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.
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.
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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Windy, walking impeded
Blustery conditions enough to give buffeting on higher terrain or affect balance on exposed ridges. 25 to 40mph.
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.
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
Thursday 14th May 2026
Last updated
Wed 13th May 26 at
4:30PM
Summary for all mountain areas
Another cold day for May with considerable chill factor in exposure to brisk northerly winds. Showers focused on north-facing areas in the morning, but forming increasingly widely, falling as snow on Scottish Munros, at times higher tops elsewhere; heavy bursts with hail, isolated thunder.
Headline for West Highlands
Cold and windy. Showery with hail, snow on tops.
How windy? (On the Munros)
North-northwesterly 25 to 30mph, strongest sustained speeds near coast and higher Ben Nevis group; squally gusts around showers. Increasing more widely later in day, to 35-40mph inland Lochaber.
Effect of the wind on you?
Considerable wind chill for mid-May. Ease of walking and sometimes balance affected on exposed high terrain.
How Wet?
Showers, increasingly widespread inland.
Initially mostly dry inland, but showers will develop widely through day, containing hail with snow above 700-900m, briefly heavy. Fewer showers coastal areas into afternoon.
Cloud on the hills?
Bases varied, breaks into afternoon
Cloud bases varying through day, particularly in and out of showers, but banks may be fairly persistent on tops above 800-1000m in the morning. Rising higher and breaking in the afternoon to tops. Best breaks in south.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
50% rising to 80% afternoon.
Sunshine and air clarity?
Skies often filled in with cloud limiting the sun to glimpses; improving near coast later afternoon. Visibility very good, but lowering to become poor in showers.
How Cold? (at 900m)
0 or 1C, rising to 2 or 3C afternoon. Feeling like -10C directly in wind.
Freezing Level
900-1000m rising to 1100-1200m into afternoon, lowest north Lochaber, then lowering toward 800m from dusk.
Viewing Forecast For
West Highlands
Friday 15th May 2026
Last updated
Wed 13th May 26 at
4:30PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
Northwesterly 20 to 30mph at dawn, briefly 35mph well inland, but easing to 10 to 20mph through day, less later.
Effect of the wind on you?
Very blustery start with significant wind chill and buffeting, but hour by hour easing down, to become mostly small.
How Wet?
Isolated snow and hail showers
Often dry, but local brief snow and hail showers, by afternoon mainly toward central highlands. Snow falling above 500m initially, rising to 900-1000m.
Cloud on the hills?
Patchy cloud rising, breaks form
Patches tending to come and go over higher slopes in morning, most persistent over the tops of the Ben Nevis group, but bases rise and increasingly clearing many tops into afternoon.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
50% rising to 80%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Patchy sun, best early morning inland, then improving west coast afternoon. Visibility excellent, briefly lowering in showers.
How Cold? (at 900m)
-1 or -2C at dawn, but lifting to +1 to 3C into afternoon. Feeling like -10C in early wind.
Freezing Level
700-800m at dawn, will lift to 1000-1200m, lowest toward north Lochaber.
Viewing Forecast For
West Highlands
Saturday 16th May 2026
Last updated
Wed 13th May 26 at
4:30PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
Variable below 10mph at first. Becoming southerly 15 to 25mph, soonest coasts; by evening westerly 20mph.
Effect of the wind on you?
Small early in day, becoming breezier, feeling noticeable and rather chilly on exposed higher terrain.
How Wet?
Rain develops near coast
Likely dry morning. Patchy rain pushes onto islands and coastal areas in afternoon, becoming more persistent later and extending inland; starting as snow flurries above 1100m.
Cloud on the hills?
Little if any until later
Patchy cloud around some slopes in morning, lifting and clearing. Late in day, some cloud banks forming onto higher slopes, soonest near coast.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
80%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Sun weakens as high cloud thickens during day, more overcast afternoon. Visibility excellent, reducing later near coast as rain develops.
How Cold? (at 900m)
-1C rising to 3C afternoon. Feeling nearer -5C if exposed to wind.
Freezing Level
700m plus frost inland glens at dawn. Rising toward 1300m or just above during afternoon.
Planning Outlook
Becoming gradually less cold into the weekend as northerly winds ease and then switch toward west-southwesterly. Fewer showers by Friday with sunny spells. A dry start to Saturday, frost at dawn where skies are clear. Rain and lowering cloud moves onto west coast areas during Saturday, persistent rain later western Scotland. By Sunday and Monday, areas of showery rain will pass eastwards during the daytimes, leaving western areas generally drier with cloud breaks afternoon-evenings. South-southwesterlies then prevail for a few days next week, with rain at times Tuesday and Wednesday on western hills, particularly Scotland. A drier and warmer theme later in the week as higher pressure builds.