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.
Tuesday'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.
Whiteout
Fog and lying snow over the mountains, possibly with falling or blowing snow, very disorientating. Map and compass essential, beware of unseen hazards.
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.
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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 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.
Whiteout
Fog and lying snow over the mountains, possibly with falling or blowing snow, very disorientating. Map and compass essential, beware of unseen hazards.
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
Tuesday 3rd February 2026
Last updated
Mon 2nd Feb 26 at
4:15PM
Summary for all mountain areas
Feeling bitterly cold in gale force easterly winds over the hills. Snow falling to lower slopes, most constant in eastern Scotland with further drifting and whiteout over hills. Snow flurries over the Pennines. Some cloud breaks near west coasts. Rain and increasingly hill snow for Wales, persistent in southeast.
Headline for West Highlands
Gales, powerful gusts. Snow flurries well inland.
How windy? (On the Munros)
Easterly 40 to 55mph, very gusty in places around higher mountains and downslope west of high terrain, around tops on Arran and near Clyde sea lochs may reach 60mph.
Effect of the wind on you?
Challenging walking conditions, more difficult in places, frequent buffeting making balance difficult in places. Significant wind chill, severe higher tops.
How Wet?
Snow mostly well inland
Snow most frequent in areas south and east from Rannoch Moor. Patchy flurries extend west, light rain spots below 500m, but often dry much of west coast.
Cloud on the hills?
Fairly extensive, breaks west
Often covering inland mountains above 800 to 1000m, banks of cloud drifting westwards, but more broken higher up toward coast, best west of Loch Linnhe.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
20% inland & Loch Lomond to Arran, up to 50% Mull to west Lochaber.
Sunshine and air clarity?
Glimpses of sun mostly toward coast, where visibility mostly good. Some haze toward south. Very poor visibility in snow and cloud, whiteout on some high tops.
How Cold? (at 900m)
-3C well inland, to -1C coast and islands. Wind chill feeling like -15C, to nearer -20C higher mountain tops.
Freezing Level
500m well inland, to 600-700m further west, or locally varied higher up nearest coast and on the islands.
Viewing Forecast For
West Highlands
Wednesday 4th February 2026
Last updated
Mon 2nd Feb 26 at
4:15PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
Easterly 30 to 50mph, speeds locally variable, but very gusty in places near and west of higher mountains.
Effect of the wind on you?
Challenging conditions with frequent buffeting gusts and significant wind chill.
How Wet?
Snow or sleet inland and south
Snow most frequent central highlands south of Rannoch Moor. Sleet southern areas from Arran to Loch Lomond, with time may turn to rain increasingly higher up. Patchier or very little west Lochaber.
Cloud on the hills?
Fairly extensive tops, breaks west
Cloud covering most higher mountains, most persistent above 800 to 1000m inland and southern areas, locally lower Loch Lomond to Clyde and Arran. Higher bases and some breaks west of Loch Linnhe.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
20%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Largely cloudy, dull and misty central highlands, whiteout if in fog and snow. Brighter westward, local glimpses of sun and good visibility below cloud.
How Cold? (at 900m)
-3C inland, up to -1C near coast, rising slightly during day. Wind chill feeling like -12 to -17C.
Freezing Level
500 to 700m, locally higher near coast and on islands. Onward into night rising variably higher up, particularly in south.
Viewing Forecast For
West Highlands
Thursday 5th February 2026
Last updated
Mon 2nd Feb 26 at
4:15PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
East to southeasterly 30 to 45mph, gusty in places, including downslope to west.
Effect of the wind on you?
Walking strenuous, or arduous in places, frequent buffeting knocking you off balance. Significant wind chill.
How Wet?
Snow flurries inland tops
Snow flurries mostly higher areas inland south and east from Rannoch Moor, mostly rain below 700m. Some spots of rain or sleet Loch Lomond NP to Arran. Largely dry much of west coast.
Cloud on the hills?
Varied over inland tops, less west
Cloud banks most persistent inland mountains across much of Loch Lomond NP to Arran, mostly above 800 to 1000m. Higher and more broken cloud westwards, frequently clearer hills west of Loch Linnhe.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
40%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Sunniest toward coast from Jura and Mull northward with very good visibility. More cloud well inland, hazier, locally poor visibility in precipitation.
How Cold? (at 900m)
0 or -1C, up to +1C west coast and on islands. Wind chill feeling like -10 to -13C.
Freezing Level
800 to 900m, may drop further later well inland, but locally varied higher toward coast and on islands.
Planning Outlook
East or southeasterly winds prevail, strong to gale force over many hills for sustained periods this week. Freezing levels will vary, rising briefly during Wednesday from the south, but lowering widely again below 600m during Thursday, tending to lift again over England and Wales on Friday, then possibly rising just above freezing point to higher mountains in Scotland during the weekend, before colder air returns again next week. Further snowfalls mostly over eastern hills in Scotland, occasionally hills in England & Wales, mixed with rain here. Indications of less precipitation and lower wind speeds more often by early next week. Highest cloud breaks generally west & northwest Scotland.