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
Blustery conditions, enough to give buffeting on higher terrain or affect balance on exposed ridges. 25 to 35mph.
Snow flurries
Occasional light snow flurries, possible soft hail. Amounts little more than nuisance value, but reducing visibility for periods.
Very Cold
Very low air temperatures or feeling bitterly cold due to wind chill on the mountains. Difficult conditions. Frostbite and hypothermia risk. Suitable protective clothing is required.
Terrain widely frozen
All ground frozen from lower elevations upward, with hard frost or snow cover. Beware of icy surfaces on lower and higher terrain. Appropriate footwear needed, spikes and crampons may be 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 35mph.
Snow flurries
Occasional light snow flurries, possible soft hail. Amounts little more than nuisance value, but reducing visibility for periods.
Very Cold
Very low air temperatures or feeling bitterly cold due to wind chill on the mountains. Difficult conditions. Frostbite and hypothermia risk. Suitable protective clothing is required.
Terrain widely frozen
All ground frozen from lower elevations upward, with hard frost or snow cover. Beware of icy surfaces on lower and higher terrain. Appropriate footwear needed, spikes and crampons may be necessary.
Viewing Forecast For
West Highlands
Wednesday 6th December 2023
Last updated
Tue 5th Dec 23 at
4:28PM
Summary for all mountain areas
After a hard frost, mostly dry and bright, but feeling increasingly bitterly cold as southeasterly winds strengthen and cloud thicken through the day ahead of a front, which will bring and increasing risk of upland snowfall, in across western mountains toward evening, and then spreading to all parts overnight.
Headline for West Highlands
Bitter chill in strengthening southeast winds. Snow setting in after dusk.
How windy? (On the Munros)
Southeasterly, strengthening through day from 20-30mph after dawn to 35 to perhaps 45mph before dusk.
Effect of the wind on you?
Walking increasingly difficult, in places on lower slopes, and feeling bitterly cold as wind chill becomes significant.
How Wet?
Risk snow spreading northeast
Very likely dry all morning and probably all day. Nevertheless, slowly increasing threat of patchy snow initially near the coast - then more widely deteriorating with widespread snow after dark.
Cloud on the hills?
Banks on higher areas; highest cloud base and breaks Lochaber.
Generally persistent cloud above around 600m central highlands, Arran and Loch Lomond NP. May sometimes lower to 450m. Elsewhere, most cloud above 750-900m and clearing summits near and west of Loch Linnhe.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
20% in the south to 60% in the north
Sunshine and air clarity?
Sunshine from time to time, mainly near and west of Loch Linnhe. Visibility excellent although increasingly hazy.
How Cold? (at 900m)
-3C. Will feel as cold as minus 17C directly in the wind.
Freezing Level
Almost all terrain frozen.
Viewing Forecast For
West Highlands
Thursday 7th December 2023
Last updated
Tue 5th Dec 23 at
4:28PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
Very turbulent conditions developing. Southeasterly winds; lifting through day to 50 to 80mph
Effect of the wind on you?
Be prepared for increasingly very difficult conditions, as turbulent and very powerful winds accelerate over the mountains.
How Wet?
Occasional snow or refrozen rain
Occasional snow. Level to which snow falls varying, to lower slopes in some areas, but upper slopes or tops elsewhere with some hills seeing refrozen rain.
Cloud on the hills?
Extensive
Be prepared for extensive hill fog; in the south and east down to lower slopes. Mainly upper slopes north Lochaber/west of Loch Linnhe.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
20%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Overcast. Visibility often very poor.
How Cold? (at 900m)
Around -2C, will tend to rise to between -1C and plus 2C. More like -18C in direct exposure to the wind.
Freezing Level
400-700m, highest near west coast. Lifting to 700-1100m; varied across area.
Viewing Forecast For
West Highlands
Friday 8th December 2023
Last updated
Tue 5th Dec 23 at
4:28PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
East to southeasterly 15 to 25mph, locally 30mph at first, but tending to ease through the day.
Effect of the wind on you?
Be prepared for considerable wind chill in the strongest breezes, although tending to ease through the day.
How Wet?
Rain, snow tops, tending to fizzle out.
Areas of rain, or above 1000m snow, on and off for a time, but tending to fizzle out into the afternoon. Although some showers may persist in the south.
Cloud on the hills?
Fairly extensive, best breaks in north.
Cloud covering the hills fairly extensively, perhaps to lower slopes from the central Highlands down to Loch Lomond NP. Best breaks N Lochaber
Chance of cloud free Munros?
20%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Mostly dull, but some patchy sun N Lochaber at times breaking through. Visibility at times good or very good, but poor and murky where in rain.
How Cold? (at 900m)
Around 1C, but feeling closer to -10C initially in the strongest winds before they ease.
Freezing Level
Gradual thaw to upper slopes, with freezing level around 1100m.
Planning Outlook
Unsettled conditions will prevail over the next week to 10 days, with periods of upland gales or severe gales with precipitation frequent, mostly rain, although intermittently snow Scottish Highlands, more rarely elsewhere. Driest conditions (relative to the average) will likely be in the northwest Highlands, given the often backed flow, as the low pressure areas track in.