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
Moderate breeze, locally gusty
A noticeable breeze, feeling cool where exposed on tops. Locally may be gusty, but unlikely to affect walking progress. 15-25mph.
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.
Chilly
Air temperature typically 0 to 5C on higher summits. Feeling distinctly chilly on tops when stationary or where exposed to wind. Take appropriate layers.
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Moderate breeze, locally gusty
A noticeable breeze, feeling cool where exposed on tops. Locally may be gusty, but unlikely to affect walking progress. 15-25mph.
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.
Chilly
Air temperature typically 0 to 5C on higher summits. Feeling distinctly chilly on tops when stationary or where exposed to wind. Take appropriate layers.
Viewing Forecast For
West Highlands
Monday 13th April 2026
Last updated
Sun 12th Apr 26 at
4:20PM
Summary for all mountain areas
Heavy showers with hail from dawn in northwest Scotland, snow falling as low as middle-slopes. Hail showers become widespread afternoon, a risk of isolating lightning. Cloud above most hills between showers. Chilly temperatures, slightly rising in sun, but suddenly chilly again around showers and also gusty.
Headline for West Highlands
Hail showers, mostly afternoon, risk isolated lightning
How windy? (On the Munros)
Southwesterly 20 to 30mph at dawn, soon shifting southerly and easing, largely 15-20mph, occasional stronger speeds on high tops. Sudden gusts around showers.
Effect of the wind on you?
Fairly small, but blustery in places where exposed on high tops in the morning, giving considerable wind chill. Sudden gusts may briefly affect stability.
How Wet?
Hail showers forming increasingly, widely afternoon
Showers mostly coastal areas from Glencoe northward early morning, then a scattering forming middle of day onward, widespread by late afternoon, briefly heavy with hail and snow falling as low as 600m. Risk isolated thunder & lightning. May continue along the coast well into night.
Cloud on the hills?
Varied in showers, many hills clear; more extensive early
Fairly extensive in the morning on coastal slopes, locally to low slopes; bases mostly above 800m inland. Bases lifting above many tops as the morning goes, highest summits slower to clear. Banks then forming over hills during and after showers.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
30% coasts in morning, otherwise 60%.
Sunshine and air clarity?
Sunshine inland in morning, more patchy along the coast, then becoming more widely patchy afternoon, bursts of sun between showers. Visibility excellent, but briefly very poor in showers.
How Cold? (at 900m)
-1C rising to +1C, or 2C northeast of Ben Nevis; dropping a few degrees in showers. Wind chill feeling like -6C to near -10C early in day on tops.
Freezing Level
700-800m at first, also frost in some sheltered inland glens; rising 1000-1100m into middle of day and afternoon.
Viewing Forecast For
West Highlands
Tuesday 14th April 2026
Last updated
Sun 12th Apr 26 at
4:20PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
South-southeasterly 15-25mph, strengthening near coast afternoon, 45mph, to 55mph Arran to Mull after dark.
Effect of the wind on you?
Increasingly blustery, particularly western mountains; later arduous, significant wind chill, balance and stability challenged.
How Wet?
Some showery rain afternoon
From midday into afternoon, a rising risk of showery rain arriving from the southwest. Rain reaches most areas by evening, tough likely remaining patchy in nature during daylight, deteriorating overnight.
Cloud on the hills?
Likely all clearing
Patchy cloud around some southern slopes in morning, also mist in some glens at first. Largely breaking up or lifting above the hills into middle of day, some fleeting caps over high tops. As evening approaches, cloud returns to high terrain Arran to Mull, spreading into night.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
80%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Patchwork of cloud and sun, high cloud gradually builds later. Visibility excellent.
How Cold? (at 900m)
0C rising to 4C; a degree milder Lochaber. Feeling colder as wind increases, later in day risk chill factor feels like -10C.
Freezing Level
900-1000m early in day, light frost inland glens around dawn. Rising to 1200-1300m, then above all tops later.
Viewing Forecast For
West Highlands
Wednesday 15th April 2026
Last updated
Sun 12th Apr 26 at
4:20PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
Southerly 45-60mph, very gusty, not just at high elevations, locally variable direction, and may strengthen west for a time.
Effect of the wind on you?
Challenging conditions with significant wind chill in exposure likely all day; chaotic gusts constantly affecting balance.
How Wet?
Rain most of the day
Rain frequently streaming in from the south, setting in persistently for periods, heavy falls probable; occasional brief breaks in the rain but often drizzly on high terrain during these lulls too.
Cloud on the hills?
Extensive, local slight improvements
A sheet of cloud shrouds the mountains, largely to lower slopes in the morning, as low as coastal cliffs in the south. A slight lift of bases inland-north, best around Creag Meagaidh, but unlikely breaking above 600-700m.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
10%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Little or no sun expected. Largely poor visibility due to cloud and rain.
How Cold? (at 900m)
6 or 7C. Feeling as cold as -10C in direct wind.
Freezing Level
Above the summits, may just graze the summits of Ben Nevis around dusk, lowering towards 1000m overnight.
Planning Outlook
Tuesday starts largely dry and temperatures trend milder than prior days, but rain and strengthening south-southwesterly winds return from the west later. Milder into mid-late week, but Scottish high tops above 1200m close to freezing at times. Wednesday through Friday sees unsettled conditions with showers, occasionally more persistent rain, accompanied by strong gusty winds, gales over mountains for periods, but also brighter spells between rain. With strengthening sunshine, temperatures will tend to rise several degrees during daylight, often becoming warm in the valleys; slopes north of major hill groups often milder. Higher pressure gradually builds through next weekend, bringing fewer showers and lighter winds; chilly overnight, but fairly mild spring days.