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
Windy, walking impeded
Blustery conditions enough to give buffeting on higher terrain or affect balance on exposed ridges. 25 to 40mph.
Snow and hail showers
Periods of bright or sunny conditions mixed with showers or flurries of snow and hail. Visibility may change rapidly from excellent to very poor.
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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Windy, walking impeded
Blustery conditions enough to give buffeting on higher terrain or affect balance on exposed ridges. 25 to 40mph.
Snow and hail showers
Periods of bright or sunny conditions mixed with showers or flurries of snow and hail. Visibility may change rapidly from excellent to very poor.
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 18th April 2026
Last updated
Fri 17th Apr 26 at
4:10PM
Summary for all mountain areas
Brisk westerly winds will give considerable chill factor over high terrain - air temperature near freezing on higher Scottish tops. Showery conditions - the most frequent precipitation in northwest Scotland in morning, falling as snow on Munros, also hail to lower levels. Showers become more scattered during afternoon.
Headline for West Highlands
Windy, near-gales in morning; showery, hail, snow tops.
How windy? (On the Munros)
Westerly 30 to 40mph, strongest over tops in Lochaber early in day, gusty around heavier showers, tending to drop a little to 25mph during afternoon.
Effect of the wind on you?
Blustery conditions affecting comfortable walking in exposure, likely improving. Considerable wind chill.
How Wet?
Showery, locally frequent precipitation in morning; hail, snow higher tops
Showers merging into more frequent precipitation in the morning, particularly Lochaber, some heavy. Showers more scattered into afternoon, fewer by evening. Some hail, also snow falling on the Munros, later toward 800m.
Cloud on the hills?
Varying over tops, rising with breaks
Covering higher slopes fairly widely, typically 700-1000m in morning, some breaks higher up, lower patches in showers; base rising during the day, but frequently capping higher summits, breaks better later afternoon.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
30% rising to 60% later afternoon
Sunshine and air clarity?
Mostly cloudy early, then brief bursts of sun the rest of the day. Visibility varying, at times very good, but poor during showers.
How Cold? (at 900m)
2 or 3C, slight drop from late afternoon. Feeling like -10 to -13C directly in the wind.
Freezing Level
1100-1200m at dawn, lowering to 900-1000m before dusk.
Viewing Forecast For
West Highlands
Sunday 19th April 2026
Last updated
Fri 17th Apr 26 at
4:10PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
Northwesterly 20mph, locally 25mph early morning Ben Nevis northward, shifting northerly and easing a little to 15-20mph.
Effect of the wind on you?
Feeling breezy and chilly in exposure especially early in the day, but easing to smaller effects.
How Wet?
Rare local brief showers/flurries
Isolated brief showers mostly near/west of Loch Linnhe in morning, falling as snow flurries above 600m, fading to become largely dry, just a chance of a very isolated brief shower inland afternoon.
Cloud on the hills?
Summits clearing
Patchy cloud over hills in morning, most common toward west Lochaber, local mist inland glens. Bases soon lift after sunrise above 900m and the summits likely clear by afternoon. Lochaber and Mull may see patches come and go.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
50% rising to 90%
Sunshine and air clarity?
A patchwork of cloud and sun. Excellent visibility.
How Cold? (at 900m)
0C rising to 3C afternoon. Feeling like -5 to -8C directly in the wind, coldest in the morning.
Freezing Level
900m in the morning, plus frost many inland glens at dawn. Lifting to just touch the highest summits or above.
Viewing Forecast For
West Highlands
Monday 20th April 2026
Last updated
Fri 17th Apr 26 at
4:10PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
East or northeasterly, 20 to 25mph, occasional gustier areas.
Effect of the wind on you?
Fairly small effect on walking, but in places rather blustery where exposed on high tops with considerable wind chill.
How Wet?
Scattered showers
Showers with soft hail, also snow falling above 600-800m, forming soonest toward Creag Meagaidh and Rannoch Moor, then brief showers possible more widely afternoon, but some places remain dry.
Cloud on the hills?
Occasionally capping tops
Patchy cloud banks soon mostly above 800m, most common north and east from Glen Spean in the morning, clearer start near the coast. Broken cloud patches then likely to come and go above 1000-1200m.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
60%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Sunshine mostly west coastal areas in morning, but cloud inland tending to fill in more widely. Occasional sun breaking through. Visibility mostly very good.
How Cold? (at 900m)
0C rising to 3 or 4C afternoon. Where exposed to wind, feeling like -5C, to possibly nearer -10C early in day.
Freezing Level
800-900m from dawn, plus frost in some glens. Rising to 1200-1300m or just above highest tops during afternoon.
Planning Outlook
High pressure expands over the British Isles on Sunday to bring a quieter day with lighter winds and only isolated showers. A scattering of showers on Monday as a cool east-northeasterly wind develops, but plenty of dry weather too. High pressure stays nearby to the north of Britain through the week ahead giving a run of dry days with sunshine typically best in the west, but many mountains often free of low cloud. A cool easterly wind is likely to prevail for England and Wales, strongest toward the south, whilst Scotland has often lighter winds. Some overnight frosts. Daytime temperatures near average, typically a few degrees above freezing on high tops through midweek.