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.
Saturday's Forecast
Severe gale or storm, mobility very difficult
Severe conditions on the mountains, any movement very challenging, you may be blown over. 55-70mph+
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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Severe gale or storm, mobility very difficult
Severe conditions on the mountains, any movement very challenging, you may be blown over. 55-70mph+
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
Saturday 28th March 2026
Last updated
Fri 27th Mar 26 at
4:20PM
Summary for all mountain areas
Feeling bitterly cold in gale-force west-northwesterly winds widely, severe gales on higher Scottish mountains. Extensive showers with hail, snow, chance of isolated thunder, locally grouping into more constant precipitation NW Highlands, also N England in morning; intensity of showers easing during afternoon.
Headline for West Highlands
Gales, severe on high tops. Hail, snow showers, frequent morning.
How windy? (On the Munros)
Westerly 50 to 60mph, strongest on Ben Nevis group in morning, sudden squalls toward 70mph on higher terrain. Lessening during afternoon, to 30-40mph up to dusk. Gales strengthen again into night.
Effect of the wind on you?
Challenging mobility on higher mountains, powerful gusts could knock you over; improving only gradually during afternoon. Significant-to-severe wind chill.
How Wet?
Hail and snow, fewer showers later
Showery morning, frequent precipitation coastal areas, particularly west Lochaber, hail and snow falling to some lower elevations; chance isolated lightning. With time becoming fewer and less heavy showers and mostly rain below 700m.
Cloud on the hills?
Lifting and breaking higher during day
Often covering higher slopes above 600-800m in the morning, lowest and most persistent toward coast. Base tending to rise, breaks to higher slopes for periods into afternoon.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
20% rising to 40%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Sun breaking through more often as the day progresses. Visibility very poor in showers, then more often becoming very good.
How Cold? (at 900m)
-2C rising to 0C. Wind chill feeling like -15 to -20C.
Freezing Level
600m in morning, rising to 900m afternoon.
Viewing Forecast For
West Highlands
Sunday 29th March 2026
Last updated
Fri 27th Mar 26 at
4:20PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
Southwest at first, soon westerly, 70-80mph dawn-early morning, then near 50mph all day, sudden squally gusts.
Effect of the wind on you?
Severe conditions at first, remaining difficult over the mountains all day, mobility often challenging. Severe wind chill.
How Wet?
Heavy rain, snow, then showery hail
A swathe of heavy rain from before dawn, a more intense band moving through early morning, abruptly turning to snow to mid-elevations. Then showery hail, and snow falling increasingly toward 500m.
Cloud on the hills?
Extensive, then varied over tops
Shrouding hills widely in rain above 600-800m, lower for a time near coast, then rising and more variable, breaks to 900-1000m, but patches lowering in showers.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
30%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Brief bursts of sun develop. Visibility changing quickly, very poor in rain, appalling at least temporarily in snow, intermittently very good.
How Cold? (at 900m)
+1 or 2C for a time, dropping to -1C into middle of day. Wind chill feeling like -15C, nearer -20C on highest terrain.
Freezing Level
Briefly may rise just above freezing to upper slopes early morning, but soon lowering again, to 700-800m afternoon.
Viewing Forecast For
West Highlands
Monday 30th March 2026
Last updated
Fri 27th Mar 26 at
4:20PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
West to northwesterly, 40 to 50mph, nearer 60mph with stronger gusts possible higher Ben Nevis range in the morning.
Effect of the wind on you?
Challenging conditions, difficult walking in exposure especially morning, gusts could knock you over. Significant wind chill.
How Wet?
Snow showers mostly morning
Showery snow, possible soft hail at first, frequent for a time in Lochaber. Tending to ease to lighter and more scattered showers afternoon, by then mostly rain below 600-700m.
Cloud on the hills?
Often covering higher tops
Likely to cover higher terrain widely in morning, bases 600-900m, lowest near coast, tending to rise. Some higher breaks forming above 1000m inland with time. Will then lower from southwest evening-night.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
30%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Occasional sun, most common south. Visibility good out of showers, but some haze in west, briefly poor in snow.
How Cold? (at 900m)
-2C rising to +1C afternoon, then higher after dark. Wind chill feeling like -15 to -18C.
Freezing Level
700m from dawn, rising to 1000m afternoon, then lifting above the summits into night.
Planning Outlook
Changeable westerlies prevail onward into early next week, continuing gales over most high terrain. Milder air lifts above freezing to all tops into Tuesday with low cloud, drizzle and rain, most persistent west-northwest Scotland. Likely colder again in Scotland by Wednesday with some further hill snow likely. Some windows of better weather mid-late in the week as higher pressure is nearby - temperatures vary above and just below freezing on Highland tops, more often above freezing England and Wales tops. Some chilly air possible during early April, but drier conditions likely developing with time with more spring sunshine.