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.
Today'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.
Frequent or persistent rain
Steady rain fairly persistent, occasionally heavy, rather wet underfoot.
Poor visibility
Murky conditions with areas of fog shrouding the hills, making navigation challenging. Map and compass essential.
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.
Click an icon for more information or click here for a key to all icons.
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.
Frequent or persistent rain
Steady rain fairly persistent, occasionally heavy, rather wet underfoot.
Poor visibility
Murky conditions with areas of fog shrouding the hills, making navigation challenging. Map and compass essential.
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 17th December 2025
Last updated
Tue 16th Dec 25 at
4:20PM
Summary for all mountain areas
Extensive gales across the hills. Rain preceded by early snow on higher terrain in the Highlands, lifting briefly above freezing to high tops. Showery bursts follow into western Scotland, heavy and frequent with hail later. England & Wales sees rain much of the day, spreading eastward, heavy at times.
Headline for West Highlands
Upland gales, severe high tops. Rain then heavy showers.
How windy? (On the Munros)
South-southwesterly 50 to 60mph, in morning up to 70mph higher Ben Nevis group, powerful gusts downslope to north for a few hours. Lessening a little afternoon, to 35-40mph southern hills.
Effect of the wind on you?
Challenging conditions over the mountains, walking difficult in exposure, particularly morning, sudden buffeting to some mid-slopes. Significant wind chill.
How Wet?
Heavy rain then showers
Rain and initially snow above 800-900m before dawn, soon turning to rain to higher slopes, persistent for several hours, widely heavy. Later breaking up into showers, these frequent with hail near coast around Mull. Wet underfoot, streams in spate. Beware icy surfaces on higher tops.
Cloud on the hills?
Extensive, higher bases afternoon
Shrouding the hills widely, from mid-to-lower slopes in morning, then some rise of base during daytime, more often up to 900m, but rare if any breaks to upper slopes.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
10%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Overcast and murky. Skies may brighten and visibility improving if rain breaks up.
How Cold? (at 900m)
Soon up to 3C in morning, later starting to fall to 1C. Feeling like -12 to -15C directly in wind.
Freezing Level
Varying, 900-1000m pre dawn, rising above highest summits for several hours, then later dropping to 1100-1200m.
Viewing Forecast For
West Highlands
Thursday 18th December 2025
Last updated
Tue 16th Dec 25 at
4:20PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
South to southwesterly 40 to 60mph, possibly lessening for a time mainly in southern areas later in day.
Effect of the wind on you?
Ongoing arduous conditions over higher terrain, walking often difficult in exposure, significant wind chill.
How Wet?
Showers, then rain, some snow tops
Showery, risk merging into more constant heavy rain later; possible hail near Mull, or falling as snow morning and evening as low as 900-1000m. Showery onward into the night with hail.
Cloud on the hills?
Fairly extensive, some breaks north
Covering most hills all day, from mid-slopes up coasts and south. Some higher breaks inland Lochaber, lowering in rain.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
20%, to 50% north Lochaber.
Sunshine and air clarity?
Largely cloudy, visibility varying, good intermittently if dry, but reducing to poor if rain or hill snow becomes constant.
How Cold? (at 900m)
1 to 3C, then lowering to 0C into night. Wind chill feeling like -12 to -15C on tops.
Freezing Level
1000 to 1200m, rising for a time, then dropping into night to around 900m.
Viewing Forecast For
West Highlands
Friday 19th December 2025
Last updated
Tue 16th Dec 25 at
4:20PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
Southwesterly 50 to 70mph, may start to lessen a little later in south.
Effect of the wind on you?
Difficult conditions over the mountains, frequent buffeting from modest elevations upward. Significant wind chill.
How Wet?
Frequent showers, hail, snow tops
Showers merging into near constant precipitation in the morning over western hills, with hail, also falling as snow above 800m; risk lightning. Tending to become fewer and less intense showers afternoon.
Cloud on the hills?
Varied but often capping high tops
Often shrouding higher terrain, cloud base constantly changing, bases 600 to 900m, brief lower patches coastal areas. Occasional breaks toward upper slopes.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
30%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Brief bursts of sun mainly well inland. Visibility intermittently very good, but at times very poor in precipitation.
How Cold? (at 900m)
0 to 1C, slight rise later. Feeling like -15C directly in the wind.
Freezing Level
900 to 1000m, may then rise a little to 1200m onward into the night.
Planning Outlook
South-southwesterly winds widely remain gale force over the mountains later this week and through into Saturday, severe upland gales for periods. More heavy rain for England and Wales on Thursday, further flooding expected; rain spreads north into Scotland, falling as snow on Munros. Showery by Friday, most frequent in western Scotland with hail, also snow over tops. Another belt of persistent rain likely arrives from the west into Saturday, snow only highest Scottish tops. A switch to east-southeasterly winds by Sunday into early next week, some residual rain and high-level snow, but a drier theme develops and favouring chillier conditions into the Christmas period.