 25mph at times. Lower speeds particularly early in day inland Lochaber.

Effect of the wind on you?

Mostly small, but feeling breezier at times over exposed terrain, may start to affect balance on coastal mountains and islands.

How Wet?

Patchy coastal rain early; heavy rain moving in afternoon

Often dry morning into early afternoon, a little patchy showery rain near coast clears westwards in morning. During afternoon, rain developing from southeast, setting in heavy more widely with time, local torrential bursts central highlands, possible thunder later.

Cloud on the hills?

Clearing for periods, lowering later

Patchy cloud banks on some slopes in the morning tending to lift higher up, good breaks to many tops. As rain develops later, cloud lowering to become extensive over hills, lowest toward south.

Chance of cloud free Munros?

60% later 20%

Sunshine and air clarity?

Some sun and high cloud, tending to cloud over from south with time. Visibility very good, then reducing to be poor as rain develops.

How Cold? (at 900m)

11 or 12C, small change all day, quite humid.

Freezing Level

Above the summits

Viewing Forecast For

West Highlands
Sunday 20th July 2025
Last updated Fri 18th Jul 25 at 4:17PM

How windy? (On the Munros)

Easterly 15 to 25mph, gusty for periods around some slopes.

Effect of the wind on you?

Fairly small, but feeling blustery at times which may start to be noticeable on exposed ridges.

How Wet?

Rain on and off, sometimes heavy

Rain and drizzle on and off, occasional heavier bursts, locally more persistent rain for periods. Some drier intervals, more likely west Lochaber. Risk of thundery bursts forming more widely in west later.

Cloud on the hills?

Fairly extensive, varied

Covering many higher slopes most of the day, lowest cloud base most persistent central highlands. Ragged patches to lower slopes widely during and after rain. Occasional breaks higher up, more likely toward west.

Chance of cloud free Munros?

30%

Sunshine and air clarity?

Rare glimpses of sun most toward west around Mull. Visibility good below cloud when dry, but murky during rain.

How Cold? (at 900m)

12 to 14C, quite humid.

Freezing Level

Above the summits

Viewing Forecast For

West Highlands
Monday 21st July 2025
Last updated Fri 18th Jul 25 at 4:17PM

How windy? (On the Munros)

Direction variable, typically below 10mph, but occasional sudden gusts around rain.

Effect of the wind on you?

Mostly small

How Wet?

Bursts of rain, risk thunder

Areas of patchy rain, risk developing increasingly into heavier bursts, possibly slow-moving thundery downpours by afternoon, but these very hit and miss, some places nearby may see little rain.

Cloud on the hills?

Varied cloud, but often covering hills

Banks of cloud at various elevations from dawn into the morning, to lower slopes in places. Cloud base rising, but often capping higher terrain. Widespread in rain, ragged patches forest canopies upward.

Chance of cloud free Munros?

30%

Sunshine and air clarity?

Mostly little sun, breaking through briefly. Visibility very good for periods, but reduced in rain, poor at times.

How Cold? (at 900m)

12C, small variation all day.

Freezing Level

Above the summits

Planning Outlook

Unsettled onward into early next week, as slack low pressure drifts slowly over the British Isles. Slow-moving showers and areas of persistent heavier rain in places, increasingly thundery downpours, these most extensive over England and Wales by Sunday. Staying fairly warm, quite humid. Often low wind speeds, but gusty south-southeasterlies at times. By mid-next week onward into late July, west to southwesterlies likely to prevail, with some rain or drizzle at times mostly western Scotland, often dry further south and east.