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+
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.
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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.
Viewing Forecast For
West Highlands
Saturday 13th December 2025
Last updated
Fri 12th Dec 25 at
4:13PM
Summary for all mountain areas
Increasingly severe conditions Scottish Highlands: gusty storm-force winds on high terrain and becoming wet from the west. Gales in England and Wales, severe from Snowdonia towards Lakeland/north Pennines; drizzly rain on western slopes, patches drifting east. Driest south Pennines.
Headline for West Highlands
Deteriorating to severe conditions; increasingly wet
How windy? (On the Munros)
Southwesterly 40-50mph, strongest north, soon strengthening, 65-80mph afternoon, stronger gusts over high northern summits reaching up to 90mph for a period.
Effect of the wind on you?
Conditions soon challenging from mid-elevations upward, increasingly any mobility difficult and turning severe afternoon with violent gusts highest tops. Severe wind chill.
How Wet?
Persistent rain developing, locally heavy
Starting as patchy rain, most frequent Mull/Glencoe and northward, initially snow flurries on high inland tops. Rain arrives from the west around midday, spreading east and setting in widely, increasingly heavy falls with time in the west.
Cloud on the hills?
Becoming extensive, lowering
Varied banks of cloud mostly on western slopes early in day, but increasingly filling in and lowering, becoming blanket fog from lower slopes upward near the coast, cloud to middle slopes inland.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
40% soon lowering to 10%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Some weak sun through high cloud early, turning overcast and increasingly dull west. Hazy, visibility turning poor as rain sets in.
How Cold? (at 900m)
0 or 1C from dawn rising steadily to later reach 5C, little change with added height. Rising another degree or two into night and varying. Wind chill feeling like -12 to -15C later in the day.
Freezing Level
1000-1100m up to dawn, gradually rising, above the summits afternoon.
Viewing Forecast For
West Highlands
Sunday 14th December 2025
Last updated
Fri 12th Dec 25 at
4:13PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
A gusty southwesterly, sustained winds between 40-55mph, perhaps a brief lighter period early. Risk 65mph gusts over tops.
Effect of the wind on you?
Strong gusty winds will challenge balance and stability all day, including less exposed slopes. Significant wind chill.
How Wet?
Often raining
Often raining across all areas with heavy bursts. Local breaks possible, though remaining drizzly on high southern tops with a risk of setting in more widely for periods too.
Cloud on the hills?
Fairly extensive
Extensive on coastal slopes, variable between 400-600m, lowering at times in rain. Higher bases Ben Alder to Creag Meagaidh, 700-900m, higher breaks possible but may lower as well.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
10%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Little or no sun, often dull on high terrain and at times lower. Best visibility out of cloud near Rannoch Moor.
How Cold? (at 900m)
6 to 8C; variable, increasingly so after nightfall with lower temperatures. Feeling like -5 to -8C in the wind.
Freezing Level
Above the summits
Viewing Forecast For
West Highlands
Monday 15th December 2025
Last updated
Fri 12th Dec 25 at
4:13PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
Very uncertain detail: generally west-southwesterly 15-25mph, highly variable with higher and lower speeds.
Effect of the wind on you?
Fairly small, though winds may be suddenly uncomfortable in exposure.
How Wet?
Showers onto northern coast hills
Scattered showers onto coastal hills from Islay/Jura northward, some drifting inland and around Loch Linnhe. Showers increase in frequency and intensity with time afternoon.
Cloud on the hills?
Often over tops, lowest bases north coasts
Banks often covering high terrain from Ben Nevis group into Lochaber; lowest bases near the coast, variable between 600-900m. More often clear southern islands/Glencoe, though risk banks arriving here too.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
30%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Glimpses of weak sun north but mostly overcast. Very good visibility.
How Cold? (at 900m)
0 or 1C. May be several degrees warmer before dawn. Feeling as cold as -8C in direct wind.
Freezing Level
Above the summits from overnight, rapidly lowering to 900-1000m at or before dawn.
Planning Outlook
A brief spell of drier-brighter weather on Tuesday, but otherwise staying unsettled into next week as southwesterly winds prevail and low pressure systems pass to the northwest of Scotland; sustained gales over the mountains, severe or stormy for periods. Bands of rain will regularly pass eastward across most areas, showery in the west between wetter spells with hail at times. Expect very wet ground conditions and further flooding of streams and some rivers. Mild for the time of year, 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. Detail becomes very uncertain after next weekend though temperatures likely to drop.