Mountain Weather
Information Service
West Highlands Forecast

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
Sunshine and showers
Chilly

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Click here to download the latest PDF Last Updated Sat 19th Sep 26 at 4:00PM Last Updated Sat 19th Sep 26 at 4:00PM
View our low-graphics version Last Updated Sat 19th Sep 26 at 4:00PM Last Updated Sat 19th Sep 26 at 4:00PM

Viewing Forecast For

West Highlands
Sunday 20th September 2026
Last updated Sat 19th Sep 26 at 4:00PM

Summary for all mountain areas

Gale-force winds over Scottish mountains early in the day lessen, but staying blustery and feeling chilly, for northern areas in particular. Showery rain in the west in the morning fading. Cloud base rising with good breaks forming, sunny spells best toward east. Lightest winds for Wales.

Headline for West Highlands

Early gales on tops and showers easing, cloud lifting.

How windy? (On the Munros)

Westerly 50mph early morning, stronger gusts up to dawn Ben Nevis range; tending to lessen gradually to 25-40mph into middle of day, 20-25mph during afternoon.

Effect of the wind on you?

Challenging conditions, significant wind chill early morning, improving gradually but still blustery, affecting balance on exposed tops; becoming smaller afternoon.

How Wet?

Rain on and off mostly morning

Light showery rain most common near coast particularly near/west of Loch Linnhe in the morning, odd showers move inland. Tending to fade to become more often dry. Rain and drizzle returns from west into night.

Cloud on the hills?

Lifting higher with some breaks

Banks of cloud above 700-900m in the morning, most common on hills toward west of Lochaber to Mull. Tending to rise and break higher with time, but some patches likely come and go above 1000m. Into night, blanket low cloud rolls in from west.

Chance of cloud free Munros?

40%

Sunshine and air clarity?

Fairly cloudy, some sun breaking through; thin high cloud may move in later. Some coastal haze, otherwise visibility very good.

How Cold? (at 900m)

4 or 5C, little change all day, then tending to rise onward into night. Feeling like -3 to -7C directly in wind.

Freezing Level

Close to freezing on Ben Nevis summit in the morning, later rising well above tops.

Viewing Forecast For

West Highlands
Monday 21st September 2026
Last updated Sat 19th Sep 26 at 4:00PM

How windy? (On the Munros)

West to southwesterly 35 to 45mph, very gusty in places, the strongest gusts not confined to highest summits.

Effect of the wind on you?

Very blustery, affecting ease of walking and knocking you off balance, sudden buffeting gusts in some passes and downslope.

How Wet?

Drizzle and light rain

Some steady rain around dawn fades, but likely leaves patchy light rain and fairly widespread drizzle over the hills, some drier moments well inland.

Cloud on the hills?

Extensive, very low coasts

Blanket cloud across the hills, foggy from lower elevations upward near coast and sea lochs likely all day. Some breaks may emerge at varied levels well inland Lochaber, but rarely clearing any summits.

Chance of cloud free Munros?

10%

Sunshine and air clarity?

Sun unlikely, misty poor visibility widely, hazy even below cloud.

How Cold? (at 900m)

10 to 12C, small change with added height and little change into night; quite humid, but still feeling near 0C if directly in wind.

Freezing Level

Above the summits.

Viewing Forecast For

West Highlands
Tuesday 22nd September 2026
Last updated Sat 19th Sep 26 at 4:00PM

How windy? (On the Munros)

Southwesterly 25 to 40mph, risk very gusty for a time, but then more likely later in day may drop substantially.

Effect of the wind on you?

Varied conditions, in places fairly small, but risk often blustery in exposure and for a time more frequent buffeting.

How Wet?

Drizzly rain, risk wetter west

Drizzle fairly persistent many hills, generally damp where in cloud. Particularly Mull and near/west of Loch Linnhe, likely merging into more constant steadier rain, risk heavier falls developing for a time.

Cloud on the hills?

Fairly extensive, some breaks inland

Shrouding many hills, to some lower elevations much of day coastal areas near Mull, more varied in south, may thin for a time. Breaks may be more substantial for periods N/E of Rannoch Moor and toward Creag Meagaidh.

Chance of cloud free Munros?

30%

Sunshine and air clarity?

Largely cloudy, some glimpses of sun mostly inland and northeast of Ben Nevis. Visibility good if below cloud, but misty to lower levels near coast in rain.

How Cold? (at 900m)

9 or 10C, humid; then dropping by evening into night to 6C. Feeling near/below 0C in the wind.

Freezing Level

Above the summits.

Planning Outlook

Warm and humid air from the southwest extends across Britain early in the new week, cloaking many hills in fog and drizzle, to lower slopes near western coasts. A band of steadier rain is likely to be draped over northwest Scotland by Tuesday. Best of cloud breaks in areas further east and northeast. Rain then passes eastwards into Wednesday followed by a few showers, lower humidity and cloud bases lifting. Later in the week, areas of low pressure toward the northwest likely still bring periods of stronger winds to Scotland at least and a risk of rain at times mainly in the west, but a trend toward higher pressure and drier weather more often for the end of September into the start of October.