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
Severe gale or storm, mobility very difficult
Severe conditions on the mountains, any movement very challenging, you may be blown over. 55-70mph+
Frequent or persistent rain
Steady rain fairly persistent, occasionally heavy, rather wet underfoot.
Hazy, some fog banks
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Visibility reduced around cloud banks, hazier on some lower slopes. Locally some improvements possible out of cloud.
Chilly
Air temperature typically 0 to 5C on higher summits. Feeling distinctly chilly on tops when stationary or where exposed to wind. Take appropriate layers.
Flooding
Fast-flowing rivers and streams. Some routes may be impassable due to flooding.
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Severe gale or storm, mobility very difficult
Severe conditions on the mountains, any movement very challenging, you may be blown over. 55-70mph+
Frequent or persistent rain
Steady rain fairly persistent, occasionally heavy, rather wet underfoot.
Hazy, some fog banks
Visibility reduced around cloud banks, hazier on some lower slopes. Locally some improvements possible out of cloud.
Chilly
Air temperature typically 0 to 5C on higher summits. Feeling distinctly chilly on tops when stationary or where exposed to wind. Take appropriate layers.
Flooding
Fast-flowing rivers and streams. Some routes may be impassable due to flooding.
Viewing Forecast For
West Highlands
Wednesday 10th December 2025
Last updated
Tue 9th Dec 25 at
4:05PM
Summary for all mountain areas
Storm-force winds continue over Scottish mountains, beware of storm damage and blocked routes. Gales remain severe over high terrain in northern England and tops in north Wales. Showery rain, hail and on higher tops snow in the Highlands, near-constant in the west. Bands of showers northern England, fewer for Wales.
Headline for West Highlands
Storm-force upland winds. Rain frequent or persistent, some heavy.
How windy? (On the Munros)
Southwesterly 50 to 70mph, often 80mph higher terrain Ben Nevis group, gusts on tops here may exceed 100mph up to dawn, possibly again gusts over 90mph for a time during afternoon.
Effect of the wind on you?
Difficult walking conditions from mid elevations upward, general mobility very challenging particularly Lochaber, severe over the mountains; significant wind chill.
How Wet?
Showery with snow tops, hail
Frequent showery precipitation, merging to be near-constant at times, falling as snow above 1000m mainly morning, also hail mostly morning. Wet underfoot, streams in spate, some flooding.
Cloud on the hills?
Often covering high tops
Cloud base constantly changing, but often shrouding higher slopes, at times down to 600m coasts, brief breaks to tops inland.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
20%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Brief bursts of sun mainly well inland. Hazy, visibility poorer in rain, very poor if in snow on highest tops.
How Cold? (at 900m)
2 or 3C, rising slightly into evening. Wind chill feeling near to -15C.
Freezing Level
1100 to 1200m, lifting up to higher summits or just above by dusk onward.
Viewing Forecast For
West Highlands
Thursday 11th December 2025
Last updated
Tue 9th Dec 25 at
4:05PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
South-southwesterly 40 to 60mph, risk 70mph+ high tops and coastal mountains in morning, tending to lessen afternoon.
Effect of the wind on you?
Widely arduous, but likely more difficult or severe conditions, particularly toward coasts and in the morning hours.
How Wet?
Drizzly rain, becoming wetter
Occasional pulses of rain run onto coastal areas in the west. Spots of rain in the wind elsewhere, some slopes often damp, but small amounts of rain in morning. By afternoon, rain more widely persistent.
Cloud on the hills?
Most persistent south/western areas
Covering many hills all day, to some mid-slopes near coasts, but mostly above 900m inland, breaks higher up north and east of Rannoch Moor and Ben Nevis. Lowering further if rain sets in.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
30%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Glimpses of sun mostly near Glen Spean. Hazy, visibility reduced if rain occurs.
How Cold? (at 900m)
4C, may start to drop into evening. Feeling near -10C in the wind.
Freezing Level
Above the summits, may then drop onto Ben Nevis top into night (1300m+).
Viewing Forecast For
West Highlands
Friday 12th December 2025
Last updated
Tue 9th Dec 25 at
4:05PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
Southwesterly 25-30mph, rising to 35-45mph, risk stronger over high tops around and north of Ben Nevis range.
Effect of the wind on you?
Uncomfortable winds from dawn strengthen to widely arduous walking conditions. Significant wind chill.
How Wet?
Some coastal showers
Showers drift onto Mull and Lochaber near Loch Linnhe, falling as snow on high tops. A few scattered showers onto the southern islands as well. Little or no rain inland.
Cloud on the hills?
Tops often shrouded, variable lower banks
High tops will often be shrouded, particularly from the southern islands towards Ben Nevis range. A few breaks here and there, but some lower banks at times too. Bases will lower around Mull/Lochaber during showers.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
30%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Patchy cloud and sun, best of sunshine on lower slopes. Very clear air at first but becoming hazy from the west.
How Cold? (at 900m)
0 or 1C. Feeling as cold as -15C in strongest wind.
Freezing Level
1100m, lowering to 900-1000m.
Planning Outlook
Staying unsettled as southwesterly winds prevail and low pressure systems pass to the northwest of Scotland; sustained gales over the mountains, severe or stormy for periods. Temperatures only just below freezing intermittently on higher Scottish tops, even here will experience spells above freezing with thawing, any lying snow patchy, but beware some icy surfaces on the very highest tops where some refreezing occurs. Driest in eastern areas on Thursday, otherwise rainfall will be frequent and heavy, sometimes showery with hail. Expect wet ground conditions and further flooding of streams and some rivers.