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.
Friday's Forecast
Windy, walking impeded
Blustery conditions enough to give buffeting on higher terrain or affect balance on exposed ridges. 25 to 40mph.
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.
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.
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.
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
Friday 3rd April 2026
Last updated
Thu 2nd Apr 26 at
3:45PM
Summary for all mountain areas
Cold with showery snow in the Highlands, also hail in north. Varied winds, blustery in northern Scotland, moderating for a time central Highlands. In England & Wales, a swathe of gales likely affects the mountains, but still some uncertainty about the northward extent; rain and drizzle, plus low cloud covering many hills.
Headline for West Highlands
Chilly, varied wind. Showery snow, risk more persistent snow/rain.
How windy? (On the Munros)
West-southwesterly, overnight gales ease by dawn, then typically in range 25 to 35mph during day, occasionally less - possibly a lull below 20mph especially southern areas. Squally gusts at times around precipitation.
Effect of the wind on you?
Blustery with considerable wind chill, some buffeting gusts, making walking uncomfortable in exposure, affecting balance on ridges. May be smaller effects for a time.
How Wet?
Snow and some hail showers
Generally showery, hail at times, most often in Lochaber, and snow often falling to 400-500m. Possibility of a swathe of more persistent hill snow developing, greater risk southern areas, turning to rain up to 600-700m in south.
Cloud on the hills?
Fairly extensive, local variations
Cloud base varying, but often covering mountains above 800-1000m, banks to 600m during precipitation, may fill in across more southern mountain groups. Best chance of breaks higher up inland Lochaber, briefly to high tops.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
20%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Largely cloudy, some glimpses of sun mostly inland Lochaber. Visibility varying - appalling for periods with possible whiteout in cloud and snow, intermittently very good.
How Cold? (at 900m)
0 to -2C, coldest Lochaber. Feeling like -10 to -13C in direct wind.
Freezing Level
In the overnight hours, briefly above 900m, but lowering up to dawn, to 600m in Lochaber, 700-800m southern areas, only slight rise into the afternoon.
Viewing Forecast For
West Highlands
Saturday 4th April 2026
Last updated
Thu 2nd Apr 26 at
3:45PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
Soon south-southeasterly, a lull early in day 20mph or less, then rapid increase afternoon, toward evening 60-80mph+.
Effect of the wind on you?
Small early in day, but deteriorating into afternoon - with time any mobility increasingly difficult, soonest in south.
How Wet?
Snow and rain developing, setting in
A few showers mostly near coast at first, with snow falling to some lower slopes for a time. Fading, but then into afternoon more persistent hill snow and rain - for a time later rain up tops, then abruptly snow level dropping again.
Cloud on the hills?
Little inland in morning, lowering
Varied cloud banks, some hills clear for several hours at least morning through early afternoon, best inland Lochaber. Increasingly lowering from the south, filling in widely as precipitation develops.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
60% dropping to 20% from south.
Sunshine and air clarity?
Any weak sun in morning giving way to increasingly overcast skies. Visibility very good for a time, but then becoming very poor, appalling in snow.
How Cold? (at 900m)
-3C, rising to +1C or briefly higher, then dropping again after dark. Feeling like -15C as wind strengthens, colder later.
Freezing Level
Frost inland glens at dawn, 600m mid-morning, rising during afternoon, briefly toward high tops, then 600m into night.
Viewing Forecast For
West Highlands
Sunday 5th April 2026
Last updated
Thu 2nd Apr 26 at
3:45PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
Stormy conditions overnight lessen up to dawn, then westerly 40 to 50mph all daytime, squally gusts.
Effect of the wind on you?
Frequent buffeting, walking often challenging on higher exposed terrain. Severe wind chill.
How Wet?
Frequent hail and snow
A succession of heavy hail and snow showers; snow falling to lower elevations early in day at least. Risk isolated thunder & lightning. Intensity of showers slowly easing, becoming rain or hail below 500m.
Cloud on the hills?
Varying over tops
Cloud base constantly changing, often capping higher slopes above 800m toward coast & islands; patches to 600m or lower at times, whilst briefly clearing higher up.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
30%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Brief bursts of sun and very good visibility, but suddenly appalling in cloud and snow or hail, temporary whiteout possible.
How Cold? (at 900m)
-4C rising toward 0C afternoon. Feeling like -15 to -18C in the wind.
Freezing Level
500m from dawn, rising to 800-900m afternoon.
Planning Outlook
A storm system moves across Britain over the Easter weekend, bringing severe conditions increasingly widely - severe gales over the mountains advancing northwards into Scotland by later Saturday daytime. Rain and hill snow also sweeps northward - a substantial snowfall develops particularly in northern Scotland later Saturday. Colder for all by Sunday with all mountains sub-zero, above 600-700m in Scotland, 800m in England and Wales - hail and snow showers with gales bringing severe chill factor. Milder southerlies develop for Monday, dry for most, but risk of gales especially in the west. A changeable weather regime is expected to continue next week, possibly turning chillier again later in the week.