Forecast confidence: Summit wind could be roughly 23-38 mph, which changes how difficult exposed walking may feel.
There could be a spate risk based on forecast rainfall. Burns and unbridged crossings may rise quickly. The heaviest rain is expected later in the day. Crossing risk is expected throughout the day, continuing overnight and easing after around 03:00 the following morning. Turn back if a crossing looks unsafe.
A rough, clagged-in day on Ben Nevis: summit wind broadly 20-35 mph, with gusts 40-50 mph during the evening (gale-force winds). The ground is likely to be wet after recent rain. There could be a spate risk based on forecast rainfall. Burns and unbridged crossings may rise quickly. Most likely from around 00:00 until around 03:00 the following day. Cloud base mostly around 1200–1500 m through daylight. Expect the top to stay in cloud for most or all of daylight, with no dependable break. Cloud height is close to summit level at times, so small local changes could put the top in or out of cloud. Cloud is likely to hang lowest on southwestern slopes; the northeastern side should see somewhat higher bases and better breaks. Very little direct sunshine is indicated; cloud is likely to remain extensive. A persistently wet day is possible, with around 10-20 mm indicated; local totals could vary considerably. Cold on top: air temperature broadly 2 to 6°C, feeling around -4 to 0°C in the wind - wrap up. Confidence moderate (Summit wind could be roughly 23-38 mph, which changes how difficult exposed walking may feel) - walker-height summit wind could reasonably be 23-38 mph, with gusts 32-53 mph. Cloud base is the least certain part of this - it could sit a couple of hundred metres either way, especially where it is close to summit level.
Sunshine and sky
Extensive cloud. Cloud is likely to remain extensive for much of the day.
These are direct modelled sunshine hours during daylight, not the probability of sunshine. Cloud cover and summit cloud are assessed separately in the forecast above. Local hill cloud can still make an individual summit brighter or duller than the surrounding model grid.
Overnight · 6 p.m.–9 a.m.Wild campingBetaGusts near 60 mph make meaningful shelter important. 39/100Poor · 600 m View detailsHide details
Full overnight outlook
Open-hillside camping looks poor overall around 600 m (39/100). A lower pitch near 300 m looks more comfortable; conditions are less suitable by 900 m. Open-ground gusts may reach about 60 mph, making exposed pitches a poor choice. Peak gusts increase from about 45 mph at 300 m to 60 mph at 900 m. A wet night is likely, with roughly 15.5 mm and rain liable to affect both pitching and packing up. Condensation risk is high across the modelled levels, so a wet pack-up is possible; ventilation will matter. The coldest temperature falls from about 9.8°C at 300 m to 6.8°C at 900 m.
Elevation reference (open ground)
- Wind / gust
- 24 / 44 mph
- Typical / low
- 10.3° / 9.8°C · several hours
- In cloud
- Unlikely
- Condensation
- High
- Wind / gust
- 28 / 53 mph
- Typical / low
- 9.3° / 8.7°C · much of the night
- In cloud
- Unlikely
- Condensation
- High
- Wind / gust
- 33 / 62 mph
- Typical / low
- 7.3° / 6.8°C · much of the night
- In cloud
- Unlikely
- Condensation
- High
Warmth planning: As a broad starting point, consider a 3-season bag with an ISO/EN comfort rating at or below about 6°C. Allow more margin if you sleep cold or expect fatigue, and use an adequate insulated mat. Dampness is possible, so keep the sleep system dry and ensure its insulation remains effective if damp.
Open-hillside reference. A sheltered pitch may be calmer; cols and ridges may be much windier. Tent design and the exact pitch still matter. Read about sleeping-bag comfort ratings, pitching in strong winds or using the wild-camping forecast.
Did this match your night?Share a quick observation to help improve this beta forecast.Give feedback
Daytime · exposed rockClimbing & scramblingBetaGusts near 45 mph increase the seriousness of exposed ground. 0/100Poor · Very poor View detailsHide details
Full climbing & scrambling outlook
Conditions for exposed scrambling look very poor (0/100). Rain during the useful part of the day is likely to leave rock wet and more slippery. The mapped summit rock is Hornblende-andesite lava (Ben Nevis Volcanic Formation). Often grippy when dry, but volcanic rocks vary widely; wet lichen, smooth holds and local seepage can still make them slippery. Representative samples along available mapped routes also include Leucomicrogranodiorite, Porphyritic granodiorite and 2 other mapped types, so rock character and wet-weather behaviour may change across the mountain. Gusts may reach about 45 mph; crosswinds can make exposed ridges substantially more serious. Cloud may also make route-finding and retreat harder.
Often grippy when dry, but volcanic rocks vary widely; wet lichen, smooth holds and local seepage can still make them slippery. Summit-point mapping plus representative BGS bedrock samples along available GPX routes. These are not continuous geological surveys; contacts, superficial deposits and the exposed rock on individual holds may differ.
5 rock types appear across the available route samples
The summit type remains the forecast's cautious rock-response reference. Other mapped types show where conditions may behave differently elsewhere on the mountain.
Often grippy when dry, but volcanic rocks vary widely; wet lichen, smooth holds and local seepage can still make them slippery.
BGS recordGenerally grippy when dry and often still positive when damp, but wet slabs, lichen, polish and drainage lines can remain slippery.
BGS recordGenerally grippy when dry and often still positive when damp, but wet slabs, lichen, polish and drainage lines can remain slippery.
BGS recordGenerally grippy when dry and often still positive when damp, but wet slabs, lichen, polish and drainage lines can remain slippery.
BGS recordGenerally grippy when dry and often still positive when damp, but wet slabs, lichen, polish and drainage lines can remain slippery.
BGS recordSee sampled routes
Ben Nevis174–1,341 m samplesHornblende-andesite lava · Leucomicrogranodiorite · Lamprophyre · Microgabbro
Càrn Mòr Dearg and Ben Nevis393–1,343 m samplesHornblende-andesite lava · Leucomicrogranodiorite · Porphyritic granodiorite
Generic exposed scrambling terrain; mapped summit-point bedrock is included where available, but route grade, exact rock, polish, drainage and escape options remain unresolved. Contains British Geological Survey materials © UKRI 2026. How to use the climbing and scrambling forecast.
