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.
Wednesday'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 and rain mix
Precipitation falling mostly as snow on higher terrain, rain on low-to-middle elevations, may turn to sleet or rain higher up.
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 and rain mix
Precipitation falling mostly as snow on higher terrain, rain on low-to-middle elevations, may turn to sleet or rain higher up.
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
Wednesday 11th February 2026
Last updated
Tue 10th Feb 26 at
4:19PM
Summary for all mountain areas
Windy for many, gale force gusts in Scotland, most powerful west. Snowing south and east Highlands (whiteout on high terrain), only patchy west; rain to lower slopes at first. Extensive cloud from southern Scotland through England and Wales and often raining, heaviest south and west slopes. Lighter wind southern Pennines.
Headline for West Highlands
Gales with powerful gusts; snow and rain, most in the south
How windy? (On the Munros)
Easterly 35 to 45mph, sustained speeds near the higher end of the range toward the west, powerful gusts here too, reaching 55mph on high western slopes.
Effect of the wind on you?
Widely arduous walking with significant wind chill and buffeting - strongest gusts likely require bracing to maintain balance.
How Wet?
Rain and snow south, more broken towards Lochaber
Persistent snow from southern islands to the Trossachs, falling as rain up to 700-800m. Often snowing towards Glencoe and Ben Nevis too but more broken, some spots onto Mull as well. Only spotty snow reaching west Lochaber.
Cloud on the hills?
Extensive, but cloud base higher toward west
Most hills around southern islands and the Trossachs shrouded from 500-700m up most of the day. Bases linger nearer 700-800m Glencoe/Loch Linnhe areas. Western Lochaber may have higher cloud base, possibly for periods 800 to 1000m, fleeting summit breaks possible.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
10%, 30% northwest Lochaber
Sunshine and air clarity?
Mostly overcast, though some weak sun may break through high cloud west of Loch Linnhe. Very poor or appalling visibility in snow, locally mostly very good in northwest.
How Cold? (at 900m)
From dawn, 0C southern islands to -2C northern areas. Lowering a degree by evening, further lowering after dark. Will feel as cold as -15 to -18C directly in the wind.
Freezing Level
From dawn, 600-700m Lochaber/Creag Meagaidh, to 1000m far south. Lowering in the north, 500m by dusk; staying near 800m south and west, lowering further overnight.
Viewing Forecast For
West Highlands
Thursday 12th February 2026
Last updated
Tue 10th Feb 26 at
4:19PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
East northeasterly 35-40mph, a slow easing trend from north, though powerful gusts over and west of high terrain.
Effect of the wind on you?
Arduous walking with severe wind chill early, slowly easing with time, though always blustery in exposure.
How Wet?
Most snow early
From dawn, snow affecting most inland hills, also affecting Mull and southward, falling as rain up to 500m in the morning. A breaking trend from the north, though spots of snow and rain linger south.
Cloud on the hills?
Most extensive south, improving from north
Shrouding most high terrain with patches to middle slopes from Mull/Ben Nevis area southward in the morning, the lowest bases in the south. A breaking trend from the north with time, becoming patches on higher summits.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
30%, rising to 60% northern Munros
Sunshine and air clarity?
Mostly cloudy, some sun breaking out in the north with time. Very poor visibility from dawn in snow, turning very good from the north.
How Cold? (at 900m)
-3 or -4C. Feeling like -20C (colder early) in strongest wind.
Freezing Level
300-500m, locally higher in the southern islands early, lowering with time.
Viewing Forecast For
West Highlands
Friday 13th February 2026
Last updated
Tue 10th Feb 26 at
4:19PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
North-northeasterly, some slight variability in direction through the day, 15-30mph.
Effect of the wind on you?
Fairly small in places, but often blustery with strenuous walking in high exposure with 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 from the north.
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)
-6 or -7C (to -11C 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.
Planning Outlook
Becoming colder for all areas during the transition into the weekend, with much mountain terrain frozen again to increasingly lower elevations - soonest toward the north and east of Scotland. A widespread frost is likely 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. Away from showers later in the week, brighter than recently with sunshine and clearer hills, most likely later Friday and Saturday. Unsettled weather returns on Sunday, with a more active week likely to follow, dominated by west-to-northwesterly winds - most precipitation in the west with some freeze-thaw cycles in central and southern areas.