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.

Monday's Forecast

Moderate breeze, locally gusty
Cloud and some sun, snow cover on tops
Clear over snow cover
Cold

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Click here to download the latest PDF Last Updated Sun 16th Nov 25 at 3:00PM Last Updated Sun 16th Nov 25 at 3:00PM
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Viewing Forecast For

West Highlands
Monday 17th November 2025
Last updated Sun 16th Nov 25 at 3:00PM

Summary for all mountain areas

Cold everywhere, staying sub-zero over high terrain, plus some frost lower down in morning; considerable chill factor if exposed to wind, but speeds tending to lessen all areas. Largely dry, local snow flurries moving in northern Scotland. Some patchy cloud mostly northern half of the Highlands, sunnier elsewhere.

Headline for West Highlands

Moderate breeze. Patchy cloud and sun, best south.

How windy? (On the Munros)

Northerly shifting northwesterly 15-20mph, occasionally 25mph high tops in Lochaber in morning. Trending lighter from the west afternoon, but rising again into evening to reach 25mph, occasional 30mph into night.

Effect of the wind on you?

Fairly small, though walking at times affected in exposure early. A notable chill in exposure.

How Wet?

Brief snow flurries north

Mostly brief flurries coastal areas north from Mull, occasionally reaching northern Lochaber. Otherwise generally dry. Well into night, snow develops from west, sleet or rain on lower coastal slopes.

Cloud on the hills?

Patches some northern hills

Cloud comes and goes around 900m or above on coastal slopes north of Mull, occasionally near Creag Meagaidh as well. Becoming more frequent north Lochaber from dusk. Southern inland areas likely cloud-free all day.

Chance of cloud free Munros?

80%

Sunshine and air clarity?

Mostly sunny south, some patchy cloud in the north, then high cloud building from west later. Excellent visibility.

How Cold? (at 900m)

-3C (to -6C on highest tops). Feeling as cold as -10C in direct wind, nearer -15C at times highest summits.

Freezing Level

600-700m, highest near the coast. Frost widespread into the glens in morning.

Viewing Forecast For

West Highlands
Tuesday 18th November 2025
Last updated Sun 16th Nov 25 at 3:00PM

How windy? (On the Munros)

Uncertain detail: generally westerly around 15-30mph though variable; trending northerly and stronger later.

Effect of the wind on you?

Effects may be fairly small at times but beware sudden strengthening speeds and direction changes.

How Wet?

Often snowing

Showery snow inland merging into a more widespread area of snow for several hours. Showers will likely fall as rain along the coast, particularly on the southern islands.

Cloud on the hills?

Likely extensive, some variability

Most hills shrouded above 500-600m all day, perhaps lower in the north during heavier snowfalls. Bases may locally rise with breaks towards high terrain in southern coastal areas.

Chance of cloud free Munros?

10%

Sunshine and air clarity?

Overcast with near-zero visibility during periods of snow which may be extensive and prolonged. Chance of bright breaks in the south.

How Cold? (at 900m)

Detail uncertain: -2C, warmer southern islands, up to 1C, perhaps briefly 1C southern inland areas too.

Freezing Level

Widely frozen inland at dawn. Rising to 400-500m, nearer 800m along the coast, higher in the south.

Viewing Forecast For

West Highlands
Wednesday 19th November 2025
Last updated Sun 16th Nov 25 at 3:00PM

How windy? (On the Munros)

Northerly 30 to 40mph, squally gusts locally in showers.

Effect of the wind on you?

At times challenging walking conditions on higher exposed terrain, significant wind chill, severe in places higher up.

How Wet?

Snow and hail showers mostly coasts

Snow and hail showers mostly toward coastal mountains, risk frequent in places, chance of isolated lightning. A few showers may come into Lochaber at times from the north. More often dry central highlands. Snow lying into glens.

Cloud on the hills?

Patches higher tops, mostly coasts

Banks of cloud most frequent over coastal slopes, varied above 600-900m in and out of showers. Inland, often above 900m with breaks higher up. Further south, patchier cloud, often breaking above many tops inland.

Chance of cloud free Munros?

50%

Sunshine and air clarity?

Sunshine best inland around Loch Lomond NP, bursts of sun elsewhere. Visibility excellent, but suddenly very poor in showers.

How Cold? (at 900m)

-4C. Wind chill feeling like -15 to -20C.

Freezing Level

Most terrain frozen from glens upward, freezing level lifting up to 400-500m near coast and on islands.

Planning Outlook

A cold week ahead, staying below freezing across all mountains, much terrain will be frozen from valleys upward. An area of low pressure and associated fronts will pass southeastward during Tuesday, bringing some persistent snowfalls, including to lower slopes particularly inland across the Highlands, some substantial accumulations over higher terrain. Strong to gale force northerlies Wednesday-Thursday, bringing snow and hail showers focused on northern Scotland and onto north-facing coastal districts elsewhere. By Friday into next weekend, winds shift back westerly and freezing levels rise to upper slopes - some rain likely, snow on high tops at times.