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.
Sunday'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.
Snow flurries
Occasional light snow flurries, sleet or rain lower elevations. Amounts little more than nuisance value, but locally more persistent and reducing visibility for periods.
Hazy, some fog banks
.jpg "Hazy, some fog banks"){kind=icon}
Visibility reduced around cloud banks, hazier on some lower slopes. Locally some improvements possible out of cloud.
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.
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.
Snow flurries
Occasional light snow flurries, sleet or rain lower elevations. Amounts little more than nuisance value, but locally more persistent and reducing visibility for periods.
Hazy, some fog banks
Visibility reduced around cloud banks, hazier on some lower slopes. Locally some improvements possible out of cloud.
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
Sunday 25th January 2026
Last updated
Sat 24th Jan 26 at
4:05PM
Summary for all mountain areas
Blustery for most, gales in Scotland which will be severe on high tops early. Continued snow and local whiteout conditions on high terrain in east Scotland, snowdrifts build here. Often raining over the Pennines and south Wales, more intermittent in north Wales and Lakeland (sleet or snow on high summits).
Headline for West Highlands
Gales, severe early; most cloud and snow south/central hills
How windy? (On the Munros)
East to southeasterly, 50-60mph over the high tops. An easing trend with time, speeds approaching 35-45mph by dusk, some gustiness.
Effect of the wind on you?
Challenging walking conditions may persist over much higher terrain; conditions easing with time, but walking remains arduous with balance challenges during daylight. Significant wind chill
How Wet?
Patchy hill snow, most frequent central highlands
Regularly snowing over hills from Loch Lomond NP into central highlands, sleet or rain up to 600m. Also regularly around the southern islands with rain to higher elevations. Snow more patchy around and west of Loch Linnhe, often dry.
Cloud on the hills?
Fairly extensive, breaks northwest
Often covering many high tops, lowest cloud base Loch Lomond NP, also around Arran, to some mid-slopes, some mid-level banks drifting towards Mull too. Higher base and some breaks in Lochaber, particularly towards Knoydart.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
30%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Glimpses of sun mostly west of Loch Linnhe where visibility good. A general haze to the south, poor or very poor visibility in snow.
How Cold? (at 900m)
0 or -1C, but locally up to +1C some coastal high terrain and on islands; these areas will lower to 0C or cooler into nighttime. Feeling near -15C in the wind, colder early.
Freezing Level
700 to 900m, lowest well inland; above freezing to some upper slopes near coasts and on islands. Lowering more widely to 600-700m overnight, always highest west.
Viewing Forecast For
West Highlands
Monday 26th January 2026
Last updated
Sat 24th Jan 26 at
4:05PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
Southeasterly 40-45mph, soon strengthening, reaching a sustained 55mph or stronger with powerful gusts by dusk.
Effect of the wind on you?
Walking soon becomes challenging with buffeting making balance difficult in exposure. Severe wind chill.
How Wet?
Patchy snow central highlands
Patchy snow affecting the hills near the central highlands from Loch Lomond to Creag Meagaidh. Most west hills will stay dry, some patchy sleet/rain onto the southern islands. Rain/snow arrives overnight.
Cloud on the hills?
Most extensive south and inland
Cloud shrouds high terrain south of Lochaber, with lowest bases around the southern islands and Loch Lomond, down to 600m on east slopes or lower in snow. Higher bases and more broken around/west of Loch Linnhe, an odd break to coastal tops possible.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
30%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Morning patchy sun in Lochaber, but weakening with building high cloud. Very poor visibility in snow, better towards northwest coast but also a haze.
How Cold? (at 900m)
-2 or -3C. Feeling like -15 to -20C in direct wind.
Freezing Level
400-500m, locally up to 600m west of Loch Linnhe. Local frost in some inland glens in the morning as well.
Viewing Forecast For
West Highlands
Tuesday 27th January 2026
Last updated
Sat 24th Jan 26 at
4:05PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
East-southeasterly 55-70mph, strongest sustained speed in exposure to 75mph+ with powerful gusts.
Effect of the wind on you?
Widely difficult conditions - mobility likely only by crawling in full force of wind and gusts. Severe wind chill.
How Wet?
Most precipitation south and inland
Often snowing towards the central highlands, most frequent Loch Lomond to Rannoch Moor. Also wet around the southern islands, falling as sleet/rain to middle slopes. Only patchy snow towards Lochaber.
Cloud on the hills?
Mostly southern/central mountains
From the southern islands towards Loch Lomond and the central highlands, cloud shrouds high terrain, down to middle slopes in snow. More broken and on high terrain around Ben Nevis range/Lochaber, perhaps breaks to summits west of Loch Linnhe.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
30%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Mostly cloudy, some bright periods on low western terrain. Good visibility, though suddenly poor during snowfalls.
How Cold? (at 900m)
-2C, locally a degree warmer on coastal slopes. Feeling like -18 to -23C in strongest wind.
Freezing Level
400-500m. Highest freezing levels on slopes near the west coast.
Planning Outlook
An unsettled week ahead: a dominance of low pressure will bring periods of wet weather and gales (at times severe), to all areas. Winds will be predominantly east-southeasterly, particularly in Scotland, maintaining the cold air with freezing levels consistently to middle or lower slopes - wind chills will be severe. A near-term risk of flooding in the eastern highlands. Wind direction will be more variable in England and Wales, at times shifting south-southwesterly and drawing in milder air, brining freezing levels to upper slopes or even above the high summits. Low cloud often covering many hills with only local sunny breaks here and there.