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
Gale force, walking arduous
Considerable buffeting, walking into the wind will be strenuous on exposed terrain, stronger gusts may knock you off your feet. 40 to 55mph.
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.
Poor visibility
Murky conditions with areas of fog shrouding the hills, making navigation challenging. Map and compass essential.
Cold
Air temperature below 0C all day on higher mountains. Significant chill factor if exposed to strong winds. Suitable protective clothing required.
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Gale force, walking arduous
Considerable buffeting, walking into the wind will be strenuous on exposed terrain, stronger gusts may knock you off your feet. 40 to 55mph.
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.
Poor visibility
Murky conditions with areas of fog shrouding the hills, making navigation challenging. Map and compass essential.
Cold
Air temperature below 0C all day on higher mountains. Significant chill factor if exposed to strong winds. Suitable protective clothing required.
Viewing Forecast For
West Highlands
Thursday 13th November 2025
Last updated
Wed 12th Nov 25 at
4:30PM
Summary for all mountain areas
Cold northeasterlies for the Highlands, gale-force over mountains early in day. Snow mostly in northern areas. A slow-moving swathe of rain for southern Scotland and northern England, heavy at times. Previous rain eases to patchy light rain in Wales, but beware of flooding - staying mild here.
Headline for West Highlands
Cold, upland gales, lessening. Early rain & hill snow mostly south.
How windy? (On the Munros)
Northeasterly 50mph, gusts 60mph early in day, lessening gradually during daytime to 35mph; then 25mph into night.
Effect of the wind on you?
Difficult conditions across the mountains, some improvement, but powerful gusts likely all day. Significant wind chill.
How Wet?
Rain and hill snow mostly south; fading out
Patchy snow mostly above 700m; rain lower elevations. Some heavier rain to tops near Arran in morning. Most persistent toward south, slowly fading to become light and patchy, or in Lochaber soon mostly dry - more widely dry into afternoon.
Cloud on the hills?
Most persistent south, breaks west
High tops shrouded most of the day, near Loch Lomond to Arran keeping lowest bases, slow improvement from north. Best of breaks to higher terrain on Mull and western slopes of Lochaber.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
20%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Overcast, some brighter breaks coastal Lochaber with time; a veil of high cloud. Very poor visibility in rain/snow, though improving.
How Cold? (at 900m)
0C, up to +2C Arran around dawn. Lowering widely to -1C. Feeling like -15C in direct wind.
Freezing Level
800-900m; lowering slightly through the day.
Viewing Forecast For
West Highlands
Friday 14th November 2025
Last updated
Wed 12th Nov 25 at
4:30PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
Easterly, strengthening 25 to 40mph, later in day 50mph, soonest in south; sudden gusts downslope toward west.
Effect of the wind on you?
Challenging walking conditions, buffeting gusts making balance increasingly difficult in places. Significant wind chill.
How Wet?
Largely dry, rare flurries
Local occasional snow flurries mainly around Creag Meagaidh, possibly brief flurries near/east of Loch Lomond and toward Arran. Spots of rain below 500m.
Cloud on the hills?
Covering some slopes, clearer west
Banks of cloud above 800-1000m, mostly northeast from group Ben Nevis and locally Arran, possibly Callander area. Good breaks westwards, many hills often clear.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
50%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Sunshine and thin high cloud, some patchy cloud. Slight haze possible, but visibility generally very good west Lochaber.
How Cold? (at 900m)
-2C (to -5C on Ben Nevis summit). Wind chill feeling like -15C over higher terrain, or colder late in day.
Freezing Level
700m, but near to freezing on some lower slopes early morning.
Viewing Forecast For
West Highlands
Saturday 15th November 2025
Last updated
Wed 12th Nov 25 at
4:30PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
Easterly 35 to 50mph from dawn, strongest south, powerful gusts. Slowly decreasing, may drop below 20mph Lochaber later.
Effect of the wind on you?
Expect challenging conditions and significant wind chill in morning, risk much of day in south, but generally improving.
How Wet?
Generally dry
Chance of an isolated snow flurry, but most likely widely dry.
Cloud on the hills?
Mostly little
Patchy cloud on some upper slopes mainly toward central highlands, but many western mountains substantially clear.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
70%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Sunshine best in west coastal areas. Some patchy cloud inland and south. Visibility excellent.
How Cold? (at 900m)
-1C (to -4C on Ben Nevis summit). Up to +1C on tops southern islands. Wind chill feeling like -15C in morning.
Freezing Level
Around 800m, local variations - some lower slopes near freezing in morning. Tending to rise a little, nearer 1000m in south.
Planning Outlook
High rainfall with significant flooding expected for Wales by the end of this week, risk flooding too in Peak District. Drier overall across the Highlands. Strong to gale force easterlies later this week, then northerlies are expected to dominate onward into next week. Colder air extends to all areas, staying below freezing over higher mountains most likely throughout next week to 10 days. Some accumulations of snow over Scottish mountains, initially mostly northern areas, possibly more widely across all mountain areas during next week - Tuesday-Wednesday in particular, but lower confidence of forecast detail by then.