Mountain Weather
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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.

Wednesday's Forecast

Windy, walking impeded
Frequent or persistent rain
Poor visibility
Cool to mild

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Click here to download the latest PDF Last Updated Tue 16th Jun 26 at 4:30PM Last Updated Tue 16th Jun 26 at 4:30PM
View our low-graphics version Last Updated Tue 16th Jun 26 at 4:30PM Last Updated Tue 16th Jun 26 at 4:30PM

Viewing Forecast For

West Highlands
Wednesday 17th June 2026
Last updated Tue 16th Jun 26 at 4:30PM

Summary for all mountain areas

Southwesterly winds will be fresh to strong over the mountains. Rain widely fairly persistent in the morning, more showery for Scotland into afternoon, fading for northern England and Wales, but patchy rain lingers in south Wales. Cloud shrouding most high terrain, lowest in west, some breaks afternoon.

Headline for West Highlands

Increasingly windy. Rain then showers, cloud base rising.

How windy? (On the Munros)

South-southwesterly 20-25mph in morning, briefly less inland, tending to rise, to 25-35mph afternoon, strongest Ben Nevis group and coastal tops toward Mull, gusts 40mph in exposure.

Effect of the wind on you?

Fairly small early in day inland, but increasingly strenuous walking over high terrain, in places more frequent buffeting by afternoon affecting balance on ridges. Feeling cool in exposure.

How Wet?

Wettest early morning, then showers.

Rain persistent and fairly widely heavy from dawn into early morning, easing and becoming patchier. Then showery rain on and off into middle of day and afternoon-evening, more often damp in west, odd heavier showers drifting inland.

Cloud on the hills?

Extensive, lowest coastal areas, rising

Covering many hills much of the day, to lower slopes in coastal areas for a time in morning rain, widely above 600-800m inland. Tending to rise afternoon, some breaks above 900m mostly well inland, locally higher toward Creag Meagaidh.

Chance of cloud free Munros?

20%

Sunshine and air clarity?

Rare brief sun, mostly inland Lochaber. Visibility poor at first in rain and cloud, mistier lower down coastal hills, improving to be good away from showers.

How Cold? (at 900m)

7C, rising to 10C out of cloud inland in afternoon. Feeling just below freezing directly in wind.

Freezing Level

Above the summits.

Viewing Forecast For

West Highlands
Thursday 18th June 2026
Last updated Tue 16th Jun 26 at 4:30PM

How windy? (On the Munros)

South-southwesterly 20 to 30mph, occasional stronger gusts around tops. Then strengthening overnight from south.

Effect of the wind on you?

Starting to affect comfortable walking over higher exposed tops and ridges.

How Wet?

Rain frequent or persistent

Generally damp all day, rain setting in steadier at times southern areas and coasts, but pulses of rain extend across the region, some heavier bursts mixed in.

Cloud on the hills?

Extensive

Shrouding the mountains throughout the day, to mid-slopes near coasts, lower at times. Higher cloud base north from Rannoch Moor, some breaks above 800m.

Chance of cloud free Munros?

10%

Sunshine and air clarity?

Widely cloudy, brief brighter moments northeast Lochaber. Misty around many hills, especially coasts, better visibility below cloud well inland.

How Cold? (at 900m)

7C, little change all day, locally rising to 9 or 10C out of cloud inland Lochaber. Feeling near 0C in stronger wind.

Freezing Level

Above the summits.

Viewing Forecast For

West Highlands
Friday 19th June 2026
Last updated Tue 16th Jun 26 at 4:30PM

How windy? (On the Munros)

South-southwesterly, rising from before dawn to 40-50mph, gusts 60-70mph high tops; tending to lessen later in day.

Effect of the wind on you?

Challenging walking, sudden buffeting on downslopes to north, gusts may knock you over on tops. Considerable wind chill.

How Wet?

Heavy rain for several hours

Bursts of rain extending northwards from overnight into morning, some more prolonged heavy or torrential falls possible. Chance of thunder. Breaking up in afternoon, later scattered showers.

Cloud on the hills?

Varied, some very low cloud

Very low cloud likely to lower slopes near coasts, islands and sea lochs. Covering many higher slopes inland, varied, but widely low ragged patches in rain. Brief breaks higher up. May improve late in day.

Chance of cloud free Munros?

20%

Sunshine and air clarity?

Any sun weak through high cloud, largely overcast. Misty coasts; widely hazy, murky around rain, may then improve to be very good later.

How Cold? (at 900m)

Humid 10 to 13C, then later in the day likely to drop rapidly to 6C. Feeling below freezing in wind all day.

Freezing Level

Above the summits.

Planning Outlook

Humid southwesterly winds persist late this week, reaching gale-force over hills - affecting northern England and Wales on Thursday, then Scotland by Friday. Periods of rain, some heavy falls with possible thundery bursts mixed in. Low cloud most persistent in the west. Less windy, but still breezy into Saturday in Scotland, feeling less humid for most, but western Scottish hills at least stay cloud capped and with showery rain. Sunday is more uncertain, but a risk of some further rain pushing in from the southwest - warmer again over England and Wales. A mixed west-southwesterly pattern into next week, rain and low cloud most common in western Scotland, drier with higher cloud eastwards and more often dry for England & Wales. Near average temperatures, may rise late week in south.