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.
Today'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+
Heavy snow and hail showers, isolated lightning
Showery precipitation, often heavy, may merge to become constant for periods. A mix of snow and hail often falling to lower slopes. Risk of very localised thunder and lightning.
Poor visibility
Murky conditions with areas of fog shrouding the hills, making navigation challenging. Map and compass essential.
Cold
Air temperature below 0C all day on higher mountains. Significant chill factor if exposed to strong winds. Suitable protective clothing required.
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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+
Heavy snow and hail showers, isolated lightning
Showery precipitation, often heavy, may merge to become constant for periods. A mix of snow and hail often falling to lower slopes. Risk of very localised thunder and lightning.
Poor visibility
Murky conditions with areas of fog shrouding the hills, making navigation challenging. Map and compass essential.
Cold
Air temperature below 0C all day on higher mountains. Significant chill factor if exposed to strong winds. Suitable protective clothing required.
Viewing Forecast For
West Highlands
Friday 28th November 2025
Last updated
Thu 27th Nov 25 at
4:30PM
Summary for all mountain areas
Stormy conditions over Scottish mountains, easing only toward dusk; frequent or persistent rain and hill snow, heaviest western mountains. Severe gales high tops England & Wales, squally stormy gusts for a time with heavy bursts of rain. Risk of hail and isolated thunder, mainly western areas.
Headline for West Highlands
Stormy mountain winds, easing later. Heavy rain, hail, snow tops.
How windy? (On the Munros)
Southwesterly 70 to 80mph, peak strength early in the morning across Lochaber, gusts approaching 100mph highest tops. Turning westerly later afternoon, starting to drop to 30-40mph toward dusk, or less into night.
Effect of the wind on you?
Extensively very difficult conditions with severe wind chill and buffeting - any mobility challenging mid-heights upward. Strong gusts into glens. Improving only late in the daytime.
How Wet?
Frequent showers, snow higher slopes, risk thunder
Showers frequent and falling as snow above 800-900m. By afternoon, merging into more prolonged rain and snow on tops. Risk of hail and isolated lightning.
Cloud on the hills?
Extensive upper slopes, bases varying
Bases varying rapidly, but generally around 700-900m. Lowest bases coastal hills where at times in showers patches down to 500m.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
20%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Fleeting bursts of sun, mainly well inland. Visibility often poor due to rain, or on upper slopes snow.
How Cold? (at 900m)
0 or 1C, to 2C nearest west coast. Wind chill feeling like -15 to -20C.
Freezing Level
900 to 1100m, highest near west coast.
Viewing Forecast For
West Highlands
Saturday 29th November 2025
Last updated
Thu 27th Nov 25 at
4:30PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
Northerly, 15 to 25mph, may increase to 30mph through day.
Effect of the wind on you?
Be prepared for significant wind chill in the north wind and some buffeting.
How Wet?
Mostly dry
Likely dry, bar snow flurries west coast for a time. Small risk, should an small area of low pressure track further north, of prolonged snow into south for a time.
Cloud on the hills?
Varying, mainly confined to tops.
Cloud cover variable across area, but tending to come and go across higher tops from Lochaber and down the west coast.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
50%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Variable cloud and occasional sun. Veil of cloud may edge up from south. Visibility mostly very good, but poor should rain/snow develop in south.
How Cold? (at 900m)
-1 or -2C
Freezing Level
600 to 800m, lowest in Lochaber.
Viewing Forecast For
West Highlands
Sunday 30th November 2025
Last updated
Thu 27th Nov 25 at
4:30PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
Variable 10-15mph or less. Tending to strengthen southerly, risk 20-30mph coasts before dusk, widely 40-50mph into night.
Effect of the wind on you?
Likely small possibly much of daylight, but possibly becoming more blustery in west with time; deteriorating into night.
How Wet?
Precipitation unlikely during day
Most likely staying dry all daylight. Small chance an isolated light flurry. From dusk, light rain likely west, risk then heavier with hill snow inland into night.
Cloud on the hills?
Local patches, otherwise clear
Fragments of cloud around some slopes and corries, some mist possible in the valleys. Greater risk of patchy cloud NE of Ben Nevis early in day. Later, cloud banks may form on islands if wind increases.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
70%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Winter sunshine and some thin high cloud, which may start to thicken from west. Visibility excellent.
How Cold? (at 900m)
-1 to -3C, coldest inland, where also small variation with height. Feeling like -10 to -15C later if wind increases.
Freezing Level
Much inland terrain frozen, frost in glens all day out of sunlight. Only partly frozen below 600m near to coasts.
Planning Outlook
Colder over the weekend with the mountains near or below freezing point, including frost into glens in Scotland by Saturday night. A small scale low on Saturday most likely affects England and Wales bringing rain, upland snow and a core of strong winds for a time. Sunday then mostly dry, bright and cold. Next week, Atlantic lows passing across or just north of Britain will bring frequent rainfall to western mountains together with upland gales. A mix of chilly westerly air and some milder southwesterlies. Freeze-thaw cycles, with periods of fresh snow mostly for Scottish hills, briefly high tops elsewhere.