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+
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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Severe gale or storm, mobility very difficult
Severe conditions on the mountains, any movement very challenging, you may be blown over. 55-70mph+
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
Saturday 4th April 2026
Last updated
Fri 3rd Apr 26 at
4:23PM
Summary for all mountain areas
A fine start for much of Highlands, a lull in wind, but snow moving in from south, setting in widely afternoon; snow to low elevations, then abruptly rain to tops in southern Highlands later. Rapidly strengthening gales for England & Wales, becoming stormy, extending across Scotland afternoon into evening.
Headline for West Highlands
Snow develops, cloud fills in; rapidly severe gales later.
How windy? (On the Munros)
Southwesterly from dawn, a lull early in day 20mph or less, turning southeasterly, a rapid increase from south into afternoon 50-70mph, strongest Arran & Loch Lomond. Varying in evening, but suddenly west-northwesterly 60-90mph after dark.
Effect of the wind on you?
Small early in day, but deteriorating into afternoon - with time any mobility increasingly difficult, soonest in south. Significant wind chill. Damaging gusts to lower slopes by later evening into night.
How Wet?
Snow developing, setting in, then rain mainly south
A few showers with hill snow mostly near coast at first. Then from the south by middle of day into afternoon, quickly more persistent snow, setting in widely heavy with whiteout. A rapid switch to heavy rain to tops develops later from south, but may stay sleet-snow over Lochaber hills into evening. Further snow into night.
Cloud on the hills?
Little inland in morning, lowering widely
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 snow develops, to some lower slopes in south.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
60% dropping to 10% 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 in south later in day, then dropping again after dark. Feeling like -15C as wind strengthens, colder later.
Freezing Level
Frost at dawn, 600m mid-morning. Varying in snow 300-600m. Abrupt rise from south above tops later, but brief if at all Lochaber. Rapid drop into night to 400-600m.
Viewing Forecast For
West Highlands
Sunday 5th April 2026
Last updated
Fri 3rd Apr 26 at
4:23PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
Stormy conditions overnight lessen before dawn, then westerly 40 to 50mph, squally gusts; briefly less in morning.
Effect of the wind on you?
Frequent buffeting, walking often challenging on higher exposed terrain. Severe wind chill.
How Wet?
Frequent hail and snow; risk lightning
A succession of heavy hail and snow showers; snow falling to lower elevations early in day at least. Isolated thunder & lightning. Intensity of showers slowly easing later in daytime from south.
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.
How Cold? (at 900m)
-2 to -4C, rising slightly afternoon. (Around -6C on Ben Nevis summit). Feeling like -15 to -18C in the wind.
Freezing Level
400 to 600m in morning, rising to 700-800m afternoon, but lowering briefly again around showers.
Viewing Forecast For
West Highlands
Monday 6th April 2026
Last updated
Fri 3rd Apr 26 at
4:23PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
Southerly 25 to 40mph, strongest west coastal mountains, may increase a little more widely.
Effect of the wind on you?
Affecting ease of walking and balance on ridges and higher tops; notably gusty on some downslopes north of high tops.
How Wet?
Drizzly rain mostly near coast
A little patchy rain or drizzle mostly coastal areas near Mull, perhaps feeling generally damp where in cloud over many coastal tops. Very little if any rain inland areas.
Cloud on the hills?
Mostly coastal slopes, little inland
Patchy cloud banks mostly over western mountains in the morning above 800m, well broken inland. Cloud banks may linger or fill in near coast and on some islands, but inland Lochaber often clearer all day.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
30% coast/islands, to 70% well inland.
Sunshine and air clarity?
Sun mostly weak through high cloud, but very good visibility inland. Hazier toward coast, thicker overcast skies possible, may become poorer visibility.
How Cold? (at 900m)
-1C from dawn, rising to +2C locally +4C afternoon. Feeling like -8 to -12C directly in wind.
Freezing Level
Frost in glens in morning, much mountain terrain frozen all day, but air temperature rising above freezing to tops by late in day.
Planning Outlook
Winter mountain conditions for Easter Sunday - all mountain tops sub-zero all day, above 600-700m in Scotland, 800m in England and Wales - hail and snow showers with gales bringing severe chill factor. Milder southerlies develop during Monday, dry and many hills clear with hazy sun, but gusty wind, risk of gales mainly west coastal mountains of Scotland. Quite warm by Tuesday, but strong to gale force south-southeasterly winds; dry for many, rain encroaching into western Scotland, thawing of recent snow. Scotland likely remains changeable, often windy later in the week, rain at times, varying temperatures, at times below freezing on higher Munros. Often drier and lighter winds for England and Wales.