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.
Thursday's Forecast
Windy, walking impeded
Blustery conditions enough to give buffeting on higher terrain or affect balance on exposed ridges. 25 to 40mph.
Patchy cloud and winter sun
Mostly dry with a mix of cloud and sun, patchy cloud occasionally covering some mountain slopes.
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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Windy, walking impeded
Blustery conditions enough to give buffeting on higher terrain or affect balance on exposed ridges. 25 to 40mph.
Patchy cloud and winter sun
Mostly dry with a mix of cloud and sun, patchy cloud occasionally covering some mountain slopes.
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
Thursday 12th February 2026
Last updated
Wed 11th Feb 26 at
4:09PM
Summary for all mountain areas
Very cold in Scotland with strong wind. Snow in the central/south highlands, some improvement from the north. Blustery too in north England, cloudy with patchy morning snow, later more frequent. South Pennines and north Wales see rain and snow with lighter wind. Blustery with patchy rain south Wales.
Headline for West Highlands
Bitterly cold and windy; early snow south, improving from north
How windy? (On the Munros)
East northeasterly 30-40mph in the morning, locally stronger in the south with powerful gusts to the west; some local lighter wind possible from Mull to Ben Nevis. A slow easing trend from north, locally to 25mph but remaining near or above 30mph south.
Effect of the wind on you?
Arduous walking with severe wind chill early; powerful gusts in the south will challenge balance. Effects slowly easing with time, though always blustery in exposure.
How Wet?
Most snow early in the south
From dawn, light snow affecting most southern hills, patchy towards Mull, Glencoe, and Ben Nevis. Very little snow, if any north, the drier conditions drifting south, though spotty snow and rain linger in the far south.
Cloud on the hills?
Most extensive south and east, improving from north
Shrouding most high terrain well-inland from Ben Nevis southward with patches to middle eastern aspects, the lowest bases in the south, to 500m. Cloud higher and well-broken west of Glencoe and Loch Linnhe. A breaking trend from the north with time, becoming patches on higher summits.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
30% inland and south, rising to 60% from the north
Sunshine and air clarity?
Mostly cloudy, some sun breaking out in the north with time though weakened by high cloud. Very poor visibility from dawn in snow, turning very good from the north.
How Cold? (at 900m)
-4C, starting near -3C near the coast south of Mull. May reach -5C near and north of Ben Nevis. Temperature drops further overnight. Feeling like -20C in strongest wind.
Freezing Level
Frozen to low slopes and some glens well-inland, nearer 300-500m near the coast. Lowering later and overnight to glen level.
Viewing Forecast For
West Highlands
Friday 13th February 2026
Last updated
Wed 11th Feb 26 at
4:09PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
Generally northerly between 15-25mph, some variability in speed and direction.
Effect of the wind on you?
Often fairly small, though blustery at times in exposure and significant wind chill.
How Wet?
Some snow showers near the coast
Some snow showers affecting coastal mountains through the day, the showers more scattered inland (if any); a few odd showers may approach Creag Meagaidh/northern Lochaber.
Cloud on the hills?
Mostly little
Patchy cloud grazes the high terrain of coastal slopes, primarily around Mull. A few banks may drift into northern Lochaber/Creag Meagaidh, as well as high summits around Ben Nevis. Many inland Munros largely cloud free.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
70%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Patchy sunshine near the coast, more extensive inland. Excellent-to-superb visibility.
How Cold? (at 900m)
About -5C (to -9C Ben Nevis summit at dawn), rising a degree or two in sun. Feeling as cold as -20C in strongest wind.
Freezing Level
Nearly all terrain frozen from dawn, just some coastal slopes up to 300-400m. Some thawing on sun-exposed low slopes.
Viewing Forecast For
West Highlands
Saturday 14th February 2026
Last updated
Wed 11th Feb 26 at
4:09PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
Westerly 10-15mph from dawn, shifting southwesterly, strengthening to a gusty 30-35mph, deteriorating overnight.
Effect of the wind on you?
Small at first, walking increasingly affected, arduous near the coast later with buffeting and significant wind chill.
How Wet?
Likely dry during daylight
A few odd snow flurries affect slopes abutting the west coast. Snow arrives from the southwest after dark, spreading widely, the snowfall level rising too.
Cloud on the hills?
Some cloud later
Most hills substantially free of cloud, a few caps over high summits possible from time to time. Later, a greater chance of cloud banks coming above 800m.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
80%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Extensive sunshine, some patchy cloud near the coast. High cloud moves in with time. Excellent visibility.
How Cold? (at 900m)
-3 or -4C. With time, feeling as cold as -15 to 18C in wind.
Freezing Level
All terrain frozen from dawn. Near the coast, lifting to 300-400m. Some sun-exposed low slopes to thaw as well.
Planning Outlook
Colder for all areas during the transition into the weekend, mountain terrain frozen to increasingly lower elevations - soonest toward the north and east of Scotland. A widespread frost early on Saturday. Northeasterly wind will be dominant - the distribution of snow showers shifting with time from eastern hills to more north-facing mountains, particularly Scotland. Brighter than recently with sunshine and clearer hills later Friday and Saturday. Gales with heavy snow (rain to increasingly higher elevations) overnight into Sunday brings a return to unsettled weather for the following week - wet and windy periods come and go, freezing levels rising (high Scotland terrain stays frozen), then lowering again during periods of northwesterly wind.