Lochaber · climbing crag beta

Polldubh — Glen Nevis climbing conditions.

General crag drying, rain and exposed-wind guidance for mica schist climbing.

Wednesday 2 September 2026

Poor.

Dew or condensation may keep shaded rock greasy.

41/100

Forecast generated 2 September 2026 at 15:33 UTC. Weather input cached 2 September 2026 at 15:33 UTC. Weather: Open-Meteo Best Match, with Mountain Weather rock and exposure estimates. This is a build time, not a single model-run time.

Seven-day outlook

Polldubh — Glen Nevis day by day.

The headline stays short. Expand a day to compare recent rain, drying windows, surface state and the wind on the climb with open ground above.

PoorDew or condensation may keep shaded rock greasy.41/100
200 m · representative sector

Representative crag signal

41/100

Dew or condensation may keep shaded rock greasy.

Rock surface
Wet or seeping
Recent rain
6.1 mm / 24 h
Climbing-window rain
0.1 mm
Face wind / gust
7 / 17 mph
Above-crag gust
23 mph
Best drying window
No clear drying window
Greasy-rock risk
High
Midge risk at belays
Possible · 22/100

Experimental wind estimate: Shelter at individual holds and belays is unresolved. Strong gusts may differ substantially; summit-station validation does not establish crag-level accuracy.

Wind: The mapped crag point does not resolve the cliff face, so shelter on the climb is uncertain. Open ground above may be more exposed, with gusts around 23 mph.

Midges: Midges are possible at sheltered belays when the breeze drops. Recent rain should keep nearby breeding ground damp. Breezes should suppress them at times, with more activity when the wind drops. Cloudier conditions favour activity.

Wet or seeping sections are likely; choose another crag or wait for direct observations.

Did this match the crag?

A broad sector and surface report is enough; no route-level claim is needed.

PoorThunder risk increases the seriousness of exposed climbing.31/100
200 m · representative sector

Representative crag signal

31/100

Thunder risk increases the seriousness of exposed climbing.

Rock surface
Wet or seeping
Recent rain
4.2 mm / 24 h
Climbing-window rain
3.5 mm
Face wind / gust
12 / 19 mph
Above-crag gust
26 mph
Best drying window
No clear drying window
Greasy-rock risk
High
Midge risk at belays
Low · 4/100

Experimental wind estimate: Shelter at individual holds and belays is unresolved. Strong gusts may differ substantially; summit-station validation does not establish crag-level accuracy.

Wind: The mapped crag point does not resolve the cliff face, so shelter on the climb is uncertain. Open ground above may be more exposed, with gusts around 26 mph.

Midges: Few midges are expected on the face, though the most sheltered corners may differ. The face breeze should suppress most activity during the climbing window. Cloudier conditions favour activity. Rain may suppress flying while it falls, despite keeping the habitat damp.

Wet or seeping sections are likely; choose another crag or wait for direct observations.

Did this match the crag?

A broad sector and surface report is enough; no route-level claim is needed.

PoorThunder risk increases the seriousness of exposed climbing.15/100
200 m · representative sector

Representative crag signal

15/100

Thunder risk increases the seriousness of exposed climbing.

Rock surface
Wet or seeping
Recent rain
12.0 mm / 24 h
Climbing-window rain
7.8 mm
Face wind / gust
15 / 26 mph
Above-crag gust
36 mph
Best drying window
No clear drying window
Greasy-rock risk
High
Midge risk at belays
Low · 2/100

Experimental wind estimate: Shelter at individual holds and belays is unresolved. Strong gusts may differ substantially; summit-station validation does not establish crag-level accuracy.

Wind: The mapped crag point does not resolve the cliff face, so shelter on the climb is uncertain. Open ground above may be more exposed, with gusts around 36 mph.

Midges: Few midges are expected on the face, though the most sheltered corners may differ. Recent rain should keep nearby breeding ground damp. The face breeze should suppress most activity during the climbing window. Cloudier conditions favour activity.

Wet or seeping sections are likely; choose another crag or wait for direct observations.

Did this match the crag?

A broad sector and surface report is enough; no route-level claim is needed.

PoorRain is likely to wet the crag during the climbing window.28/100
200 m · representative sector

Representative crag signal

28/100

Rain is likely to wet the crag during the climbing window.

Rock surface
Wet or seeping
Recent rain
12.7 mm / 24 h
Climbing-window rain
1.3 mm
Face wind / gust
10 / 15 mph
Above-crag gust
20 mph
Best drying window
No clear drying window
Greasy-rock risk
High
Midge risk at belays
Low · 10/100

Experimental wind estimate: Shelter at individual holds and belays is unresolved. Strong gusts may differ substantially; summit-station validation does not establish crag-level accuracy.

Wind: The mapped crag point does not resolve the cliff face, so shelter on the climb is uncertain. Open ground above may be more exposed, with gusts around 20 mph.

Midges: Few midges are expected on the face, though the most sheltered corners may differ. Recent rain should keep nearby breeding ground damp. The face breeze should suppress most activity during the climbing window. Cloudier conditions favour activity.

Wet or seeping sections are likely; choose another crag or wait for direct observations.

Did this match the crag?

A broad sector and surface report is enough; no route-level claim is needed.

PoorRain is likely to wet the crag during the climbing window.26/100
200 m · representative sector

Representative crag signal

26/100

Rain is likely to wet the crag during the climbing window.

Rock surface
Wet or seeping
Recent rain
4.5 mm / 24 h
Climbing-window rain
3.4 mm
Face wind / gust
12 / 22 mph
Above-crag gust
30 mph
Best drying window
No clear drying window
Greasy-rock risk
High
Midge risk at belays
Low · 11/100

Experimental wind estimate: Shelter at individual holds and belays is unresolved. Strong gusts may differ substantially; summit-station validation does not establish crag-level accuracy.

Wind: The mapped crag point does not resolve the cliff face, so shelter on the climb is uncertain. Open ground above may be more exposed, with gusts around 30 mph.

Midges: Few midges are expected on the face, though the most sheltered corners may differ. Recent rain should keep nearby breeding ground damp. The face breeze should suppress most activity during the climbing window. Cloudier conditions favour activity.

Wet or seeping sections are likely; choose another crag or wait for direct observations.

Did this match the crag?

A broad sector and surface report is enough; no route-level claim is needed.

PoorRain is likely to wet the crag during the climbing window.9/100
200 m · representative sector

Representative crag signal

9/100

Rain is likely to wet the crag during the climbing window.

Rock surface
Wet or seeping
Recent rain
10.9 mm / 24 h
Climbing-window rain
12.0 mm
Face wind / gust
18 / 28 mph
Above-crag gust
38 mph
Best drying window
No clear drying window
Greasy-rock risk
High
Midge risk at belays
Low · 1/100

Experimental wind estimate: Shelter at individual holds and belays is unresolved. Strong gusts may differ substantially; summit-station validation does not establish crag-level accuracy.

Wind: The mapped crag point does not resolve the cliff face, so shelter on the climb is uncertain. Open ground above may be more exposed, with gusts around 38 mph.

Midges: Few midges are expected on the face, though the most sheltered corners may differ. Recent rain should keep nearby breeding ground damp. The face breeze should suppress most activity during the climbing window. Cloudier conditions favour activity.

Wet or seeping sections are likely; choose another crag or wait for direct observations.

Did this match the crag?

A broad sector and surface report is enough; no route-level claim is needed.

PoorRain is likely to wet the crag during the climbing window.23/100
200 m · representative sector

Representative crag signal

23/100

Rain is likely to wet the crag during the climbing window.

Rock surface
Wet or seeping
Recent rain
12.0 mm / 24 h
Climbing-window rain
4.5 mm
Face wind / gust
5 / 13 mph
Above-crag gust
18 mph
Best drying window
No clear drying window
Greasy-rock risk
High
Midge risk at belays
Possible · 23/100

Experimental wind estimate: Shelter at individual holds and belays is unresolved. Strong gusts may differ substantially; summit-station validation does not establish crag-level accuracy.

Wind: The mapped crag point does not resolve the cliff face, so shelter on the climb is uncertain. Open ground above may be more exposed, with gusts around 18 mph.

Midges: Midges are possible at sheltered belays when the breeze drops. Recent rain should keep nearby breeding ground damp. The face has light-wind spells when midges can remain active around stationary climbers. Cloudier conditions favour activity.

Wet or seeping sections are likely; choose another crag or wait for direct observations.

Did this match the crag?

A broad sector and surface report is enough; no route-level claim is needed.

Use it as a starting signal

Mica schist still needs an on-arrival check.

Climbing window: 08:00–18:00 local time. Rain is model-grid precipitation, including any snow as water equivalent; nearby crags can share it. Aspect and terrain refine wind and drying, not cliff-by-cliff rainfall or rain shadows.

Crag drying and sheltered-wind estimates are an unvalidated beta. Published summit checks are not a validation of low crags, woodland or individual belays.

The forecast combines recent and expected rain with broad drying, humidity, dew and wind signals. The climb and open ground above the crag are treated separately where the mapped face gives useful shelter context.

A complex of buttresses at different levels. The hillside generally faces south, but individual cliff aspects are not resolved by this point; no uniform south-facing cliff is assumed. Forecast-grid weather and representative sector geometry only. Check live access information and touch-test the rock before climbing.

Official access advice: Mountaineering Scotland. We link to the source without reproducing its access notes or restrictions. Check it before travel; no endorsement or partnership is implied.