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
Gale force, walking arduous
Considerable buffeting, walking into the wind will be strenuous on exposed terrain, stronger gusts may knock you off your feet. 40 to 55mph.
Snow and rain mix
Precipitation falling mostly as snow on higher terrain, rain on low-to-middle elevations, may turn to sleet or rain higher up.
Whiteout
Fog and lying snow over the mountains, possibly with falling or blowing snow, very disorientating. Map and compass essential, beware of unseen hazards.
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.
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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Gale force, walking arduous
Considerable buffeting, walking into the wind will be strenuous on exposed terrain, stronger gusts may knock you off your feet. 40 to 55mph.
Snow and rain mix
Precipitation falling mostly as snow on higher terrain, rain on low-to-middle elevations, may turn to sleet or rain higher up.
Whiteout
Fog and lying snow over the mountains, possibly with falling or blowing snow, very disorientating. Map and compass essential, beware of unseen hazards.
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.
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
Wednesday 1st April 2026
Last updated
Tue 31st Mar 26 at
4:22PM
Summary for all mountain areas
Rain spreads across Scottish Highlands from the northwest, turning to snow as temperature sharply drops. Strong, variable wind here with gale-force gusts. Early hill cloud England and Wales lifts, best breaks east for some sun glimpses. Patchy rain into Snowdonia, Lakeland, and N Pennines late in the day.
Headline for West Highlands
Heavy rain turns to snow; gales, gusty and variable
How windy? (On the Munros)
Southwesterly 35-45mph at dawn, strongest north, soon more widely stronger. A sudden northerly shift passes southward, a brief lull then sharply strengthening again, gusting 50mph+ along the coast. Loch Lomond last to see change in wind.
Effect of the wind on you?
Arduous walking conditions with buffeting gusts in exposure for much of the day; balance nearly constantly challenged and feeling chilly. Highly variable for a period.
How Wet?
Rain turns heavy, then to snow later, breaks west
Patchy rain and drizzle from dawn, rain soon setting in Lochaber and spreading widely through morning with heavy falls. Rain turns to snow from the north through afternoon, a breaking trend west and south later afternoon too. Snow lingers longest Lochaber to Ben Lomond.
Cloud on the hills?
Extensive
Soon shrouding most mountains to lower slopes well into the day; bases starting higher in southern areas before precipitation sets in, middle or upper slopes. Scattered breaks forming later afternoon around coastal Munros.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
Below 10%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Overcast, poor visibility in rain, becoming very poor as rain turns to snow, possible whiteout for periods on high terrain over snow cover. May locally improve along coastal slopes late in the day.
How Cold? (at 900m)
3 or 4C through morning. A sudden, sharp drop Mull/coastal Lochaber around midday, to 0C, spreading afternoon more widely, reaching Arran/Loch Lomond last. Widely -2C by nightfall. Feeling like -10C in exposure to wind.
Freezing Level
Above all summits well into the morning, beginning to lower onto the high summits as noon approaches, then rapidly dropping afternoon, 600-700m into evening.
Viewing Forecast For
West Highlands
Thursday 2nd April 2026
Last updated
Tue 31st Mar 26 at
4:22PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
Variable 15mph or less early, turning southerly and strengthening, to 20-35mph strongest coast, gusts approaching 45mph.
Effect of the wind on you?
Small in the morning, gradually deteriorating, walking becomes strenuous in the west with wind chill.
How Wet?
Rain/snow from the west afternoon
Dry through morning. Through afternoon, rain arriving from the west, snow above 600-700m, spreading more widely into evening, some heavy falls along the coast.
Cloud on the hills?
Mostly higher terrain, breaks likely
Patchy cloud at several heights at dawn, soon lifting and dissipating from many hills. For a time, cloud likely confined just to the high summits, some breaks likely. Increasing risk of cloud over the coastal Munros through afternoon, spreading more widely into evening.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
50%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Busts of sunshine, some high cloud at times weakening the sunshine. Very good visibility.
How Cold? (at 900m)
-3C lifting to -1C. Feeling as cold as -10C in wind later in the day.
Freezing Level
Most terrain frozen at dawn, through locally 300-400m coastal Munros. Rising, approaching 700-800m.
Viewing Forecast For
West Highlands
Friday 3rd April 2026
Last updated
Tue 31st Mar 26 at
4:22PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
Southwesterly 35-50mph, powerful gusts, including downslope to the east.
Effect of the wind on you?
Challenging conditions likely on the hills, balance will be difficult and feeling chilly. Some variability is probable.
How Wet?
Periods of snow/rain
Snow and rain affecting all areas much of the day, snow to 400m, but perhaps to higher slopes briefly. A mix of showers and longer periods of precipitation, heavy at times, notably Lochaber.
Cloud on the hills?
Likely extensive, may break somewhat
Blanket cloud shrouds most hills to middle slopes most or all day, to the lower slopes near the coast. May briefly lift higher during cessations in precipitation, and more frequently broken late in the day, but detail is uncertain.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
10%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Mostly overcast and dull, perhaps an odd glimpse of weak sun, best chance late in the day. Mostly poor visibility in fog and rain.
How Cold? (at 900m)
0 to -2C early, likely rising, up to +3C though timing/detail very uncertain. Feeling like -10 to -15C in direct wind.
Freezing Level
600-800m from overnight, likely lifting for a period, to or above the summits, lowering again later; timing and detail uncertain.
Planning Outlook
A brief lull in unsettled weather on Thursday with mostly dry, sunny conditions and lighter wind. Atlantic weather patterns and west-southwesterly winds follow behind on Friday and into the Easter weekend, but day-to-day detail is uncertain. Temperature and wind will be variable, periods of gales and possibly often cold over the mountains with snow and hail showers at times to lower elevations at least in Scotland, sometimes more widely. Precipitation generally most frequent west and northwest, though bands of heavy rain will sweep east at times. Some brief windows of drier and brighter conditions, as well as milder days in England and Wales, occasionally milder Scotland too, but soon followed by more Atlantic low pressure.