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.
Sunday'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 hail showers
Periods of bright or sunny conditions mixed with showers or flurries of snow and hail. Visibility may change rapidly from excellent to very poor.
Very cold
Significant wintry conditions - below freezing from lower elevations up all day, -7 or -8C highest summits, feeling like -20C or below on high tops due to wind chill. Frostbite and hypothermia risk. Substantial protective clothing is 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 hail showers
Periods of bright or sunny conditions mixed with showers or flurries of snow and hail. Visibility may change rapidly from excellent to very poor.
Very cold
Significant wintry conditions - below freezing from lower elevations up all day, -7 or -8C highest summits, feeling like -20C or below on high tops due to wind chill. Frostbite and hypothermia risk. Substantial protective clothing is 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
Sunday 4th January 2026
Last updated
Sat 3rd Jan 26 at
3:29PM
Summary for all mountain areas
Snow, hail, and wind continues driving into northern Scotland with showers passing into central and western areas; snow coverage fairly widespread in the Highlands. Southern Scotland and England mostly sunny, blustery in exposure. More snow and hail showers for Wales, pushing further east afternoon. Widely very cold.
Headline for West Highlands
Snow and hail showers; bitterly cold in the wind
How windy? (On the Munros)
North to northwesterly 30 to 40mph, squally gusts in showers. Speeds trending towards the lower end of the range with time, though stronger gusts will still occur.
Effect of the wind on you?
Severe wind chill over the mountains. Arduous walking on snow cover with frequent buffeting in exposure much of the day, though slightly easing with time.
How Wet?
Snow showers, mostly coasts and north
Snow showers running southward over coastal areas into Lochaber/Creag Meagaidh, some reaching towards Glencoe and further south, mostly morning, though often dry here. Snow falling and accumulating to sea level.
Cloud on the hills?
Often covering northern and coastal summits, lower in showers
Varying cloud bases from Mull to southern islands, 700-900m, briefly lower in showers. Often capping tops inland Lochaber above 800-1000m, lowering here in showers too. Often clearer Loch Lomond NP, though tops likely in cloud for a few hours morning/midday here too.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
30% Lochaber-Mull, to 60% south.
Sunshine and air clarity?
Bursts of sunshine, sunniest Loch Lomond, though occasional more widely cloudy. Visibility excellent away from showers, but very poor where snow falls or blows around and also if in cloud.
How Cold? (at 900m)
-6C, locally cooler inland (and as low as -10C on Ben Nevis summit); a degree warmer southern islands. Wind chill feeling like -22C, to -25C Ben Nevis summit.
Freezing Level
Terrain widely frozen, staying sub-zero from glens upward. Nearest the coast, partial thawing in sunlight to 200-300m, highest levels Mull to Islay.
Viewing Forecast For
West Highlands
Monday 5th January 2026
Last updated
Sat 3rd Jan 26 at
3:29PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
Northerly 30-35mph, easing and shifting northwesterly with time, 20-30mph into evening.
Effect of the wind on you?
Significant wind chill, severe on high exposed tops where walking conditions will be strenuous with buffeting.
How Wet?
Snow showers coasts and Lochaber
Ongoing snow showers running southward into Lochaber towards Creag Meagaidh/Ben Nevis ranges. Some showers reaching Mull and Islay as well, likely dry Glencoe and south.
Cloud on the hills?
Varied, often covering northern and coastal tops
Varying cloud bases Lochaber and coasts, 700-800m, locally lower in showers. Also often capping tops inland Lochaber above 800-1000m. Well broken or often clear south of Glencoe to Loch Lomond NP/Clyde Sea Lochs.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
40% Lochaber/coasts, to 70% south.
Sunshine and air clarity?
Bursts of sunshine, often sunny Loch Lomond. Visibility excellent away from showers, but very poor where snow falls or blows around.
How Cold? (at 900m)
-5 or -6C; -8C above 1200m and at dawn in the glens. Wind chill as cold as -25C early in the day on high tops.
Freezing Level
Terrain widely frozen. Nearest the coast, partial thawing in sunlight to 200-300m, rising slightly further after dark.
Viewing Forecast For
West Highlands
Tuesday 6th January 2026
Last updated
Sat 3rd Jan 26 at
3:29PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
Changeable: west-southwesterly 20-30mph, rising with time, up to 40mph over summits, shifting northerly later.
Effect of the wind on you?
Variable conditions, walking increasingly strenuous in exposure with significant wind chill.
How Wet?
Patchy sleet/snow, setting in later
Bands of patchy snow pass eastward, increasingly as sleet/rain to middle slopes near the coast. A broader area of snow arrives afternoon, setting in heavy for several hours inland.
Cloud on the hills?
Becoming extensive
Cloud shrouds the mountains above 800-900m most or all day, variable bases down to 600m during pulses of snow but a few local higher breaks for a time. Filling in more widely to middle or lower slopes with time, first in the north.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
10%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Sunshine unlikely. Moments of very good visibility early, though increasingly appalling as snow sets in with whiteout conditions.
How Cold? (at 900m)
-1 to -3C, some variability, warmest near the coast; trending colder overnight. Feeling as cold as -15C in the wind.
Freezing Level
Terrain widely frozen from overnight, lifting but variable; up to 800m along coasts, unlikely above 300-400m well inland.
Planning Outlook
Monday stays cold with terrain widely frozen; sunshine inland with continued snow showers along coasts. The weather then turns more variable: fronts begin to approach the country on Tuesday, with cloud gradually becoming widespread on high terrain from the north, an area of snow arriving widely into Scotland and tracking south into England and Wales overnight into Wednesday. Most terrain will stay frozen but a brief local lifting of freezing levels in western areas. Some sunny breaks and snow showers will follow this system. Beyond Wednesday, confidence in forecast detail is significantly lower, but another weather system is indicated for Thursday into Friday, this possibly bringing a swathe of snow, rain, and strong winds to the south and perhaps more widely.