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.
Thursday's Forecast
Windy, walking impeded
Blustery conditions enough to give buffeting on higher terrain or affect balance on exposed ridges. 25 to 40mph.
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.
Cold
Air temperature below 0C all day on higher mountains. Significant chill factor if exposed to strong winds. Suitable protective clothing required.
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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Windy, walking impeded
Blustery conditions enough to give buffeting on higher terrain or affect balance on exposed ridges. 25 to 40mph.
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.
Cold
Air temperature below 0C all day on higher mountains. Significant chill factor if exposed to strong winds. Suitable protective clothing required.
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
Thursday 9th April 2026
Last updated
Wed 8th Apr 26 at
4:04PM
Summary for all mountain areas
Rain passes east through Scotland from dawn, followed by colder air and heavy showers with snow on high terrain. The rain passes northwest parts of England and Wales through morning, reaching the Pennines and south Wales midday, clearing east for afternoon showers. Blustery, strong gusts around showers.
Headline for West Highlands
Frequent heavy snow showers with hail; blustery, strong gusts
How windy? (On the Munros)
Southwesterly 20-30mph, shifting westerly and strengthening later, approaching 40mph high tops. Often gusty during showers.
Effect of the wind on you?
Walking inconvenienced in exposure all day, strong buffeting gusts in showers will challenge balance for periods and bring significant wind chill.
How Wet?
Morning rain followed by heavy snow showers
Rain passes east across all areas through early morning, locally heavy, soon followed by frequent heavy showers, most frequent south, falling as snow to 500-600m, some hail too. Showers may briefly ease afternoon, but late in the day, rain and snow sets in again from the west.
Cloud on the hills?
Fairly extensive early, gradually improving, best breaks afternoon
Extensive from dawn to middle slopes. Cloud soon lifts and breaks Mull to Lochaber as rain turns to showers, to mostly above 700-800m, clear summits at times, but returning in showers above 1000m; west coastal hills most often covered, locally to 600m in showers.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
Rising to 40%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Fairly cloudy morning, bursts of bright sunshine increasingly breaking out between showers, the most sun likely in the middle/later afternoon. Very good visibility, but suddenly very poor in rain/snow.
How Cold? (at 900m)
-1 or 0C most of the day, to +1C central highlands in the morning. Feeling like -10 to 13C in direct wind.
Freezing Level
Lowering from overnight, 1000-1200m at dawn, lowering further to around 700m.
Viewing Forecast For
West Highlands
Friday 10th April 2026
Last updated
Wed 8th Apr 26 at
4:04PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
Southwesterly 10-20mph early, shifting southerly, strengthening to 45-65mph by evening, strongest Arran to Mull.
Effect of the wind on you?
Walking increasingly difficult with severe wind chill; you may struggle to stay on your feet in exposure near the coast.
How Wet?
Spots of rain/snow, rising risk later
Spotty patchy precipitation drifts from the south, mostly coastal slopes, falling as snow to 300m or lower, but this level rising. Through afternoon, a rising risk of rain/snow arriving from the south, mostly Mull to Loch Lomond.
Cloud on the hills?
Coastal high terrain, inland breaks; deteriorating
Banks of cloud will often cover coastal slopes above 700-800m, best chance of breaks in the morning; higher bases well inland, breaks off high summits too. Through afternoon, cloud thickening, to lower coastal slopes, mid-slopes inland.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
50% briefly, lowering to 20%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Sunshine through high cloud through morning, trending cloudy afternoon. Good visibility.
How Cold? (at 900m)
-2 or -3C, rising to 0C, may rise further for a few overnight hours. Later, feeling as cold as -15C in wind.
Freezing Level
400-600m, lowest central highlands, also some light frosts in inland glens. Gradually lifting to 800m.
Viewing Forecast For
West Highlands
Saturday 11th April 2026
Last updated
Wed 8th Apr 26 at
4:04PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
Southerly 30-40mph, quite variable, and stronger at dawn. Later afternoon, strengthening again, 45-55mph.
Effect of the wind on you?
Arduous walking with significant wind chill all day, later speeds challenging forward mobility along the coast.
How Wet?
Frequent snow/hail showers
A near-constant stream of showers through morning, falling as snow to at least 500m, locally lower and some hail as well. Showers isolating towards southern areas, easing for a few hours, returning later.
Cloud on the hills?
Mostly early, improving to many clear tops
Munros often shrouded above 800m in the morning during showers, coastal and southern mountains most often shrouded and to lower slopes. Bases rising with time, breaks forming afternoon, to perhaps frequently clear summits later.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
20% rising to 70%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Bursts of sunshine increasingly common, perhaps more extensive later. Very good visibility but suddenly very poor in rain/snow.
How Cold? (at 900m)
Variable between -1 to +1C. Feeling like -15C in direct wind.
Freezing Level
Around 900m, though locally variable, and tending to rise slightly.
Planning Outlook
An unsettled weekend with rain, showers, and wind temperatures, though a few bright spells will break out. Variable weather regimes next week: Atlantic west-southwesterly winds likely dominant, with low pressure to the northwest of the country, brining cloud, rain, and mild temperatures, often followed by sun, showers, and cooler temperatures; rain will be increasingly common to the high Munros, but the snowfall level will lower too during periods of cooler weather, and perhaps to high Lakeland fells, though any snow unlikely to accumulate here. In the longer term, indications of high pressure increasingly building, brining drier and brighter conditions with mild days to England and Wales and occasionally Scotland too, though the risk remains of occasional rain and cooler temperatures.