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.
Saturday'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+
Heavy rain
Near-constant heavy rain, sometimes torrential over the mountains, very 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.
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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+
Heavy rain
Near-constant heavy rain, sometimes torrential over the mountains, very 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.
Viewing Forecast For
West Highlands
Saturday 24th October 2026
Last updated
Fri 23rd Oct 26 at
4:15PM
Summary for all mountain areas
The Pennines and east Scotland begin with weak sun through high cloud and largely dry. Western areas start cloudier with patchy rain, then Storm Boelo draws a swathe of heavy rain and severe gales eastward across all areas, a period of storm-force wind for many summits. Steams in spate, localised flooding.
Headline for West Highlands
Heavy rain and severe gales soon arrive
How windy? (On the Munros)
South-southwesterly, rising rapidly from dawn to be soon 50mph, reaching 70-80mph+, locally 90mph; marked increase with height. Speed and direction vary somewhat, briefly southeasterly afternoon.
Effect of the wind on you?
Deteriorating, soon arduous walking on exposed terrain with significant wind chill, conditions become severe with any mobility difficult on high terrain.
How Wet?
Heavy rain soon sets in
Dry at dawn mainly inland, but soon patchy rain comes in from coast, briefly snow highest tops, then all rain, setting in widely heavy, some torrential falls afternoon, not just western areas. Showery into night, snow on tops. Very wet underfoot, streams in spate.
Cloud on the hills?
Lowering to become extensive
Initially scattered patches at varied heights. Increasingly cloud will lower onto hills, forming to lower elevations coastal areas; some higher breaks remain well inland north/east of Ben Nevis group, but extensive here later too.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
70% at first, dropping to 10%
Sunshine and air clarity?
High cloud soon thickens from dawn to be overcast, increasingly dull conditions. Good visibility soon becomes hazy towards the coast and then poor visibility as rain sets in.
How Cold? (at 900m)
1 or 2C, rising to 4C afternoon, then falling again to 1C into evening. Feeling around -10 to -15C directly in the wind.
Freezing Level
1000-1200m plus patchy frost some inland glens at dawn; rising well above summits by afternoon. Lowering again into night to similar heights as morning.
Viewing Forecast For
West Highlands
Sunday 25th October 2026
Last updated
Fri 23rd Oct 26 at
4:15PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
Westerly 60 to 80mph, gusts to 100mph or possibly stronger over highest mountains, strongest sustained speeds early.
Effect of the wind on you?
Severe conditions, mobility very difficult, repeatedly blowing you over; challenging even modest hills with significant wind chill.
How Wet?
Rarely ceasing rain, hail, upland snow
Near-constant precipitation, snow often falling above 700-800m, also hail at all elevations, mixed with rain. Frequent heavy showery bursts, some lighter falls later but with clustered showers returning too.
Cloud on the hills?
Fairly extensive over tops
Cloud base constantly changing, but often covering tops above 800-900m, some banks to 600m or lower especially coastal areas, likely more extensive in the morning. Brief breaks higher up well inland.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
10%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Rare brief bursts of sun. A general haze at best, visibility often poor due to precipitation, to appalling in snow and cloud on tops.
How Cold? (at 900m)
0 or 1C. Wind chill feels like -15 to -20C in exposure.
Freezing Level
900-1000m, rising slightly in the south.
Viewing Forecast For
West Highlands
Monday 26th October 2026
Last updated
Fri 23rd Oct 26 at
4:15PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
Soon southerly 20-25mph or less briefly, rapidly strengthening, finishing near 45-60mph, or higher into night.
Effect of the wind on you?
May be fairly small for a few early hours, but conditions increasingly challenging, later difficult with significant wind chill.
How Wet?
Spotty rain/snow, then rain sets in
Some spotty rain/snow around in the morning, snow above 900m. Rain sets in, persistent until evening with heavier falls mostly west hills.
Cloud on the hills?
Banks on high terrain, becoming extensive
Varied banks of cloud, mostly above 700m in the morning, may lift and break up a little briefly, a few summits perhaps seeing breaks. Cloud lowers from the south, increasingly extensive to middle slopes, or lower slopes to the south. Coastal hills north of Mull see higher bases for longer.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
30% lowering to 10%
Sunshine and air clarity?
A few patches of weak sun to start, good visibility where out of cloud, increasingly overcast and dull afternoon.
How Cold? (at 900m)
1C, slight rise, then sharply from the south, widely reaching 11C evening/night. Feeling below 0C in strongest wind.
Freezing Level
1000m at dawn, lifting well above the summits.
Planning Outlook
Stormy conditions widely across the mountains this weekend, peak wind speeds into Sunday over Scottish mountains with gusts 100mph on higher tops. Showery conditions for Sunday, turning back to snow on higher terrain in Scotland. Very wet ground conditions, beware flooding of many streams and rivers making some routes impassable. A relative lull by early Monday in Scotland, but the next weather system soon sweeps in from the southwest with more heavy rain and extensive mountain gales, continuing into Tuesday. Mild south-southwesterlies mid-late week; smaller amounts of rain, some drier windows toward east and south. Generally staying windy, particularly in Scotland. Some chance of a mid-late week ridge of high pressure in England and Wales, but unlikely to persist.