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 and rain mix
Precipitation falling mostly as snow on higher terrain, rain on low-to-middle elevations, may turn to sleet or rain higher up.
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.
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.
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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 and rain mix
Precipitation falling mostly as snow on higher terrain, rain on low-to-middle elevations, may turn to sleet or rain higher up.
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.
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 1st March 2026
Last updated
Sat 28th Feb 26 at
4:00PM
Summary for all mountain areas
South-southwesterly upland gales, strengthening further for Wales during the day, later extending northward. Early snow on hills in the Highlands, patchier northwards, turning increasingly to rain as temperature rises, heavier rain for West Highlands. Generally wet for western England & Wales with blanket low cloud.
Headline for West Highlands
Gales on mountains. Hill snow, increasingly rain, low cloud.
How windy? (On the Munros)
Southerly 35 to 50mph, very gusty in places downslope north of tops. A brief lessening of speed into early afternoon followed by rapidly increasing further later, 60-70mph evening-night.
Effect of the wind on you?
Strenuous walking with chaotic gusts all day, in places difficult at times. Significant wind chill. Deteriorating further later.
How Wet?
Patchy rain/snow, heavier rain later
Areas of rain and snow extending northward from dawn, snow falling mostly above 700m but briefly lower inland Lochaber. With time, turning increasingly to rain up to tops, often raining many areas all day, may ease for a time, but then later afternoon setting in for widely heavier rain from the southwest.
Cloud on the hills?
Extensive, some variability early inland Lochaber
Covering many higher areas all day, becoming shrouded from 700-800m up as the day goes, bases often lower on southern aspects, notably Loch Lomond to Mull. More variable cloud early morning in Lochaber, bases higher with breaks to some tops, some patches in corries too.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
30% early, soon lowering, to below 10%.
Sunshine and air clarity?
Generally cloudy, rare if any brief glimpses of sun, mainly toward Glen Spean. Very good visibility away from fog/rain early in day, but increasingly widely poor.
How Cold? (at 900m)
-1C early morning, lifting to +4C afternoon onward. Feeling like -10 to -12C in direct wind.
Freezing Level
600-800m at dawn, lowest inland Lochaber. Soon rising around coast and southern areas, lifting with time to above all summits by afternoon.
Viewing Forecast For
West Highlands
Monday 2nd March 2026
Last updated
Sat 28th Feb 26 at
4:00PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
South turning southwest later westerly; speed likely to vary during day, in range 20 to 35mph, perhaps often lower speeds.
Effect of the wind on you?
Risk of blustery conditions affecting ease of walking at times in exposure, but may drop to be fairly small for periods.
How Wet?
Rain at times, increasingly hill snow
A few hours likely dry during day, but also bands of showery rain - one may be clearing eastward early morning, another arriving from west during daytime, turning to snow above 900m, later 700m.
Cloud on the hills?
Varied with local breaks
Varying cloud, some banks at different heights from dawn, tending to thin and break, toward some upper slopes inland, best likely near Glen Spean. Further cloud may lower from west with time.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
30%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Occasional sun breaking through, mostly inland Lochaber, then clouding over west. Visibility very good or excellent for a time, reducing to be poor in hill snow.
How Cold? (at 900m)
1C, dropping later to 0C or just below. If exposed to stronger wind, risk feeling like -10C.
Freezing Level
Above summits prior to dawn, but lowering, to around 1000m into daytime, by dusk onward likely 800m.
Viewing Forecast For
West Highlands
Tuesday 3rd March 2026
Last updated
Sat 28th Feb 26 at
4:00PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
Variable direction 10-15mph or less. Around Mull, may be southwesterly 20mph.
Effect of the wind on you?
Mostly small.
How Wet?
Precipitation unlikely
Cloud on the hills?
Mostly little
Thin patchy cloud may occasionally drift over tops above 900m in western Lochaber, otherwise the hills largely clear. Some lower mist / cloud fragments at first.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
80%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Good amounts of sunshine, patchy cloud mostly west of Loch Linnhe. Visibility excellent.
How Cold? (at 900m)
0C rising to +2C.
Freezing Level
900m plus frost inland glens from dawn, rising to 1100-1200m afternoon.
Planning Outlook
A drop of freezing level onto higher mountains develops during Monday into Monday night; weakening fronts bringing some precipitation, but fading. Higher pressure expands across the British Isles into Tuesday and stays nearby with commonly drier conditions and periods of light winds during early March, though mixed with pushes of strengthening south-southwesterlies bringing some occasional rain in from the west. Often milder air during the next couple of weeks, possibly briefly colder again by the end of the coming week.