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.
Wednesday'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.
Heavy snow and hail showers, isolated lightning
Showery precipitation, often heavy, may merge to become constant for periods. A mix of snow and hail often falling to lower slopes. Risk of very localised thunder and lightning.
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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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.
Heavy snow and hail showers, isolated lightning
Showery precipitation, often heavy, may merge to become constant for periods. A mix of snow and hail often falling to lower slopes. Risk of very localised thunder and lightning.
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
Wednesday 25th March 2026
Last updated
Tue 24th Mar 26 at
3:40PM
Summary for all mountain areas
Widespread hail and snow showers, at times heavy with a risk of isolated lightning. Fewer showers in the N Pennines and southeast Scotland for a few morning hours, but returning afternoon. Gales widespread as well with sudden strong gusts, easing only slightly in Scotland. Cold, staying below freezing above 500-600m.
Headline for West Highlands
Frequent snow and hail showers; gales, easing somewhat
How windy? (On the Munros)
Northwesterly 35 to 45mph, varying speeds with squally gusts around showers, risk up to 55mph. An easing trend in the north afternoon, speeds at times lowering to 30-35mph, but staying gusty, speeds remaining high Islay to Loch Lomond.
Effect of the wind on you?
Walking strenuous with frequent buffeting, in places more arduous over higher exposed terrain with severe wind chill. Beware sudden strong gusts, necessitating additional effort to maintain stability.
How Wet?
Frequent hail and snow, at times persistent
Showery snow and hail falling to lower slopes, frequent to at times near-constant over coastal areas, but extending inland across all the region. Risk of isolated thunder & lightning.
Cloud on the hills?
Varying over tops, occasionally reaching mid-slopes
Cloud base constantly changing, will come and go all day above 900m, frequently capping high tops toward coasts, patches at times to 600m during heavier showers. Briefly clearing tops. At times, cloud shrouds high terrain more extensively.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
30%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Bursts of bright sunshine. Visibility intermittently very good, but appalling at times in showers with brief whiteout over tops.
How Cold? (at 900m)
-3C, slight rise into afternoon. Wind chill feeling like -20C or colder on high tops in strongest wind.
Freezing Level
400m from dawn, lifting to 500-600m, slightly higher away from showers.
Viewing Forecast For
West Highlands
Thursday 26th March 2026
Last updated
Tue 24th Mar 26 at
3:40PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
NW'ly 15-25mph early. Easing to 10-15mph and shifting W'ly, later SW'ly, restrengthening into evening.
Effect of the wind on you?
Walking impeded with some stability challenges in exposure early in the day, easing to fairly small.
How Wet?
Mostly dry, rain arrives through afternoon
Dry most of the day. Patchy snow arrives on high coastal slopes around midday, spreading widely into evening and turning to rain, heavy falls overnight near the coast.
Cloud on the hills?
High tops early, becoming extensive
Most hills clear in the morning, a few cloud caps over high tops from Mull to Clyde Sea Lochs, possibly more widely on tops above 1200m. Cloud lowering to the tops from the west afternoon, filling in across high terrain by evening, to middle or lower slopes near the coast.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
80%, lowering to 20% through afternoon
Sunshine and air clarity?
Sunshine early in the day, soon weakened by high cloud, increasingly overcast. Excellent visibility, deteriorating afternoon as fog lowers.
How Cold? (at 900m)
-4C, rising to -2C, sharply rising into night, several degrees above freezing. Feeling as cold as -15 in direct wind early.
Freezing Level
200-400m, higher along the coast. A slight rise, then sharply lifting above the summits as evening approaches.
Viewing Forecast For
West Highlands
Friday 27th March 2026
Last updated
Tue 24th Mar 26 at
3:40PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
Westerly 30-40mph, trending towards higher speeds with time, 45mph into evening.
Effect of the wind on you?
Walking increasingly arduous in exposure with significant wind chill, conditions deteriorating through afternoon.
How Wet?
Snow showers become widespread
Showers affecting Lochaber from dawn, snow to 600m, some hail too. Drier to the south at dawn, but showers gradually spread more widely, heavier falls for a time afternoon with the snowfall level lowering.
Cloud on the hills?
Variable, lowest and most persistent west
Cloud comes and goes all day above 700-800m, most persistent along the west coast and as low as 600m during showers. Well-broken inland and south in the morning, but increasingly frequent during afternoon showers.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
60% early, lowering to 30% west coast
Sunshine and air clarity?
Bursts of bright sunshine, mostly inland, perhaps rare along the west coast. Variable visibility, intermittently very good, but poor or appalling during snow showers.
How Cold? (at 900m)
-1C, sunny southern Munros may briefly rise a degree; lowering, -2 or -3C by night. Feeling like -13 to -15C in direct wind.
Freezing Level
Lowering from overnight, 800m at dawn, lowering to 600-700m through the day.
Planning Outlook
Thursday starts chilly with clear skies for many, snow then rain moves into western areas with time. Strong northwesterly winds prevail as the weekend starts, brining cooler temperatures and a mix of showers and sun across most areas, the showers likely snowy to middle elevations with some hail mixed in. The cool, spring-like conditions will allow showers to become heavier and more widespread in the afternoon. Sunday into next week sees high pressure southwest of the country, producing drier weather with sun breaks, a trend towards milder temperatures too, but several low pressure systems to the north draw bands of rain eastward, mostly affecting Scotland, occasionally northern England and Wales. A risk of cooler northerly winds re-establishing later in the week, though detail is uncertain.