Stob a' Choire Mheadhoin weather forecast.

1,106 m summit in Lochaber. 7 forecast days covering wind, cloud, rain and temperature, updated 10 November 2026 at 16:25 UTC.

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Confidence: Medium
Overall hill weather86Excellent
Summit wind · 08:00-17:005-25 mph northwesterly Summit gusts · 08:00-17:0025-35 mph Feels like-12 to -8°C PrecipitationLittle or none Cloud-free summit estimate90% Freezing level600-900 m DaylightSunrise 07:49 · Sunset 16:15 · 8.4 hours daylight

The day on the hill

A fine day on Stob a' Choire Mheadhoin: dry and breezy, with clear tops for most of the day, though expect a bitter wind chill.

Wind

On the summit expect a north-westerly wind of around 5–15 mph first thing, rising to 20–30 mph by mid-afternoon, with gusts of 25–35 mph at the windiest. Lower down on the open hillside the wind will be light, under 10 mph. Gusts like that will be noticeable on ridges and open tops, and you will chill quickly when you stop.

Cloud and visibility

The tops are likely to stay mostly clear of cloud, though brief patches cannot be ruled out. The air should be clear, so expect far-reaching views as long as the tops stay clear.

Rain and ground

It should stay dry.

Warmth and kit

On the tops it will be around -4 to 0°C, feeling like -12 to -8°C in the wind. The freezing level is around 700–1000 m, so it will be below freezing on the tops. Hat, gloves and a warm insulated layer are essential, with extra warmth for stops.

Daylight

A short day, with only about 8 hours of daylight. Sunset is around 4:15pm, so allow time to get off the hill before dark, and carry a head torch.

Forecast confidence

There is some disagreement between forecast models on wind strength. Things could still change through the day, so keep an eye on the sky.

Sunshine context Model-grid estimate, not summit sunshine

The surrounding model grid indicates 5.2 h of sunshine. This is not a forecast of time in sunshine on the summit. Use the cloud and views outlook above for the conditions on this mountain.

Early
1.2 h
Midday
3 h
Later
0 h

Overnight forecast: 17:00–08:00 (UK local time), in Wild camping below.

Morning · 08:00–12:00 Excellent Summit winds around 5-15 mph. Gusts around 10-20 mph are possible on exposed ground.
95
Afternoon · 12:00–17:00 Good Winds strengthen compared with the morning. Summit winds around 10-20 mph in the early afternoon, strengthening to 20-30 mph later. Gusts around 25-35 mph are possible on exposed ground.
77

Compare an early start with later conditions. The main forecast above covers the day in more detail.

Overnight · 17:00–08:00Wild campingBetaToo windy for an exposed pitch up around 900 m (gusts of about 45 mph and a frost, down to -3°C). Lower down, a poor night to camp on open ground. 39Poor · 600 m View detailsHide details
Night beginning Wednesday 11 November 2026

Full overnight outlook

Too windy for an exposed pitch up around 900 m. Lower down, a poor night to camp on open ground. Gusts reach about 45 mph around 900 m and nearer 30 mph around 300 m, enough to damage a tent on open ground. Pitch low down and in real shelter, or leave it for another night. It should stay dry. Up around 900 m you'd likely be in cloud for part of the night: damp, and hard to find your way if you need to move. A frost at every height we checked (300-900 m), down to about -3°C. A warm 3-season or 3–4 season bag rated to about -4°C comfort, and a warm mat, should do. Allow more if you sleep cold.

Overnight rain0.2 mm Open ground · 600 m25 mph · gusts 39 mph Morning pack-upDampness possible Sleeping-bag warmthISO comfort rating about -4°C or lower
300 m39 · poor
Wind / gust
21 mph / 32 mph
Typical / low
-0.2°C / -0.6°C · much of the night
In cloud
0% of modelled night
Condensation
Low
600 m39 · poor
Wind / gust
25 mph / 39 mph
Typical / low
-0.8°C / -1.4°C · much of the night
In cloud
13% of modelled night
Condensation
Moderate
900 m19 · very poor
Wind / gust
29 mph / 45 mph
Typical / low
-2.9°C / -3.3°C · much of the night
In cloud
40% of modelled night
Condensation
Moderate

Warmth planning: As a broad starting point, consider a warm 3-season or 3–4 season bag with an ISO/EN comfort rating at or below about -4°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

Approximate height is enough, please do not share an exact wild-camp location.

Daytime · exposed rockClimbing & scramblingBetaFair conditions for exposed scrambling: gusts of 25–35 mph. Mixed67 View detailsHide details
Generic exposed-rock guidance

Full climbing & scrambling outlook

Fair conditions for exposed scrambling. The rock should be mostly dry, though drainage lines and shaded holds may still be damp. Gusts of 25–35 mph could throw you off balance on exposed moves and ridges. The rock changes around the summit, with diorite, schist and quartzite, so its grip and soundness vary as you go. Diorite is a hard, crystalline rock. It grips well when dry and is fair when wet. It is generally solid, though cracked into blocks along its joints. Schist is a flaky, mica-rich rock that splits into layers. It has only fair grip when dry and is slippery when wet, as the mica gives it a greasy sheen. It splits easily along its layers, so flakes and ledges can be loose, and it is often grassy and vegetated. On the usual routes up you may also cross quartzite, which grips well when dry and is notoriously slippery when wet. These are general notes for each rock type, taken from geological maps around the summit, so the rock on your line may differ.

Rock surfaceProbably dryPeak gust25-35 mphRain0.0 mm
Main concerngusts of 25–35 mph
Mixed mapped rock around the summit Mixed mapped bedrock
Mapping
BGS Geology 50K · 1:50,000
Summit area
No single rock family dominates 17 BGS samples within 350 m
Summit pin
Porphyritic microdiorite (Etive Dyke Swarm)
Rock-response profile
Low confidence

The rock changes around the summit, with diorite, schist and quartzite, so its grip and soundness vary as you go. The rock changes over short distances here, so check it directly before you commit to a move. Lichen, vegetation and seepage also change how it feels underfoot.

Rock groups along the sampled routes

These are mapped rock groups, not separate weather forecasts or a ranking of route safety.

Stob a' Choire Mheadhoin and Stob Coire Easain

psammite, pelite or semipelite, quartzite, granite, gneiss or gabbro

Geological detail and BGS records
Mapped variation

5 rock types appear in the mapped samples

No single rock family dominates the summit-area samples, so the forecast uses cautious mixed-rock guidance. The summit pin is shown separately and may not represent nearby crags. Route samples add context where available.

Summit-area sample Porphyritic microdiorite Etive Dyke Swarm Around 888 m Seen on Stob a' Choire Mheadhoin and Stob Coire Easain

Diorite is a hard, crystalline rock. It grips well when dry and is fair when wet. It is generally solid, though cracked into blocks along its joints.

BGS record
Summit-area sample Pelite Loch Treig Schist And Quartzite Formation 566–998 m samples Seen on Stob a' Choire Mheadhoin and Stob Coire Easain

Schist is a flaky, mica-rich rock that splits into layers. It has only fair grip when dry and is slippery when wet, as the mica gives it a greasy sheen. It splits easily along its layers, so flakes and ledges can be loose, and it is often grassy and vegetated.

BGS record
Summit-area sample Quartzite Stob Quartzite Member Around 1,106 m Seen on Stob a' Choire Mheadhoin and Stob Coire Easain

Quartzite is a very hard rock made almost entirely of quartz. It grips well when dry and is notoriously slippery when wet. It splits into sharp, angular blocks, so expect loose scree and boulder fields, and edges that can cut gloves and hands.

BGS record
Summit-area sample Pelite and calcsilicate-rock Leven Schist Formation

Schist is a flaky, mica-rich rock that splits into layers. It has only fair grip when dry and is slippery when wet, as the mica gives it a greasy sheen. It splits easily along its layers, so flakes and ledges can be loose, and it is often grassy and vegetated.

Summit-area sample Mica schist Leven Schist Formation

Schist is a flaky, mica-rich rock that splits into layers. It has only fair grip when dry and is slippery when wet, as the mica gives it a greasy sheen. It splits easily along its layers, so flakes and ledges can be loose, and it is often grassy and vegetated.

Generic exposed scrambling terrain; BGS summit-area bedrock samples are 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.

Did this match your experience?Tell us about the rock surface and wind to help improve this beta forecast.Give feedback

A broad surface report is enough; you do not need to identify a particular route.

Overnight · Aurora, stars & meteorsAfter darkBetaSome forecasts show clear spells, others keep it cloudy; check again nearer the time. View forecastClose forecast

After dark: aurora and stargazing

Night beginning 2026-11-11. All times are UK local time.

A noticeable aurora display is unlikely; any glow may be faint or camera-only

A noticeable aurora display is unlikely here. Any glow may be faint or camera-only. Activity peaks around Kp 3.0 (on a 0 to 9 scale).

Activity can change at short notice. Check again on the night.

Stargazing

Good sky conditions during the best available spell: 12 Nov, 02:00 GMT to 03:00 GMT.

Some forecasts show clear spells, others keep it cloudy; check again nearer the time.

Moon-free dark sky: 11 Nov, 18:30 GMT to 12 Nov, 05:40 GMT.

Sky conditions through the night
Fully dark periods. Conditions can change between forecast hours.
TimeViewing conditions
11 Nov, 18:30 GMT to 19:00 GMTPoor sky conditions

Some forecasts show clear spells, others keep it cloudy; check again nearer the time.

Forecast models disagree.

11 Nov, 19:00 GMT to 20:00 GMTPoor sky conditions

Mostly cloudy, so little chance of seeing the stars. Hazy, which dims the fainter stars.

11 Nov, 20:00 GMT to 21:00 GMTMixed sky conditions

Some forecasts show clear spells, others keep it cloudy; check again nearer the time.

Forecast models disagree.

11 Nov, 21:00 GMT to 22:00 GMTPoor sky conditions

Mostly cloudy, so little chance of seeing the stars. Hazy, which dims the fainter stars.

11 Nov, 22:00 GMT to 23:00 GMTGood sky conditions

Forecasts disagree about rain or haze, so it could be murkier than this looks.

Forecast models disagree.

11 Nov, 23:00 GMT to 12 Nov, 00:00 GMTMixed sky conditions

Some forecasts show clear spells, others keep it cloudy; check again nearer the time.

Forecast models disagree.

12 Nov, 00:00 GMT to 01:00 GMTPoor sky conditions

Mostly cloudy, so little chance of seeing the stars.

12 Nov, 01:00 GMT to 02:00 GMTGood sky conditions

Some forecasts show clear spells, others keep it cloudy; check again nearer the time.

Forecast models disagree.

12 Nov, 02:00 GMT to 03:00 GMTGood sky conditions

Some forecasts show clear spells, others keep it cloudy; check again nearer the time.

Forecast models disagree.

12 Nov, 03:00 GMT to 04:00 GMTPoor sky conditions

Mostly cloudy, so little chance of seeing the stars. Hazy, which dims the fainter stars.

12 Nov, 04:00 GMT to 05:00 GMTPoor sky conditions

Mostly cloudy, so little chance of seeing the stars.

12 Nov, 05:00 GMT to 05:40 GMTPoor sky conditions

Some forecasts show clear spells, others keep it cloudy; check again nearer the time.

Forecast models disagree.

Moon, darkness and meteor showers

Crescent moon, about 7% illuminated.

Full darkness: 11 Nov, 18:30 GMT to 12 Nov, 05:40 GMT.

Moon times assume an open horizon. Hills can hide the Moon sooner. Moon-free does not mean cloud-free.

Southern Taurids are active on this night. Activity may be much lower away from the peak.

Northern Taurids are active on this night. Activity may be much lower away from the peak.

Leonids are active on this night. Activity may be much lower away from the peak.

  • Southern Taurids: peak around 10 October 2026.
  • Northern Taurids: peak around 12 November 2026.
  • Leonids: peak around 18 November 2026.
  • Geminids: peak around 14 December 2026.
  • Ursids: peak around 22 December 2026.

Dates from the Royal Observatory Greenwich. Activity dates do not guarantee visible meteors. Look across a broad, dark sky, not only north.

Darkness of the surroundings

Estimated darkness rank 229 of 980 assessed peaks (1 is darkest), based on surrounding artificial light in 2021. This is not a measurement of tonight’s sky.

2021 artificial-light baseline, not measured sky brightness or a Bortle class. Changes to lighting, blue-rich LEDs, terrain screening, atmospheric scattering and cloud-reflected light are not resolved. Similar ranks are not meaningfully distinct. Darkness is not a recommendation to climb a summit at night.

VIIRS nighttime lights: Earth Observation Group, Payne Institute for Public Policy, Colorado School of Mines. Reprocessed by OpenGeoHub/OpenLandMap. Cropped and ranked by Mountain Weather.

Sky-weather grades exclude light pollution, terrain and thin haze. They are not mountain safety ratings. Check the mountain and camping forecast separately. Accessible lower viewpoints may be a better choice than summits.

Explore the dedicated aurora forecast, meteor shower forecast or dark-sky and astrophotography forecast.

Recommended kit for this dayWeather-aware packing prompts, plus your core hillwalking kitView kit

For a day hillwalk, not a complete route-specific checklist. Carry navigation and backup you can use, warm and waterproof layers, suitable footwear, food and water, a headtorch, emergency shelter, first aid and a way to call for help. Snow, ice, technical terrain and overnight trips need additional equipment and skills.

Does the weather shape your plans?Optional hill-user research. One answer helps; further questions are up to you.Take part

Help the Mountain Decisions Project understand how forecasts influence hill days, including when plans stay the same. Findings will be shared publicly as summaries, not individual responses.

This is about Stob a' Choire Mheadhoin on Wednesday 11 November 2026. It asks about intentions, not whether you actually went out. No name or account is needed.

Open the questions to take part.

About the research and your privacy · Already been out? Share that experience instead

Confidence: Medium
Overall hill weather52Mixed
Summit wind · 08:00-17:0020-35 mph northerly Summit gusts · 08:00-17:0035-45 mph Feels like-16 to -12°C PrecipitationLittle or none Cloud-free summit estimate70% Cloud base through day600-1,700 m Freezing level400-600 m DaylightSunrise 07:52 · Sunset 16:13 · 8.3 hours daylight

The day on the hill

A mixed day on Stob a' Choire Mheadhoin, with a bitter wind chill and a blustery wind.

Wind

On the summit expect a northerly wind of 20–35 mph for most of the day, with gusts of 35–45 mph at the windiest. Lower down on the open hillside it will be more like 5–15 mph. Gusts like that are strong enough to make walking into it hard work, with buffeting on ridges and edges.

Cloud and visibility

Cloud on the tops early should lift off them by mid-morning. The cloud base could be as low as 500–800 m early in the morning. The air should be clear, so expect far-reaching views as long as the tops stay clear.

Rain and ground

It should stay dry.

Warmth and kit

On the tops it will be around -6 to -2°C, feeling like -16 to -12°C in the wind. The freezing level is around 500–800 m, so it will be below freezing on the tops. Hat, gloves and a warm insulated layer are essential, with extra warmth for stops.

Daylight

A short day, with only about 8 hours of daylight. Sunset is around 4:15pm, so allow time to get off the hill before dark, and carry a head torch.

Forecast confidence

There is some disagreement between forecast models on wind strength. Some of the detail could still change, so have a last look at the forecast in the morning before you set off.

Sunshine context Model-grid estimate, not summit sunshine

The surrounding model grid indicates 4.6 h of sunshine. This is not a forecast of time in sunshine on the summit. Use the cloud and views outlook above for the conditions on this mountain.

Early
Less than 1 hour
Midday
2.4 h
Later
0 h

Overnight forecast: 17:00–08:00 (UK local time), in Wild camping below.

Morning · 08:00–12:00 Poor Summit winds around 25-35 mph. Gusts around 35-45 mph are possible on exposed ground. Gusts this strong can make walking into it hard work, with buffeting on ridges and edges. Summit cloud is more persistent early in this period, with better prospects later.
44
Afternoon · 12:00–17:00 Mixed Summit winds around 20-30 mph. Gusts around 30-40 mph are possible on exposed ground. Summit cloud is more persistent early in this period, with better prospects later.
60

Compare an early start with later conditions. The main forecast above covers the day in more detail.

Overnight · 17:00–08:00Wild campingBetaA poor night to camp on open ground: a frost, down to -4°C. 39Poor · 600 m View detailsHide details
Night beginning Thursday 12 November 2026

Full overnight outlook

A poor night to camp on open ground. Gusts reach about 35 mph around 900 m and nearer 25 mph around 300 m, so peg out well and use the guylines. Look for shelter from the north. It should stay dry. A frost at every height we checked (300-900 m), down to about -4°C. A warm 3-season or 3–4 season bag rated to about -4°C comfort, and a warm mat, should do. Allow more if you sleep cold.

Overnight rain0.0 mm Open ground · 600 m17 mph · gusts 28 mph Morning pack-upNo wet signal Sleeping-bag warmthISO comfort rating about -4°C or lower

Moon overnight

Waxing crescent moon

Illuminated disc
13%
Moonrise
Outside this window
Moonset
17:10 GMT

Extensive cloud may limit moonlight. Illumination describes the sunlit part of the Moon, not brightness at your pitch.

Overnight window: 12 Nov, 17:00 GMT to 13 Nov, 08:00 GMT. Approximate open-horizon times; hills can hide the Moon. Still take a headtorch.

300 m39 · poor
Wind / gust
14 mph / 23 mph
Typical / low
-0.1°C / -0.7°C · much of the night
In cloud
0% of modelled night
Condensation
Low
600 m39 · poor
Wind / gust
17 mph / 28 mph
Typical / low
-0.7°C / -1.1°C · much of the night
In cloud
0% of modelled night
Condensation
Low
900 m39 · poor
Wind / gust
20 mph / 33 mph
Typical / low
-3.1°C / -3.5°C · much of the night
In cloud
0% of modelled night
Condensation
Low

Warmth planning: As a broad starting point, consider a warm 3-season or 3–4 season bag with an ISO/EN comfort rating at or below about -4°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

Approximate height is enough, please do not share an exact wild-camp location.

Daytime · exposed rockClimbing & scramblingBetaPoor conditions for exposed scrambling: gusts of 35–45 mph. Poor39 View detailsHide details
Generic exposed-rock guidance

Full climbing & scrambling outlook

Poor conditions for exposed scrambling. The rock should be mostly dry, though drainage lines and shaded holds may still be damp. Gusts of 35–45 mph could throw you off balance on exposed moves and ridges. Cloud on the tops may make route-finding and retreat harder. The rock changes around the summit, with diorite, schist and quartzite, so its grip and soundness vary as you go. Diorite is a hard, crystalline rock. It grips well when dry and is fair when wet. It is generally solid, though cracked into blocks along its joints. Schist is a flaky, mica-rich rock that splits into layers. It has only fair grip when dry and is slippery when wet, as the mica gives it a greasy sheen. It splits easily along its layers, so flakes and ledges can be loose, and it is often grassy and vegetated. On the usual routes up you may also cross quartzite, which grips well when dry and is notoriously slippery when wet. These are general notes for each rock type, taken from geological maps around the summit, so the rock on your line may differ.

Rock surfaceProbably dryPeak gust35-45 mphRain0.0 mm
Main concerngusts of 35–45 mph
Mixed mapped rock around the summit Mixed mapped bedrock
Mapping
BGS Geology 50K · 1:50,000
Summit area
No single rock family dominates 17 BGS samples within 350 m
Summit pin
Porphyritic microdiorite (Etive Dyke Swarm)
Rock-response profile
Low confidence

The rock changes around the summit, with diorite, schist and quartzite, so its grip and soundness vary as you go. The rock changes over short distances here, so check it directly before you commit to a move. Lichen, vegetation and seepage also change how it feels underfoot.

Rock groups along the sampled routes

These are mapped rock groups, not separate weather forecasts or a ranking of route safety.

Stob a' Choire Mheadhoin and Stob Coire Easain

psammite, pelite or semipelite, quartzite, granite, gneiss or gabbro

Geological detail and BGS records
Mapped variation

5 rock types appear in the mapped samples

No single rock family dominates the summit-area samples, so the forecast uses cautious mixed-rock guidance. The summit pin is shown separately and may not represent nearby crags. Route samples add context where available.

Summit-area sample Porphyritic microdiorite Etive Dyke Swarm Around 888 m Seen on Stob a' Choire Mheadhoin and Stob Coire Easain

Diorite is a hard, crystalline rock. It grips well when dry and is fair when wet. It is generally solid, though cracked into blocks along its joints.

BGS record
Summit-area sample Pelite Loch Treig Schist And Quartzite Formation 566–998 m samples Seen on Stob a' Choire Mheadhoin and Stob Coire Easain

Schist is a flaky, mica-rich rock that splits into layers. It has only fair grip when dry and is slippery when wet, as the mica gives it a greasy sheen. It splits easily along its layers, so flakes and ledges can be loose, and it is often grassy and vegetated.

BGS record
Summit-area sample Quartzite Stob Quartzite Member Around 1,106 m Seen on Stob a' Choire Mheadhoin and Stob Coire Easain

Quartzite is a very hard rock made almost entirely of quartz. It grips well when dry and is notoriously slippery when wet. It splits into sharp, angular blocks, so expect loose scree and boulder fields, and edges that can cut gloves and hands.

BGS record
Summit-area sample Pelite and calcsilicate-rock Leven Schist Formation

Schist is a flaky, mica-rich rock that splits into layers. It has only fair grip when dry and is slippery when wet, as the mica gives it a greasy sheen. It splits easily along its layers, so flakes and ledges can be loose, and it is often grassy and vegetated.

Summit-area sample Mica schist Leven Schist Formation

Schist is a flaky, mica-rich rock that splits into layers. It has only fair grip when dry and is slippery when wet, as the mica gives it a greasy sheen. It splits easily along its layers, so flakes and ledges can be loose, and it is often grassy and vegetated.

Generic exposed scrambling terrain; BGS summit-area bedrock samples are 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.

Did this match your experience?Tell us about the rock surface and wind to help improve this beta forecast.Give feedback

A broad surface report is enough; you do not need to identify a particular route.

Overnight · Aurora, stars & meteorsAfter darkBetaSome forecasts show clear spells, others keep it cloudy; check again nearer the time. View forecastClose forecast

After dark: aurora and stargazing

Night beginning 2026-11-12. All times are UK local time.

Aurora is unlikely on this night

Too quiet for a likely sighting from here. Activity peaks around Kp 2.0 (on a 0 to 9 scale). It would take about Kp 3.7 for a camera to pick up a glow low in the north, though that is not a hard line.

Activity can change at short notice. Check again on the night.

Stargazing

Mixed sky conditions during the best available spell: 12 Nov, 19:00 GMT to 20:00 GMT.

Some forecasts show clear spells, others keep it cloudy; check again nearer the time.

Moon-free dark sky: 12 Nov, 18:25 GMT to 13 Nov, 05:40 GMT.

Sky conditions through the night
Fully dark periods. Conditions can change between forecast hours.
TimeViewing conditions
12 Nov, 18:25 GMT to 19:00 GMTMixed sky conditions

Some forecasts show clear spells, others keep it cloudy; check again nearer the time.

Forecast models disagree.

12 Nov, 19:00 GMT to 20:00 GMTMixed sky conditions

Some forecasts show clear spells, others keep it cloudy; check again nearer the time.

Forecast models disagree.

12 Nov, 20:00 GMT to 21:00 GMTPoor sky conditions

Some forecasts show clear spells, others keep it cloudy; check again nearer the time.

Forecast models disagree.

12 Nov, 21:00 GMT to 22:00 GMTPoor sky conditions

Mostly cloudy, so little chance of seeing the stars.

12 Nov, 22:00 GMT to 23:00 GMTPoor sky conditions

Some forecasts show clear spells, others keep it cloudy; check again nearer the time.

Forecast models disagree.

12 Nov, 23:00 GMT to 13 Nov, 00:00 GMTPoor sky conditions

Mostly cloudy, so little chance of seeing the stars.

13 Nov, 00:00 GMT to 01:00 GMTPoor sky conditions

Mostly cloudy, so little chance of seeing the stars.

13 Nov, 01:00 GMT to 02:00 GMTPoor sky conditions

Mostly cloudy, so little chance of seeing the stars.

13 Nov, 02:00 GMT to 03:00 GMTPoor sky conditions

Mostly cloudy, so little chance of seeing the stars.

13 Nov, 03:00 GMT to 04:00 GMTPoor sky conditions

Mostly cloudy, so little chance of seeing the stars.

13 Nov, 04:00 GMT to 05:00 GMTPoor sky conditions

Mostly cloudy, so little chance of seeing the stars.

13 Nov, 05:00 GMT to 05:40 GMTPoor sky conditions

Mostly cloudy, so little chance of seeing the stars.

Moon, darkness and meteor showers

Crescent moon, about 13% illuminated.

Full darkness: 12 Nov, 18:25 GMT to 13 Nov, 05:40 GMT.

Moon times assume an open horizon. Hills can hide the Moon sooner. Moon-free does not mean cloud-free.

Southern Taurids are active on this night. Activity may be much lower away from the peak.

Northern Taurids are active on this night. Activity may be much lower away from the peak.

Leonids are active on this night. Activity may be much lower away from the peak.

  • Southern Taurids: peak around 10 October 2026.
  • Northern Taurids: peak around 12 November 2026.
  • Leonids: peak around 18 November 2026.
  • Geminids: peak around 14 December 2026.
  • Ursids: peak around 22 December 2026.

Dates from the Royal Observatory Greenwich. Activity dates do not guarantee visible meteors. Look across a broad, dark sky, not only north.

Darkness of the surroundings

Estimated darkness rank 229 of 980 assessed peaks (1 is darkest), based on surrounding artificial light in 2021. This is not a measurement of tonight’s sky.

2021 artificial-light baseline, not measured sky brightness or a Bortle class. Changes to lighting, blue-rich LEDs, terrain screening, atmospheric scattering and cloud-reflected light are not resolved. Similar ranks are not meaningfully distinct. Darkness is not a recommendation to climb a summit at night.

VIIRS nighttime lights: Earth Observation Group, Payne Institute for Public Policy, Colorado School of Mines. Reprocessed by OpenGeoHub/OpenLandMap. Cropped and ranked by Mountain Weather.

Sky-weather grades exclude light pollution, terrain and thin haze. They are not mountain safety ratings. Check the mountain and camping forecast separately. Accessible lower viewpoints may be a better choice than summits.

Explore the dedicated aurora forecast, meteor shower forecast or dark-sky and astrophotography forecast.

Recommended kit for this dayWeather-aware packing prompts, plus your core hillwalking kitView kit

For a day hillwalk, not a complete route-specific checklist. Carry navigation and backup you can use, warm and waterproof layers, suitable footwear, food and water, a headtorch, emergency shelter, first aid and a way to call for help. Snow, ice, technical terrain and overnight trips need additional equipment and skills.

Does the weather shape your plans?Optional hill-user research. One answer helps; further questions are up to you.Take part

Help the Mountain Decisions Project understand how forecasts influence hill days, including when plans stay the same. Findings will be shared publicly as summaries, not individual responses.

This is about Stob a' Choire Mheadhoin on Thursday 12 November 2026. It asks about intentions, not whether you actually went out. No name or account is needed.

Open the questions to take part.

About the research and your privacy · Already been out? Share that experience instead

Confidence: Low
Overall hill weather24Poor
Summit wind · 08:00-17:0020-35 mph westerly Summit gusts · 08:00-17:0035-45 mph Feels like-14 to -10°C PrecipitationAround 2-5 mm Cloud-free summit estimate20% Cloud base through day500-1,100 m Freezing level300-600 m DaylightSunrise 07:54 · Sunset 16:11 · 8.3 hours daylight

The day on the hill

A poor day on the tops of Stob a' Choire Mheadhoin, with snow on the tops and the summit in cloud for most of the day.

Snow and navigation

Snow is forecast on the tops during the morning and afternoon. The air freezing level is roughly 400 to 1100 m above sea level. Snow can fall below this, but its lower limit is uncertain. The forecast model suggests around 2 cm of fresh snowfall at around 1100 m between 08:00 and 17:00 (local time). The amount settling is uncertain and will vary with melting and drifting. There is a risk of blizzard conditions in the afternoon, when snow and strong winds coincide. Paths and footprints can quickly disappear beneath falling and blowing snow. Snow may collect in deeper drifts in hollows, behind boulders and on slopes sheltered from the wind. Exposed ground may be scoured while nearby drifts deepen. Wind-loaded slopes can also be avalanche terrain. Check the local avalanche forecast where one is available; this is not an assessment of slope stability.

Wind

On the summit expect a westerly wind of 20–35 mph for most of the day, with gusts of 35–45 mph at the windiest. Lower down on the open hillside the wind will be light, under 10 mph. Gusts like that are strong enough to make walking into it hard work, with buffeting on ridges and edges.

Cloud and visibility

Expect the summit to be in cloud for most of the day. The cloud base could be as low as 500–800 m in the early afternoon. In cloud you'll be finding your way without landmarks, so carry navigation you trust and know how to use, with a backup such as a spare battery or a map and compass. Any sunshine is more likely on lower ground than on the summit. Where snow covers the ground, the sky and hillside can merge into a featureless white view, making it difficult to judge slope or direction. Do not rely on following a visible path. Avoid exposed routes if you cannot navigate safely in these conditions, and turn back before visibility deteriorates.

Rain and ground

A band of snow moves in around midday. The timing could shift by a few hours.

Warmth and kit

On the tops it will be around -6 to -2°C, feeling like -14 to -10°C in the wind. The freezing level is around 400–700 m, so it will be below freezing on the tops. Hat, gloves and a warm insulated layer are essential, with extra warmth for stops. Pack waterproofs too, and keep a warm layer dry in your pack.

Daylight

A short day, with only about 8 hours of daylight. Sunset is around 4:10pm, so allow time to get off the hill before dark, and carry a head torch.

Forecast confidence

The forecast models disagree on how strong the wind will be, so it could be noticeably stronger than this. It's still two days off and could change, so check again nearer the time.

Sunshine context Model-grid estimate, not summit sunshine

The surrounding model grid indicates 5.2 h of sunshine. This is not a forecast of time in sunshine on the summit. Use the cloud and views outlook above for the conditions on this mountain.

Cloud may obscure this summit even while the surrounding model grid indicates sunshine. The low cloud-free summit estimate is a reason to be cautious about expecting views.

Early
2 h
Midday
2.3 h
Later
0 h

Overnight forecast: 17:00–08:00 (UK local time), in Wild camping below.

Morning · 08:00–12:00 Poor Summit winds around 20-30 mph. Gusts around 25-35 mph are possible on exposed ground. Rain is forecast during this period. Rain is possible during the main walking period, but its timing may shift by several hours.
33
Afternoon · 12:00–17:00 Poor Summit winds around 20-35 mph. Gusts around 35-45 mph are possible on exposed ground. Gusts this strong can make walking into it hard work, with buffeting on ridges and edges. Rain is forecast during this period. Rain is possible during the afternoon, but forecast models disagree on whether it will fall. Rain is possible during the main walking period, but its timing may shift by several hours.
14

Compare an early start with later conditions. The main forecast above covers the day in more detail.

Overnight · 17:00–08:00Wild campingBetaToo windy for an exposed pitch up around 900 m (gusts of about 45 mph and about 6 mm of rain). Lower down, a mixed night to camp, mainly because of the wind. 39Poor · 600 m View detailsHide details
Night beginning Friday 13 November 2026

Full overnight outlook

Too windy for an exposed pitch up around 900 m. Lower down, a mixed night to camp, mainly because of the wind. Gusts reach about 45 mph around 900 m and nearer 30 mph around 300 m, which makes for a noisy, testing night even in a good tent. Pitch low down and in real shelter, or leave it for another night. Expect about 6 mm of rain, with rain while you pitch and still falling when you pack up. Up around 900 m you'd likely be in cloud for part of the night: damp, and hard to find your way if you need to move. A cold night, down to about 0°C around 900 m. A warm 3-season or 3–4 season bag rated to about 0°C comfort, and a warm mat, should do. Allow more if you sleep cold.

Overnight rain6.4 mm Open ground · 600 m25 mph · gusts 34 mph Morning pack-upDampness possible Sleeping-bag warmthISO comfort rating about 0°C or lower

Moon overnight

Waxing crescent moon

Illuminated disc
20%
Moonrise
Outside this window
Moonset
18:15 GMT

Extensive cloud may limit moonlight. Illumination describes the sunlit part of the Moon, not brightness at your pitch.

Overnight window: 13 Nov, 17:00 GMT to 14 Nov, 08:00 GMT. Approximate open-horizon times; hills can hide the Moon. Still take a headtorch.

300 m51 · mixed
Wind / gust
21 mph / 28 mph
Typical / low
3.5°C / 3.0°C · much of the night
In cloud
0% of modelled night
Condensation
High
600 m39 · poor
Wind / gust
25 mph / 34 mph
Typical / low
3.1°C / 2.5°C · much of the night
In cloud
0% of modelled night
Condensation
High
900 m19 · very poor
Wind / gust
31 mph / 43 mph
Typical / low
1.0°C / 0.4°C · much of the night
In cloud
100% of modelled night
Condensation
High

Warmth planning: As a broad starting point, consider a warm 3-season or 3–4 season bag with an ISO/EN comfort rating at or below about 0°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

Approximate height is enough, please do not share an exact wild-camp location.

Daytime · exposed rockClimbing & scramblingBetaVery poor conditions for exposed scrambling: wet, slippery rock. Poor0 View detailsHide details
Generic exposed-rock guidance

Full climbing & scrambling outlook

Very poor conditions for exposed scrambling. The rock is likely to be wet and slippery through the day. Icy patches are likely on the rock, which makes it treacherous without winter kit. Gusts of 35–45 mph could throw you off balance on exposed moves and ridges. Cloud on the tops may make route-finding and retreat harder. The rock changes around the summit, with diorite, schist and quartzite, so its grip and soundness vary as you go. Diorite is a hard, crystalline rock. It grips well when dry and is fair when wet. It is generally solid, though cracked into blocks along its joints. Schist is a flaky, mica-rich rock that splits into layers. It has only fair grip when dry and is slippery when wet, as the mica gives it a greasy sheen. It splits easily along its layers, so flakes and ledges can be loose, and it is often grassy and vegetated. On the usual routes up you may also cross quartzite, which grips well when dry and is notoriously slippery when wet. These are general notes for each rock type, taken from geological maps around the summit, so the rock on your line may differ.

Rock surfaceWet rock likelyPeak gust35-45 mphRain2.7 mm
Main factorsgusts of 35–45 mphwet rock likelymuch of the route may be in cloud
Mixed mapped rock around the summit Mixed mapped bedrock
Mapping
BGS Geology 50K · 1:50,000
Summit area
No single rock family dominates 17 BGS samples within 350 m
Summit pin
Porphyritic microdiorite (Etive Dyke Swarm)
Rock-response profile
Low confidence

The rock changes around the summit, with diorite, schist and quartzite, so its grip and soundness vary as you go. The rock changes over short distances here, so check it directly before you commit to a move. Lichen, vegetation and seepage also change how it feels underfoot.

Rock groups along the sampled routes

These are mapped rock groups, not separate weather forecasts or a ranking of route safety.

Stob a' Choire Mheadhoin and Stob Coire Easain

psammite, pelite or semipelite, quartzite, granite, gneiss or gabbro

Geological detail and BGS records
Mapped variation

5 rock types appear in the mapped samples

No single rock family dominates the summit-area samples, so the forecast uses cautious mixed-rock guidance. The summit pin is shown separately and may not represent nearby crags. Route samples add context where available.

Summit-area sample Porphyritic microdiorite Etive Dyke Swarm Around 888 m Seen on Stob a' Choire Mheadhoin and Stob Coire Easain

Diorite is a hard, crystalline rock. It grips well when dry and is fair when wet. It is generally solid, though cracked into blocks along its joints.

BGS record
Summit-area sample Pelite Loch Treig Schist And Quartzite Formation 566–998 m samples Seen on Stob a' Choire Mheadhoin and Stob Coire Easain

Schist is a flaky, mica-rich rock that splits into layers. It has only fair grip when dry and is slippery when wet, as the mica gives it a greasy sheen. It splits easily along its layers, so flakes and ledges can be loose, and it is often grassy and vegetated.

BGS record
Summit-area sample Quartzite Stob Quartzite Member Around 1,106 m Seen on Stob a' Choire Mheadhoin and Stob Coire Easain

Quartzite is a very hard rock made almost entirely of quartz. It grips well when dry and is notoriously slippery when wet. It splits into sharp, angular blocks, so expect loose scree and boulder fields, and edges that can cut gloves and hands.

BGS record
Summit-area sample Pelite and calcsilicate-rock Leven Schist Formation

Schist is a flaky, mica-rich rock that splits into layers. It has only fair grip when dry and is slippery when wet, as the mica gives it a greasy sheen. It splits easily along its layers, so flakes and ledges can be loose, and it is often grassy and vegetated.

Summit-area sample Mica schist Leven Schist Formation

Schist is a flaky, mica-rich rock that splits into layers. It has only fair grip when dry and is slippery when wet, as the mica gives it a greasy sheen. It splits easily along its layers, so flakes and ledges can be loose, and it is often grassy and vegetated.

Generic exposed scrambling terrain; BGS summit-area bedrock samples are 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.

Did this match your experience?Tell us about the rock surface and wind to help improve this beta forecast.Give feedback

A broad surface report is enough; you do not need to identify a particular route.

Overnight · Aurora, stars & meteorsAfter darkBetaMostly cloudy, so little chance of seeing the stars. Rain at times. Hazy, which dims the fainter stars. View forecastClose forecast

After dark: aurora and stargazing

Night beginning 2026-11-13. All times are UK local time.

Aurora is unlikely on this night

Too quiet for a likely sighting from here. Activity peaks around Kp 1.7 (on a 0 to 9 scale). It would take about Kp 3.7 for a camera to pick up a glow low in the north, though that is not a hard line.

Activity can change at short notice. Check again on the night.

Stargazing

Poor sky conditions during the best available spell: 13 Nov, 22:00 GMT to 23:00 GMT.

Mostly cloudy, so little chance of seeing the stars. Rain at times. Hazy, which dims the fainter stars.

Moon-free dark sky: 13 Nov, 18:25 GMT to 14 Nov, 05:45 GMT.

Sky conditions through the night
Fully dark periods. Conditions can change between forecast hours.
TimeViewing conditions
13 Nov, 18:25 GMT to 19:00 GMTPoor sky conditions

Mostly cloudy, so little chance of seeing the stars. Rain at times. Hazy, which dims the fainter stars.

13 Nov, 19:00 GMT to 20:00 GMTPoor sky conditions

Mostly cloudy, so little chance of seeing the stars. Rain at times. Hazy, which dims the fainter stars.

13 Nov, 20:00 GMT to 21:00 GMTPoor sky conditions

Mostly cloudy, so little chance of seeing the stars. Rain at times. Hazy, which dims the fainter stars.

13 Nov, 21:00 GMT to 22:00 GMTPoor sky conditions

Mostly cloudy, so little chance of seeing the stars. Rain at times. Hazy, which dims the fainter stars.

13 Nov, 22:00 GMT to 23:00 GMTPoor sky conditions

Mostly cloudy, so little chance of seeing the stars. Rain at times. Hazy, which dims the fainter stars.

13 Nov, 23:00 GMT to 14 Nov, 00:00 GMTPoor sky conditions

Mostly cloudy, so little chance of seeing the stars. Rain at times. Hazy, which dims the fainter stars.

14 Nov, 00:00 GMT to 01:00 GMTPoor sky conditions

Mostly cloudy, so little chance of seeing the stars. Rain at times. Hazy, which dims the fainter stars.

14 Nov, 01:00 GMT to 02:00 GMTPoor sky conditions

Mostly cloudy, so little chance of seeing the stars. Rain at times. Hazy, which dims the fainter stars.

14 Nov, 02:00 GMT to 03:00 GMTPoor sky conditions

Mostly cloudy, so little chance of seeing the stars. Rain at times. Hazy, which dims the fainter stars.

14 Nov, 03:00 GMT to 04:00 GMTPoor sky conditions

Mostly cloudy, so little chance of seeing the stars. Rain at times. Hazy, which dims the fainter stars.

14 Nov, 04:00 GMT to 05:00 GMTPoor sky conditions

Mostly cloudy, so little chance of seeing the stars. Rain at times. Hazy, which dims the fainter stars.

14 Nov, 05:00 GMT to 05:45 GMTPoor sky conditions

Mostly cloudy, so little chance of seeing the stars. Rain at times. Hazy, which dims the fainter stars.

Moon, darkness and meteor showers

Crescent moon, about 20% illuminated.

Moonset around 13 Nov, 18:05 GMT.

Full darkness: 13 Nov, 18:25 GMT to 14 Nov, 05:45 GMT.

Moon times assume an open horizon. Hills can hide the Moon sooner. Moon-free does not mean cloud-free.

Southern Taurids are active on this night. Activity may be much lower away from the peak.

Northern Taurids are active on this night. Activity may be much lower away from the peak.

Leonids are active on this night. Activity may be much lower away from the peak.

  • Southern Taurids: peak around 10 October 2026.
  • Northern Taurids: peak around 12 November 2026.
  • Leonids: peak around 18 November 2026.
  • Geminids: peak around 14 December 2026.
  • Ursids: peak around 22 December 2026.

Dates from the Royal Observatory Greenwich. Activity dates do not guarantee visible meteors. Look across a broad, dark sky, not only north.

Darkness of the surroundings

Estimated darkness rank 229 of 980 assessed peaks (1 is darkest), based on surrounding artificial light in 2021. This is not a measurement of tonight’s sky.

2021 artificial-light baseline, not measured sky brightness or a Bortle class. Changes to lighting, blue-rich LEDs, terrain screening, atmospheric scattering and cloud-reflected light are not resolved. Similar ranks are not meaningfully distinct. Darkness is not a recommendation to climb a summit at night.

VIIRS nighttime lights: Earth Observation Group, Payne Institute for Public Policy, Colorado School of Mines. Reprocessed by OpenGeoHub/OpenLandMap. Cropped and ranked by Mountain Weather.

Sky-weather grades exclude light pollution, terrain and thin haze. They are not mountain safety ratings. Check the mountain and camping forecast separately. Accessible lower viewpoints may be a better choice than summits.

Explore the dedicated aurora forecast, meteor shower forecast or dark-sky and astrophotography forecast.

Recommended kit for this dayWeather-aware packing prompts, plus your core hillwalking kitView kit

For a day hillwalk, not a complete route-specific checklist. Carry navigation and backup you can use, warm and waterproof layers, suitable footwear, food and water, a headtorch, emergency shelter, first aid and a way to call for help. Snow, ice, technical terrain and overnight trips need additional equipment and skills.

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Help the Mountain Decisions Project understand how forecasts influence hill days, including when plans stay the same. Findings will be shared publicly as summaries, not individual responses.

This is about Stob a' Choire Mheadhoin on Friday 13 November 2026. It asks about intentions, not whether you actually went out. No name or account is needed.

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Confidence: Medium
Overall hill weather10Poor
Summit wind · 08:00-17:0020-35 mph westerly Summit gusts · 08:00-17:0035-45 mph Feels like-10 to -6°C PrecipitationAround 2-5 mm Cloud-free summit estimate15% Cloud base through day700-1,000 m Freezing level800-1,100 m DaylightSunrise 07:56 · Sunset 16:09 · 8.2 hours daylight

The day on the hill

A poor day on the tops of Stob a' Choire Mheadhoin, with sleet or snow on the tops and the summit in cloud for most of the day.

Snow and navigation

Sleet or snow is possible on the tops during the morning and afternoon, with small temperature changes affecting the mix. The air freezing level is roughly 900 to 1200 m above sea level. Snow can fall below this, but its lower limit is uncertain. The forecast model suggests less than 1 cm of fresh snowfall at around 1100 m between 08:00 and 17:00 (local time). The amount settling is uncertain and will vary with melting and drifting. There is a risk of blizzard conditions in the afternoon, when snow and strong winds coincide. Paths and footprints can quickly disappear beneath falling and blowing snow. Snow may collect in deeper drifts in hollows, behind boulders and on slopes sheltered from the wind. Exposed ground may be scoured while nearby drifts deepen. Wind-loaded slopes can also be avalanche terrain. Check the local avalanche forecast where one is available; this is not an assessment of slope stability.

Wind

On the summit expect a westerly wind of 20–35 mph for most of the day, with gusts of 35–45 mph at the windiest. Lower down on the open hillside it will be more like 5–15 mph. Gusts like that are strong enough to make walking into it hard work, with buffeting on ridges and edges.

Cloud and visibility

Expect the summit to be in cloud for most of the day. The cloud base could be as low as 600–900 m mid-afternoon. In cloud you'll be finding your way without landmarks, so carry navigation you trust and know how to use, with a backup such as a spare battery or a map and compass. Any sunshine is more likely on lower ground than on the summit. Where snow covers the ground, the sky and hillside can merge into a featureless white view, making it difficult to judge slope or direction. Do not rely on following a visible path. Avoid exposed routes if you cannot navigate safely in these conditions, and turn back before visibility deteriorates.

Rain and ground

Sleet and snow for much of the day. Some forecast models keep it drier in the morning.

Warmth and kit

On the tops it will be around -2 to 2°C, feeling like -10 to -6°C in the wind. The freezing level is close to summit height. Take a hat, gloves, a windproof and a spare warm layer. Pack waterproofs too, and keep a warm layer dry in your pack.

Daylight

A short day, with only about 8 hours of daylight. Sunset is around 4:10pm, so allow time to get off the hill before dark, and carry a head torch.

Forecast confidence

There is some disagreement between forecast models on wind strength. It's still three days off and could change, so check again nearer the time.

Sunshine context Model-grid estimate, not summit sunshine

The surrounding model grid indicates 6.4 h of sunshine. This is not a forecast of time in sunshine on the summit. Use the cloud and views outlook above for the conditions on this mountain.

Cloud may obscure this summit even while the surrounding model grid indicates sunshine. The low cloud-free summit estimate is a reason to be cautious about expecting views.

Early
1.3 h
Midday
3.7 h
Later
0 h

Overnight forecast: 17:00–08:00 (UK local time), in Wild camping below.

Morning · 08:00–12:00 Poor Summit winds around 25-35 mph. Gusts around 35-45 mph are possible on exposed ground. Gusts this strong can make walking into it hard work, with buffeting on ridges and edges. Rain is forecast during this period. Rain is possible during the morning, but forecast models disagree on whether it will fall.
10
Afternoon · 12:00–17:00 Poor Summit winds around 20-30 mph. Gusts around 30-40 mph are possible on exposed ground. Gusts this strong can make walking into it hard work, with buffeting on ridges and edges. Rain is forecast during this period. Rain is possible during the afternoon, but forecast models disagree on whether it will fall.
9

Compare an early start with later conditions. The main forecast above covers the day in more detail.

Overnight · 17:00–08:00Wild campingBetaA mixed night to camp, mainly because of the wind: about 4 mm of rain. 49Poor · 600 m View detailsHide details
Night beginning Saturday 14 November 2026

Full overnight outlook

A mixed night to camp, mainly because of the wind. Gusts reach about 35 mph around 900 m and nearer 20 mph around 300 m, so peg out well and use the guylines. Look for shelter from the west. Expect about 4 mm of rain, with rain while you pitch and still falling when you pack up. Above about 600 m you'd likely be in cloud for part of the night: damp, and hard to find your way if you need to move. A cold night, down to about 1°C around 900 m. A warm 3-season or 3–4 season bag rated to about 0°C comfort, and a warm mat, should do. Allow more if you sleep cold.

Overnight rain3.6 mm Open ground · 600 m17 mph · gusts 27 mph Morning pack-upDampness possible Sleeping-bag warmthISO comfort rating about 0°C or lower

Moon overnight

Waxing crescent moon

Illuminated disc
27%
Moonrise
Outside this window
Moonset
19:31 GMT

Extensive cloud may limit moonlight. Illumination describes the sunlit part of the Moon, not brightness at your pitch.

Overnight window: 14 Nov, 17:00 GMT to 15 Nov, 08:00 GMT. Approximate open-horizon times; hills can hide the Moon. Still take a headtorch.

300 m56 · mixed
Wind / gust
14 mph / 22 mph
Typical / low
3.5°C / 3.2°C · much of the night
In cloud
0% of modelled night
Condensation
High
600 m49 · mixed
Wind / gust
17 mph / 27 mph
Typical / low
2.9°C / 2.7°C · much of the night
In cloud
40% of modelled night
Condensation
High
900 m38 · poor
Wind / gust
22 mph / 33 mph
Typical / low
0.9°C / 0.7°C · much of the night
In cloud
100% of modelled night
Condensation
High

Warmth planning: As a broad starting point, consider a warm 3-season or 3–4 season bag with an ISO/EN comfort rating at or below about 0°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

Approximate height is enough, please do not share an exact wild-camp location.

Daytime · exposed rockClimbing & scramblingBetaVery poor conditions for exposed scrambling: wet, slippery rock. Poor0 View detailsHide details
Generic exposed-rock guidance

Full climbing & scrambling outlook

Very poor conditions for exposed scrambling. The rock is likely to be wet and slippery through the day. Icy patches are likely on the rock, which makes it treacherous without winter kit. Gusts of 35–45 mph could throw you off balance on exposed moves and ridges. Cloud on the tops may make route-finding and retreat harder. The rock changes around the summit, with diorite, schist and quartzite, so its grip and soundness vary as you go. Diorite is a hard, crystalline rock. It grips well when dry and is fair when wet. It is generally solid, though cracked into blocks along its joints. Schist is a flaky, mica-rich rock that splits into layers. It has only fair grip when dry and is slippery when wet, as the mica gives it a greasy sheen. It splits easily along its layers, so flakes and ledges can be loose, and it is often grassy and vegetated. On the usual routes up you may also cross quartzite, which grips well when dry and is notoriously slippery when wet. These are general notes for each rock type, taken from geological maps around the summit, so the rock on your line may differ.

Rock surfaceWet rock likelyPeak gust35-45 mphRain4.0 mm
Main factorsgusts of 35–45 mphwet rock likelymuch of the route may be in cloud
Mixed mapped rock around the summit Mixed mapped bedrock
Mapping
BGS Geology 50K · 1:50,000
Summit area
No single rock family dominates 17 BGS samples within 350 m
Summit pin
Porphyritic microdiorite (Etive Dyke Swarm)
Rock-response profile
Low confidence

The rock changes around the summit, with diorite, schist and quartzite, so its grip and soundness vary as you go. The rock changes over short distances here, so check it directly before you commit to a move. Lichen, vegetation and seepage also change how it feels underfoot.

Rock groups along the sampled routes

These are mapped rock groups, not separate weather forecasts or a ranking of route safety.

Stob a' Choire Mheadhoin and Stob Coire Easain

psammite, pelite or semipelite, quartzite, granite, gneiss or gabbro

Geological detail and BGS records
Mapped variation

5 rock types appear in the mapped samples

No single rock family dominates the summit-area samples, so the forecast uses cautious mixed-rock guidance. The summit pin is shown separately and may not represent nearby crags. Route samples add context where available.

Summit-area sample Porphyritic microdiorite Etive Dyke Swarm Around 888 m Seen on Stob a' Choire Mheadhoin and Stob Coire Easain

Diorite is a hard, crystalline rock. It grips well when dry and is fair when wet. It is generally solid, though cracked into blocks along its joints.

BGS record
Summit-area sample Pelite Loch Treig Schist And Quartzite Formation 566–998 m samples Seen on Stob a' Choire Mheadhoin and Stob Coire Easain

Schist is a flaky, mica-rich rock that splits into layers. It has only fair grip when dry and is slippery when wet, as the mica gives it a greasy sheen. It splits easily along its layers, so flakes and ledges can be loose, and it is often grassy and vegetated.

BGS record
Summit-area sample Quartzite Stob Quartzite Member Around 1,106 m Seen on Stob a' Choire Mheadhoin and Stob Coire Easain

Quartzite is a very hard rock made almost entirely of quartz. It grips well when dry and is notoriously slippery when wet. It splits into sharp, angular blocks, so expect loose scree and boulder fields, and edges that can cut gloves and hands.

BGS record
Summit-area sample Pelite and calcsilicate-rock Leven Schist Formation

Schist is a flaky, mica-rich rock that splits into layers. It has only fair grip when dry and is slippery when wet, as the mica gives it a greasy sheen. It splits easily along its layers, so flakes and ledges can be loose, and it is often grassy and vegetated.

Summit-area sample Mica schist Leven Schist Formation

Schist is a flaky, mica-rich rock that splits into layers. It has only fair grip when dry and is slippery when wet, as the mica gives it a greasy sheen. It splits easily along its layers, so flakes and ledges can be loose, and it is often grassy and vegetated.

Generic exposed scrambling terrain; BGS summit-area bedrock samples are 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.

Did this match your experience?Tell us about the rock surface and wind to help improve this beta forecast.Give feedback

A broad surface report is enough; you do not need to identify a particular route.

Overnight · Aurora, stars & meteorsAfter darkBetaMostly cloudy, so little chance of seeing the stars. Rain at times. Hazy, which dims the fainter stars. View forecastClose forecast

After dark: aurora and stargazing

Night beginning 2026-11-14. All times are UK local time.

Stargazing

Poor sky conditions during the best available spell: 14 Nov, 19:00 GMT to 20:00 GMT.

Mostly cloudy, so little chance of seeing the stars. Rain at times. Hazy, which dims the fainter stars.

Moon-free dark sky: 14 Nov, 19:25 GMT to 15 Nov, 05:45 GMT.

Sky conditions through the night
Fully dark periods. Conditions can change between forecast hours.
TimeViewing conditions
14 Nov, 18:25 GMT to 19:00 GMTPoor sky conditions

Mostly cloudy, so little chance of seeing the stars. Rain at times. Hazy, which dims the fainter stars.

14 Nov, 19:00 GMT to 20:00 GMTPoor sky conditions

Mostly cloudy, so little chance of seeing the stars. Rain at times. Hazy, which dims the fainter stars.

14 Nov, 20:00 GMT to 21:00 GMTPoor sky conditions

Mostly cloudy, so little chance of seeing the stars. Rain at times. Hazy, which dims the fainter stars.

14 Nov, 21:00 GMT to 22:00 GMTPoor sky conditions

Mostly cloudy, so little chance of seeing the stars. Hazy, which dims the fainter stars.

14 Nov, 22:00 GMT to 23:00 GMTPoor sky conditions

Mostly cloudy, so little chance of seeing the stars. Hazy, which dims the fainter stars.

14 Nov, 23:00 GMT to 15 Nov, 00:00 GMTPoor sky conditions

Mostly cloudy, so little chance of seeing the stars. Hazy, which dims the fainter stars.

15 Nov, 00:00 GMT to 01:00 GMTPoor sky conditions

Mostly cloudy, so little chance of seeing the stars. Hazy, which dims the fainter stars.

15 Nov, 01:00 GMT to 02:00 GMTPoor sky conditions

Mostly cloudy, so little chance of seeing the stars. Hazy, which dims the fainter stars.

15 Nov, 02:00 GMT to 03:00 GMTPoor sky conditions

Mostly cloudy, so little chance of seeing the stars. Hazy, which dims the fainter stars.

15 Nov, 03:00 GMT to 04:00 GMTPoor sky conditions

Mostly cloudy, so little chance of seeing the stars. Hazy, which dims the fainter stars.

15 Nov, 04:00 GMT to 05:00 GMTPoor sky conditions

Mostly cloudy, so little chance of seeing the stars. Hazy, which dims the fainter stars.

15 Nov, 05:00 GMT to 05:45 GMTPoor sky conditions

Mostly cloudy, so little chance of seeing the stars. Hazy, which dims the fainter stars.

Moon, darkness and meteor showers

Crescent moon, about 28% illuminated.

Moonset around 14 Nov, 19:25 GMT.

Full darkness: 14 Nov, 18:25 GMT to 15 Nov, 05:45 GMT.

Moon times assume an open horizon. Hills can hide the Moon sooner. Moon-free does not mean cloud-free.

Southern Taurids are active on this night. Activity may be much lower away from the peak.

Northern Taurids are active on this night. Activity may be much lower away from the peak.

Leonids are active on this night. Activity may be much lower away from the peak.

  • Southern Taurids: peak around 10 October 2026.
  • Northern Taurids: peak around 12 November 2026.
  • Leonids: peak around 18 November 2026.
  • Geminids: peak around 14 December 2026.
  • Ursids: peak around 22 December 2026.

Dates from the Royal Observatory Greenwich. Activity dates do not guarantee visible meteors. Look across a broad, dark sky, not only north.

Darkness of the surroundings

Estimated darkness rank 229 of 980 assessed peaks (1 is darkest), based on surrounding artificial light in 2021. This is not a measurement of tonight’s sky.

2021 artificial-light baseline, not measured sky brightness or a Bortle class. Changes to lighting, blue-rich LEDs, terrain screening, atmospheric scattering and cloud-reflected light are not resolved. Similar ranks are not meaningfully distinct. Darkness is not a recommendation to climb a summit at night.

VIIRS nighttime lights: Earth Observation Group, Payne Institute for Public Policy, Colorado School of Mines. Reprocessed by OpenGeoHub/OpenLandMap. Cropped and ranked by Mountain Weather.

Sky-weather grades exclude light pollution, terrain and thin haze. They are not mountain safety ratings. Check the mountain and camping forecast separately. Accessible lower viewpoints may be a better choice than summits.

Explore the dedicated aurora forecast, meteor shower forecast or dark-sky and astrophotography forecast.

Recommended kit for this dayWeather-aware packing prompts, plus your core hillwalking kitView kit

For a day hillwalk, not a complete route-specific checklist. Carry navigation and backup you can use, warm and waterproof layers, suitable footwear, food and water, a headtorch, emergency shelter, first aid and a way to call for help. Snow, ice, technical terrain and overnight trips need additional equipment and skills.

Does the weather shape your plans?Optional hill-user research. One answer helps; further questions are up to you.Take part

Help the Mountain Decisions Project understand how forecasts influence hill days, including when plans stay the same. Findings will be shared publicly as summaries, not individual responses.

This is about Stob a' Choire Mheadhoin on Saturday 14 November 2026. It asks about intentions, not whether you actually went out. No name or account is needed.

Open the questions to take part.

About the research and your privacy · Already been out? Share that experience instead

Confidence: Medium
Overall hill weather36Poor
Summit wind · 08:00-17:0010-20 mph southerly Summit gusts · 08:00-17:0015-25 mph Feels like-10 to -6°C PrecipitationAround 2-5 mm Cloud-free summit estimate25% Cloud base through day600-900 m Freezing level800-1,100 m DaylightSunrise 07:58 · Sunset 16:07 · 8.2 hours daylight

The day on the hill

A poor day on the tops of Stob a' Choire Mheadhoin, with snow on the tops and cloud coming and going on the summit.

Snow and navigation

Snow is forecast on the tops during the morning and afternoon. The air freezing level is roughly 900 to 1100 m above sea level. Snow can fall below this, but its lower limit is uncertain. The forecast model suggests around 3 cm of fresh snowfall at around 1100 m between 08:00 and 17:00 (local time). The amount settling is uncertain and will vary with melting and drifting. Blowing snow may quickly cover paths and footprints and make navigation difficult. Snow may collect in deeper drifts in hollows, behind boulders and on slopes sheltered from the wind. Exposed ground may be scoured while nearby drifts deepen. Wind-loaded slopes can also be avalanche terrain. Check the local avalanche forecast where one is available; this is not an assessment of slope stability.

Wind

On the summit expect a southerly wind of 10–20 mph for most of the day, with gusts of 15–25 mph at the windiest. Lower down on the open hillside the wind will be light, under 5 mph.

Cloud and visibility

Expect the summit to be in cloud for most of the day. The cloud base could be as low as 400–700 m early in the morning. In cloud you'll be finding your way without landmarks, so carry navigation you trust and know how to use, with a backup such as a spare battery or a map and compass. Any sunshine is more likely on lower ground than on the summit.

Rain and ground

Snow for much of the day. Some forecast models keep it drier in the morning.

Warmth and kit

On the tops it will be around -4 to 0°C, feeling like -10 to -6°C in the wind. The freezing level is around 900–1200 m, so it will be below freezing on the tops. Take a hat, gloves, a windproof and a spare warm layer. Pack waterproofs too, and keep a warm layer dry in your pack.

Daylight

A short day, with only about 8 hours of daylight. Sunset is around 4:05pm, so allow time to get off the hill before dark, and carry a head torch.

Forecast confidence

It's still four days off and could change, so check again nearer the time.

Sunshine context Model-grid estimate, not summit sunshine

The surrounding model grid indicates 5.7 h of sunshine. This is not a forecast of time in sunshine on the summit. Use the cloud and views outlook above for the conditions on this mountain.

Cloud may obscure this summit even while the surrounding model grid indicates sunshine. The low cloud-free summit estimate is a reason to be cautious about expecting views.

Early
1.9 h
Midday
2.7 h
Later
0 h

Overnight forecast: 17:00–08:00 (UK local time), in Wild camping below.

Morning · 08:00–12:00 Poor Summit winds around 10-20 mph. Gusts around 15-25 mph are possible on exposed ground. Rain is forecast during this period. Rain is possible during the morning, but forecast models disagree on whether it will fall.
32
Afternoon · 12:00–17:00 Poor Summit winds around 10-20 mph. Gusts around 15-25 mph are possible on exposed ground. Rain is forecast during this period. Rain is possible during the afternoon, but forecast models disagree on whether it will fall.
41

Compare an early start with later conditions. The main forecast above covers the day in more detail.

Overnight · 17:00–08:00Wild campingBetaA mixed night to camp, mainly because of damp air: a frost, down to 0°C. 59Mixed · 600 m View detailsHide details
Night beginning Sunday 15 November 2026

Full overnight outlook

A mixed night to camp, mainly because of damp air. Gusts reach about 30 mph on open ground, so peg out well and use the guylines. Look for shelter from the southeast. It should stay dry. Above about 600 m you'd likely be in cloud for part of the night: damp, and hard to find your way if you need to move. The air is damp above about 600 m, so expect heavy condensation. Leave the vents open. A frost up around 900 m, down to about 0°C. A warm 3-season or 3–4 season bag rated to about -2°C comfort, and a warm mat, should do. Allow more if you sleep cold.

Overnight rain0.0 mm Open ground · 600 m14 mph · gusts 25 mph Morning pack-upDampness possible Sleeping-bag warmthISO comfort rating about -2°C or lower

Moon overnight

Waxing crescent moon

Illuminated disc
36%
Moonrise
Outside this window
Moonset
20:52 GMT

Cloud at the reference camping height may hide the Moon. Illumination describes the sunlit part of the Moon, not brightness at your pitch.

Overnight window: 15 Nov, 17:00 GMT to 16 Nov, 08:00 GMT. Approximate open-horizon times; hills can hide the Moon. Still take a headtorch.

300 m59 · mixed
Wind / gust
12 mph / 21 mph
Typical / low
2.9°C / 2.7°C · much of the night
In cloud
0% of modelled night
Condensation
Moderate
600 m59 · mixed
Wind / gust
14 mph / 25 mph
Typical / low
2.0°C / 1.7°C · much of the night
In cloud
27% of modelled night
Condensation
High
900 m39 · poor
Wind / gust
17 mph / 29 mph
Typical / low
-0.2°C / -0.4°C · much of the night
In cloud
33% of modelled night
Condensation
High

Warmth planning: As a broad starting point, consider a warm 3-season or 3–4 season bag with an ISO/EN comfort rating at or below about -2°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

Approximate height is enough, please do not share an exact wild-camp location.

Daytime · exposed rockClimbing & scramblingBetaVery poor conditions for exposed scrambling: wet, slippery rock. Poor0 View detailsHide details
Generic exposed-rock guidance

Full climbing & scrambling outlook

Very poor conditions for exposed scrambling. The rock is likely to be wet and slippery through the day. Icy patches are likely on the rock, which makes it treacherous without winter kit. Cloud on the tops may make route-finding and retreat harder. The rock changes around the summit, with diorite, schist and quartzite, so its grip and soundness vary as you go. Diorite is a hard, crystalline rock. It grips well when dry and is fair when wet. It is generally solid, though cracked into blocks along its joints. Schist is a flaky, mica-rich rock that splits into layers. It has only fair grip when dry and is slippery when wet, as the mica gives it a greasy sheen. It splits easily along its layers, so flakes and ledges can be loose, and it is often grassy and vegetated. On the usual routes up you may also cross quartzite, which grips well when dry and is notoriously slippery when wet. These are general notes for each rock type, taken from geological maps around the summit, so the rock on your line may differ.

Rock surfaceWet rock likelyPeak gust15-25 mphRain3.8 mm
Main factorswet rock likelymuch of the route may be in cloudSnow is likely to be lying on high ground, with further snowfall possible during the day
Mixed mapped rock around the summit Mixed mapped bedrock
Mapping
BGS Geology 50K · 1:50,000
Summit area
No single rock family dominates 17 BGS samples within 350 m
Summit pin
Porphyritic microdiorite (Etive Dyke Swarm)
Rock-response profile
Low confidence

The rock changes around the summit, with diorite, schist and quartzite, so its grip and soundness vary as you go. The rock changes over short distances here, so check it directly before you commit to a move. Lichen, vegetation and seepage also change how it feels underfoot.

Rock groups along the sampled routes

These are mapped rock groups, not separate weather forecasts or a ranking of route safety.

Stob a' Choire Mheadhoin and Stob Coire Easain

psammite, pelite or semipelite, quartzite, granite, gneiss or gabbro

Geological detail and BGS records
Mapped variation

5 rock types appear in the mapped samples

No single rock family dominates the summit-area samples, so the forecast uses cautious mixed-rock guidance. The summit pin is shown separately and may not represent nearby crags. Route samples add context where available.

Summit-area sample Porphyritic microdiorite Etive Dyke Swarm Around 888 m Seen on Stob a' Choire Mheadhoin and Stob Coire Easain

Diorite is a hard, crystalline rock. It grips well when dry and is fair when wet. It is generally solid, though cracked into blocks along its joints.

BGS record
Summit-area sample Pelite Loch Treig Schist And Quartzite Formation 566–998 m samples Seen on Stob a' Choire Mheadhoin and Stob Coire Easain

Schist is a flaky, mica-rich rock that splits into layers. It has only fair grip when dry and is slippery when wet, as the mica gives it a greasy sheen. It splits easily along its layers, so flakes and ledges can be loose, and it is often grassy and vegetated.

BGS record
Summit-area sample Quartzite Stob Quartzite Member Around 1,106 m Seen on Stob a' Choire Mheadhoin and Stob Coire Easain

Quartzite is a very hard rock made almost entirely of quartz. It grips well when dry and is notoriously slippery when wet. It splits into sharp, angular blocks, so expect loose scree and boulder fields, and edges that can cut gloves and hands.

BGS record
Summit-area sample Pelite and calcsilicate-rock Leven Schist Formation

Schist is a flaky, mica-rich rock that splits into layers. It has only fair grip when dry and is slippery when wet, as the mica gives it a greasy sheen. It splits easily along its layers, so flakes and ledges can be loose, and it is often grassy and vegetated.

Summit-area sample Mica schist Leven Schist Formation

Schist is a flaky, mica-rich rock that splits into layers. It has only fair grip when dry and is slippery when wet, as the mica gives it a greasy sheen. It splits easily along its layers, so flakes and ledges can be loose, and it is often grassy and vegetated.

Generic exposed scrambling terrain; BGS summit-area bedrock samples are 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.

Did this match your experience?Tell us about the rock surface and wind to help improve this beta forecast.Give feedback

A broad surface report is enough; you do not need to identify a particular route.

Overnight · Aurora, stars & meteorsAfter darkBetaSome forecasts show clear spells, others keep it cloudy; check again nearer the time. View forecastClose forecast

After dark: aurora and stargazing

Night beginning 2026-11-15. All times are UK local time.

Aurora outlook

Nothing notable expected.

A broad activity outlook, not a forecast of a visible display. Cloud and activity can change before the night.

Stargazing

Mixed sky conditions during the best available spell: 16 Nov, 03:00 GMT to 04:00 GMT.

Some forecasts show clear spells, others keep it cloudy; check again nearer the time.

Moon-free dark sky: 15 Nov, 20:50 GMT to 16 Nov, 05:45 GMT.

Sky conditions through the night
Fully dark periods. Conditions can change between forecast hours.
TimeViewing conditions
15 Nov, 18:20 GMT to 19:00 GMTPoor sky conditions

Mostly cloudy, so little chance of seeing the stars.

15 Nov, 19:00 GMT to 20:00 GMTPoor sky conditions

Mostly cloudy, so little chance of seeing the stars.

15 Nov, 20:00 GMT to 21:00 GMTPoor sky conditions

Mostly cloudy, so little chance of seeing the stars. Hazy, which dims the fainter stars.

15 Nov, 21:00 GMT to 22:00 GMTPoor sky conditions

Mostly cloudy, so little chance of seeing the stars. Hazy, which dims the fainter stars.

15 Nov, 22:00 GMT to 23:00 GMTPoor sky conditions

Mostly cloudy, so little chance of seeing the stars.

15 Nov, 23:00 GMT to 16 Nov, 00:00 GMTPoor sky conditions

Mostly cloudy, so little chance of seeing the stars.

16 Nov, 00:00 GMT to 01:00 GMTPoor sky conditions

Mostly cloudy, so little chance of seeing the stars.

16 Nov, 01:00 GMT to 02:00 GMTPoor sky conditions

Mostly cloudy, so little chance of seeing the stars.

16 Nov, 02:00 GMT to 03:00 GMTMixed sky conditions

Mostly cloudy, so little chance of seeing the stars.

16 Nov, 03:00 GMT to 04:00 GMTMixed sky conditions

Some forecasts show clear spells, others keep it cloudy; check again nearer the time.

Forecast models disagree.

16 Nov, 04:00 GMT to 05:00 GMTMixed sky conditions

Some forecasts show clear spells, others keep it cloudy; check again nearer the time.

Forecast models disagree.

16 Nov, 05:00 GMT to 05:45 GMTPoor sky conditions

Mostly cloudy, so little chance of seeing the stars.

Moon, darkness and meteor showers

Crescent moon, about 36% illuminated.

Moonset around 15 Nov, 20:50 GMT.

Full darkness: 15 Nov, 18:20 GMT to 16 Nov, 05:45 GMT.

Moon times assume an open horizon. Hills can hide the Moon sooner. Moon-free does not mean cloud-free.

Southern Taurids are active on this night. Activity may be much lower away from the peak.

Northern Taurids are active on this night. Activity may be much lower away from the peak.

Leonids are active on this night. Activity may be much lower away from the peak.

  • Southern Taurids: peak around 10 October 2026.
  • Northern Taurids: peak around 12 November 2026.
  • Leonids: peak around 18 November 2026.
  • Geminids: peak around 14 December 2026.
  • Ursids: peak around 22 December 2026.

Dates from the Royal Observatory Greenwich. Activity dates do not guarantee visible meteors. Look across a broad, dark sky, not only north.

Darkness of the surroundings

Estimated darkness rank 229 of 980 assessed peaks (1 is darkest), based on surrounding artificial light in 2021. This is not a measurement of tonight’s sky.

2021 artificial-light baseline, not measured sky brightness or a Bortle class. Changes to lighting, blue-rich LEDs, terrain screening, atmospheric scattering and cloud-reflected light are not resolved. Similar ranks are not meaningfully distinct. Darkness is not a recommendation to climb a summit at night.

VIIRS nighttime lights: Earth Observation Group, Payne Institute for Public Policy, Colorado School of Mines. Reprocessed by OpenGeoHub/OpenLandMap. Cropped and ranked by Mountain Weather.

Sky-weather grades exclude light pollution, terrain and thin haze. They are not mountain safety ratings. Check the mountain and camping forecast separately. Accessible lower viewpoints may be a better choice than summits.

Explore the dedicated aurora forecast, meteor shower forecast or dark-sky and astrophotography forecast.

Recommended kit for this dayWeather-aware packing prompts, plus your core hillwalking kitView kit

For a day hillwalk, not a complete route-specific checklist. Carry navigation and backup you can use, warm and waterproof layers, suitable footwear, food and water, a headtorch, emergency shelter, first aid and a way to call for help. Snow, ice, technical terrain and overnight trips need additional equipment and skills.

Does the weather shape your plans?Optional hill-user research. One answer helps; further questions are up to you.Take part

Help the Mountain Decisions Project understand how forecasts influence hill days, including when plans stay the same. Findings will be shared publicly as summaries, not individual responses.

This is about Stob a' Choire Mheadhoin on Sunday 15 November 2026. It asks about intentions, not whether you actually went out. No name or account is needed.

Open the questions to take part.

About the research and your privacy · Already been out? Share that experience instead

Confidence: Unavailable
Overall hill weather38Poor
Summit wind · 08:00-17:0020-35 mph southeasterly Summit gusts · 08:00-17:0035-45 mph Feels like-12 to -8°C PrecipitationLittle or none Cloud-free summit estimate40% Cloud base through day700-1,600 m Freezing level800-1,100 m DaylightSunrise 08:00 · Sunset 16:05 · 8.1 hours daylight

The day on the hill

A poor day on the tops of Stob a' Choire Mheadhoin, with a blustery wind and cloud coming down onto the tops.

Wind

On the summit expect a south-easterly wind of 20–35 mph for most of the day, with gusts of 35–45 mph at the windiest. Lower down on the open hillside the wind will be light, under 10 mph. Gusts like that are strong enough to make walking into it hard work, with buffeting on ridges and edges. If the windier forecast models are right, summit gusts could reach 75–85 mph. It gets windier still after dark, with summit gusts of 40–50 mph, so bear that in mind if you will be out late.

Cloud and visibility

The tops start clear, but the cloud comes down onto them mid-morning. The cloud base could be as low as 600–900 m in the early afternoon. A few forecast models bring it lower still, to around 400–700 m. In cloud you'll be finding your way without landmarks, so carry navigation you trust and know how to use, with a backup such as a spare battery or a map and compass.

Rain and ground

Mostly dry, but some forecast models bring rain in the morning.

Warmth and kit

On the tops it will be around -4 to 0°C, feeling like -12 to -8°C in the wind. The freezing level is around 800–1100 m, so it will be below freezing on the tops. Take a hat, gloves, a windproof and a spare warm layer.

Daylight

A short day, with only about 8 hours of daylight. Sunset is around 4:05pm, so allow time to get off the hill before dark, and carry a head torch.

Forecast confidence

It's still five days off and could change, so check again nearer the time.

Sunshine context Model-grid estimate, not summit sunshine

The surrounding model grid indicates 4.6 h of sunshine. This is not a forecast of time in sunshine on the summit. Use the cloud and views outlook above for the conditions on this mountain.

Cloud may obscure this summit even while the surrounding model grid indicates sunshine. The low cloud-free summit estimate is a reason to be cautious about expecting views.

Early
0 h
Midday
3.4 h
Later
0 h

Overnight forecast: 17:00–08:00 (UK local time), in Wild camping below.

Morning · 08:00–12:00 Mixed Summit winds around 20-30 mph. Gusts around 30-40 mph are possible on exposed ground. Summit cloud becomes more persistent later. Some forecast models bring rain during the morning, while others keep it mostly dry.
55
Afternoon · 12:00–17:00 Poor Summit winds around 25-35 mph. Gusts around 35-45 mph are possible on exposed ground. Gusts this strong can make walking into it hard work, with buffeting on ridges and edges. Some forecast models bring rain during the afternoon, while others keep it mostly dry.
22

Compare an early start with later conditions. The main forecast above covers the day in more detail.

Overnight · 17:00–08:00Wild campingBetaNot a night to camp on the open hill: gusts of about 65 mph and around 10 mm of rain. 9Poor · 600 m View detailsHide details
Night beginning Monday 16 November 2026

Full overnight outlook

Not a night to camp on the open hill. Gusts reach about 65 mph around 900 m and nearer 45 mph around 300 m, strong enough to flatten or tear a tent. Don't count on finding shelter once you're up there. Choose another night or a low, sheltered spot. Expect a wet night, around 10 mm of rain, with rain while you pitch and still falling when you pack up. Above about 600 m you'd likely be in cloud for part of the night: damp, and hard to find your way if you need to move. A frost up around 900 m, down to about -1°C. A warm 3-season or 3–4 season bag rated to about -2°C comfort, and a warm mat, should do. Allow more if you sleep cold.

Overnight rain9.5 mm Open ground · 600 m34 mph · gusts 56 mph Morning pack-upDampness possible Sleeping-bag warmthISO comfort rating about -2°C or lower

Moon overnight

First-quarter moon

Illuminated disc
46%
Moonrise
Outside this window
Moonset
22:14 GMT

Extensive cloud may limit moonlight. Illumination describes the sunlit part of the Moon, not brightness at your pitch.

Overnight window: 16 Nov, 17:00 GMT to 17 Nov, 08:00 GMT. Approximate open-horizon times; hills can hide the Moon. Still take a headtorch.

300 m9 · very poor
Wind / gust
29 mph / 46 mph
Typical / low
4.0°C / 1.3°C · much of the night
In cloud
0% of modelled night
Condensation
High
600 m9 · very poor
Wind / gust
34 mph / 56 mph
Typical / low
1.8°C / 0.9°C · much of the night
In cloud
40% of modelled night
Condensation
High
900 m0 · very poor
Wind / gust
40 mph / 66 mph
Typical / low
0.5°C / -1.3°C · much of the night
In cloud
93% of modelled night
Condensation
High

Warmth planning: As a broad starting point, consider a warm 3-season or 3–4 season bag with an ISO/EN comfort rating at or below about -2°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

Approximate height is enough, please do not share an exact wild-camp location.

Daytime · exposed rockClimbing & scramblingBetaVery poor conditions for exposed scrambling. Poor0 View detailsHide details
Generic exposed-rock guidance

Full climbing & scrambling outlook

Very poor conditions for exposed scrambling. After recent rain the rock may still be wet in places, especially shaded holds and drainage lines. Icy patches are likely on the rock, which makes it treacherous without winter kit. Gusts of 35–45 mph could throw you off balance on exposed moves and ridges. Cloud on the tops may make route-finding and retreat harder. The rock changes around the summit, with diorite, schist and quartzite, so its grip and soundness vary as you go. Diorite is a hard, crystalline rock. It grips well when dry and is fair when wet. It is generally solid, though cracked into blocks along its joints. Schist is a flaky, mica-rich rock that splits into layers. It has only fair grip when dry and is slippery when wet, as the mica gives it a greasy sheen. It splits easily along its layers, so flakes and ledges can be loose, and it is often grassy and vegetated. On the usual routes up you may also cross quartzite, which grips well when dry and is notoriously slippery when wet. These are general notes for each rock type, taken from geological maps around the summit, so the rock on your line may differ.

Rock surfaceDry overhead; seepage uncertainPeak gust35-45 mphRain0.1 mm
Main factorsgusts of 35–45 mphdamp or incompletely dried rock possiblemuch of the route may be in cloud
Mixed mapped rock around the summit Mixed mapped bedrock
Mapping
BGS Geology 50K · 1:50,000
Summit area
No single rock family dominates 17 BGS samples within 350 m
Summit pin
Porphyritic microdiorite (Etive Dyke Swarm)
Rock-response profile
Low confidence

The rock changes around the summit, with diorite, schist and quartzite, so its grip and soundness vary as you go. The rock changes over short distances here, so check it directly before you commit to a move. Lichen, vegetation and seepage also change how it feels underfoot.

Rock groups along the sampled routes

These are mapped rock groups, not separate weather forecasts or a ranking of route safety.

Stob a' Choire Mheadhoin and Stob Coire Easain

psammite, pelite or semipelite, quartzite, granite, gneiss or gabbro

Geological detail and BGS records
Mapped variation

5 rock types appear in the mapped samples

No single rock family dominates the summit-area samples, so the forecast uses cautious mixed-rock guidance. The summit pin is shown separately and may not represent nearby crags. Route samples add context where available.

Summit-area sample Porphyritic microdiorite Etive Dyke Swarm Around 888 m Seen on Stob a' Choire Mheadhoin and Stob Coire Easain

Diorite is a hard, crystalline rock. It grips well when dry and is fair when wet. It is generally solid, though cracked into blocks along its joints.

BGS record
Summit-area sample Pelite Loch Treig Schist And Quartzite Formation 566–998 m samples Seen on Stob a' Choire Mheadhoin and Stob Coire Easain

Schist is a flaky, mica-rich rock that splits into layers. It has only fair grip when dry and is slippery when wet, as the mica gives it a greasy sheen. It splits easily along its layers, so flakes and ledges can be loose, and it is often grassy and vegetated.

BGS record
Summit-area sample Quartzite Stob Quartzite Member Around 1,106 m Seen on Stob a' Choire Mheadhoin and Stob Coire Easain

Quartzite is a very hard rock made almost entirely of quartz. It grips well when dry and is notoriously slippery when wet. It splits into sharp, angular blocks, so expect loose scree and boulder fields, and edges that can cut gloves and hands.

BGS record
Summit-area sample Pelite and calcsilicate-rock Leven Schist Formation

Schist is a flaky, mica-rich rock that splits into layers. It has only fair grip when dry and is slippery when wet, as the mica gives it a greasy sheen. It splits easily along its layers, so flakes and ledges can be loose, and it is often grassy and vegetated.

Summit-area sample Mica schist Leven Schist Formation

Schist is a flaky, mica-rich rock that splits into layers. It has only fair grip when dry and is slippery when wet, as the mica gives it a greasy sheen. It splits easily along its layers, so flakes and ledges can be loose, and it is often grassy and vegetated.

Generic exposed scrambling terrain; BGS summit-area bedrock samples are 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.

Did this match your experience?Tell us about the rock surface and wind to help improve this beta forecast.Give feedback

A broad surface report is enough; you do not need to identify a particular route.

Overnight · Aurora, stars & meteorsAfter darkBetaMostly cloudy, so little chance of seeing the stars. View forecastClose forecast

After dark: aurora and stargazing

Night beginning 2026-11-16. All times are UK local time.

Aurora outlook

Nothing notable expected.

A broad activity outlook, not a forecast of a visible display. Cloud and activity can change before the night.

Stargazing

Poor sky conditions during the best available spell: 16 Nov, 19:00 GMT to 20:00 GMT.

Mostly cloudy, so little chance of seeing the stars.

Moon-free dark sky: 16 Nov, 22:15 GMT to 17 Nov, 05:50 GMT.

Sky conditions through the night
Fully dark periods. Conditions can change between forecast hours.
TimeViewing conditions
16 Nov, 18:20 GMT to 19:00 GMTPoor sky conditions

Mostly cloudy, so little chance of seeing the stars.

16 Nov, 19:00 GMT to 20:00 GMTPoor sky conditions

Mostly cloudy, so little chance of seeing the stars.

16 Nov, 20:00 GMT to 21:00 GMTPoor sky conditions

Mostly cloudy, so little chance of seeing the stars.

16 Nov, 21:00 GMT to 22:00 GMTPoor sky conditions

Mostly cloudy, so little chance of seeing the stars.

16 Nov, 22:00 GMT to 23:00 GMTPoor sky conditions

Mostly cloudy, so little chance of seeing the stars.

16 Nov, 23:00 GMT to 17 Nov, 00:00 GMTPoor sky conditions

Mostly cloudy, so little chance of seeing the stars. Hazy, which dims the fainter stars.

17 Nov, 00:00 GMT to 01:00 GMTPoor sky conditions

Mostly cloudy, so little chance of seeing the stars. Rain at times.

Limited model coverage.

17 Nov, 01:00 GMT to 02:00 GMTPoor sky conditions

Mostly cloudy, so little chance of seeing the stars. Rain at times.

Limited model coverage.

17 Nov, 02:00 GMT to 03:00 GMTPoor sky conditions

Mostly cloudy, so little chance of seeing the stars. Rain at times.

Limited model coverage.

17 Nov, 03:00 GMT to 04:00 GMTPoor sky conditions

Mostly cloudy, so little chance of seeing the stars. Rain at times.

Limited model coverage.

17 Nov, 04:00 GMT to 05:00 GMTPoor sky conditions

Mostly cloudy, so little chance of seeing the stars. Rain at times.

Limited model coverage.

17 Nov, 05:00 GMT to 05:50 GMTPoor sky conditions

Mostly cloudy, so little chance of seeing the stars. Rain at times. Hazy, which dims the fainter stars.

Limited model coverage.

Moon, darkness and meteor showers

Around half moon, about 46% illuminated.

Moonset around 16 Nov, 22:15 GMT.

Full darkness: 16 Nov, 18:20 GMT to 17 Nov, 05:50 GMT.

Moon times assume an open horizon. Hills can hide the Moon sooner. Moon-free does not mean cloud-free.

Southern Taurids are active on this night. Activity may be much lower away from the peak.

Northern Taurids are active on this night. Activity may be much lower away from the peak.

Leonids are active on this night. Activity may be much lower away from the peak.

  • Southern Taurids: peak around 10 October 2026.
  • Northern Taurids: peak around 12 November 2026.
  • Leonids: peak around 18 November 2026.
  • Geminids: peak around 14 December 2026.
  • Ursids: peak around 22 December 2026.

Dates from the Royal Observatory Greenwich. Activity dates do not guarantee visible meteors. Look across a broad, dark sky, not only north.

Darkness of the surroundings

Estimated darkness rank 229 of 980 assessed peaks (1 is darkest), based on surrounding artificial light in 2021. This is not a measurement of tonight’s sky.

2021 artificial-light baseline, not measured sky brightness or a Bortle class. Changes to lighting, blue-rich LEDs, terrain screening, atmospheric scattering and cloud-reflected light are not resolved. Similar ranks are not meaningfully distinct. Darkness is not a recommendation to climb a summit at night.

VIIRS nighttime lights: Earth Observation Group, Payne Institute for Public Policy, Colorado School of Mines. Reprocessed by OpenGeoHub/OpenLandMap. Cropped and ranked by Mountain Weather.

Sky-weather grades exclude light pollution, terrain and thin haze. They are not mountain safety ratings. Check the mountain and camping forecast separately. Accessible lower viewpoints may be a better choice than summits.

Explore the dedicated aurora forecast, meteor shower forecast or dark-sky and astrophotography forecast.

Recommended kit for this dayWeather-aware packing prompts, plus your core hillwalking kitView kit

For a day hillwalk, not a complete route-specific checklist. Carry navigation and backup you can use, warm and waterproof layers, suitable footwear, food and water, a headtorch, emergency shelter, first aid and a way to call for help. Snow, ice, technical terrain and overnight trips need additional equipment and skills.

Does the weather shape your plans?Optional hill-user research. One answer helps; further questions are up to you.Take part

Help the Mountain Decisions Project understand how forecasts influence hill days, including when plans stay the same. Findings will be shared publicly as summaries, not individual responses.

This is about Stob a' Choire Mheadhoin on Monday 16 November 2026. It asks about intentions, not whether you actually went out. No name or account is needed.

Open the questions to take part.

About the research and your privacy · Already been out? Share that experience instead

Confidence: Unavailable
Overall hill weather2Poor
Summit wind · 08:00-17:0030-40 mph southerly Summit gusts · 08:00-17:0045-55 mph Feels like-14 to -10°C PrecipitationAround 5-10 mm Cloud-free summit estimate25% Cloud base through day400-900 m Freezing level700-1,000 m DaylightSunrise 08:02 · Sunset 16:04 · 8.0 hours daylight

The day on the hill

A poor day on the tops of Stob a' Choire Mheadhoin, with sleet or snow on the tops and very strong, gusty winds.

Snow and navigation

Sleet or snow is possible on the tops during the morning and afternoon, with small temperature changes affecting the mix. The air freezing level is roughly 700 to 1100 m above sea level. Snow can fall below this, but its lower limit is uncertain. The forecast model suggests less than 1 cm of fresh snowfall at around 1100 m between 09:00 and 17:00 (local time). The amount settling is uncertain and will vary with melting and drifting. There is a risk of blizzard conditions during the morning and afternoon, when snow and strong winds coincide. Paths and footprints can quickly disappear beneath falling and blowing snow. Snow may collect in deeper drifts in hollows, behind boulders and on slopes sheltered from the wind. Exposed ground may be scoured while nearby drifts deepen. Wind-loaded slopes can also be avalanche terrain. Check the local avalanche forecast where one is available; this is not an assessment of slope stability.

Wind

On the summit expect a southerly wind of 30–40 mph for most of the day, with gusts of 45–55 mph at the windiest. Lower down on the open hillside the wind will be light, under 10 mph. Gusts like that are strong enough to make walking very difficult and tiring, with a risk of being blown off your feet. Avoid exposed ridges and edges. If the windier forecast models are right, summit gusts could reach 65–75 mph.

Cloud and visibility

Expect the summit to be in cloud for most of the day. The cloud base could be as low as 400–700 m mid-morning. In cloud you'll be finding your way without landmarks, so carry navigation you trust and know how to use, with a backup such as a spare battery or a map and compass. Visibility may drop briefly in showers. Where snow covers the ground, the sky and hillside can merge into a featureless white view, making it difficult to judge slope or direction. Do not rely on following a visible path. Avoid exposed routes if you cannot navigate safely in these conditions, and turn back before visibility deteriorates.

Rain and ground

Sleet and snow for much of the day, becoming heavier later.

Warmth and kit

On the tops it will be around -4 to 0°C, feeling like -14 to -10°C in the wind. The freezing level is around 700–1000 m, so it will be below freezing on the tops. Hat, gloves and a warm insulated layer are essential, with extra warmth for stops. Pack waterproofs too, and keep a warm layer dry in your pack.

Daylight

A short day, with only about 8 hours of daylight. Sunset is around 4:05pm, so allow time to get off the hill before dark, and carry a head torch.

Forecast confidence

It's still six days off and could change, so check again nearer the time.

Sunshine context Model-grid estimate, not summit sunshine

The surrounding model grid indicates 0 h of sunshine. This is not a forecast of time in sunshine on the summit. Use the cloud and views outlook above for the conditions on this mountain.

Early
0 h
Midday
0 h
Later
0 h

Overnight forecast: 17:00–08:00 (UK local time), in Wild camping below.

Morning · 08:00–12:00 Poor Summit winds around 30-40 mph. Gusts around 45-55 mph are possible on exposed ground. Gusts this strong can make walking very difficult and tiring, with a risk of being blown off your feet. Avoid exposed ridges and edges. Rain is forecast during this period.
0
Afternoon · 12:00–17:00 Poor More rain is expected. Summit winds around 30-40 mph. Gusts around 45-55 mph are possible on exposed ground. Gusts this strong can make walking very difficult and tiring, with a risk of being blown off your feet. Avoid exposed ridges and edges. Rain is forecast during this period.
3

Compare an early start with later conditions. The main forecast above covers the day in more detail.

Overnight · 17:00–08:00Wild campingBetaToo windy for an exposed pitch above about 600 m (gusts of about 55 mph and around 8 mm of rain). Lower down, a poor night to camp on open ground. 19Poor · 600 m View detailsHide details
Night beginning Tuesday 17 November 2026

Full overnight outlook

Too windy for an exposed pitch above about 600 m. Lower down, a poor night to camp on open ground. Gusts reach about 55 mph around 900 m and nearer 40 mph around 300 m, enough to damage a tent on open ground. Pitch low down and in real shelter, or leave it for another night. Expect a wet night, around 8 mm of rain, with rain while you pitch and still falling when you pack up. Above about 600 m you'd likely be in cloud for part of the night: damp, and hard to find your way if you need to move. Overnight lows of about 3°C at 900 m. A 3-season bag rated to about 2°C comfort, and a warm mat, should do. Allow more if you sleep cold.

Overnight rain8.5 mm Open ground · 600 m30 mph · gusts 46 mph Morning pack-upDampness possible Sleeping-bag warmthISO comfort rating about 2°C or lower

Moon overnight

Waxing gibbous moon

Illuminated disc
55%
Moonrise
Outside this window
Moonset
23:35 GMT

Cloud at the reference camping height may hide the Moon. Illumination describes the sunlit part of the Moon, not brightness at your pitch.

Overnight window: 17 Nov, 17:00 GMT to 18 Nov, 08:00 GMT. Approximate open-horizon times; hills can hide the Moon. Still take a headtorch.

300 m39 · poor
Wind / gust
25 mph / 38 mph
Typical / low
7.2°C / 6.5°C · much of the night
In cloud
0% of modelled night
Condensation
High
600 m19 · very poor
Wind / gust
30 mph / 46 mph
Typical / low
5.9°C / 5.3°C · much of the night
In cloud
27% of modelled night
Condensation
High
900 m9 · very poor
Wind / gust
36 mph / 54 mph
Typical / low
3.7°C / 3.2°C · much of the night
In cloud
100% of modelled night
Condensation
High

Warmth planning: As a broad starting point, consider a 3-season bag with an ISO/EN comfort rating at or below about 2°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

Approximate height is enough, please do not share an exact wild-camp location.

Daytime · exposed rockClimbing & scramblingBetaVery poor conditions for exposed scrambling: wet, slippery rock. Poor0 View detailsHide details
Generic exposed-rock guidance

Full climbing & scrambling outlook

Very poor conditions for exposed scrambling. The rock is likely to be wet and slippery through the day. Icy patches are likely on the rock, which makes it treacherous without winter kit. Gusts of 45–55 mph are strong enough to make walking very difficult and tiring, with a risk of being blown off your feet. Avoid exposed ridges and edges. Cloud on the tops may make route-finding and retreat harder. The rock changes around the summit, with diorite, schist and quartzite, so its grip and soundness vary as you go. Diorite is a hard, crystalline rock. It grips well when dry and is fair when wet. It is generally solid, though cracked into blocks along its joints. Schist is a flaky, mica-rich rock that splits into layers. It has only fair grip when dry and is slippery when wet, as the mica gives it a greasy sheen. It splits easily along its layers, so flakes and ledges can be loose, and it is often grassy and vegetated. On the usual routes up you may also cross quartzite, which grips well when dry and is notoriously slippery when wet. These are general notes for each rock type, taken from geological maps around the summit, so the rock on your line may differ.

Rock surfaceWet rock likelyPeak gust45-55 mphRain7.0 mm
Main factorsgusts of 45–55 mphwet rock likelymuch of the route may be in cloud
Mixed mapped rock around the summit Mixed mapped bedrock
Mapping
BGS Geology 50K · 1:50,000
Summit area
No single rock family dominates 17 BGS samples within 350 m
Summit pin
Porphyritic microdiorite (Etive Dyke Swarm)
Rock-response profile
Low confidence

The rock changes around the summit, with diorite, schist and quartzite, so its grip and soundness vary as you go. The rock changes over short distances here, so check it directly before you commit to a move. Lichen, vegetation and seepage also change how it feels underfoot.

Rock groups along the sampled routes

These are mapped rock groups, not separate weather forecasts or a ranking of route safety.

Stob a' Choire Mheadhoin and Stob Coire Easain

psammite, pelite or semipelite, quartzite, granite, gneiss or gabbro

Geological detail and BGS records
Mapped variation

5 rock types appear in the mapped samples

No single rock family dominates the summit-area samples, so the forecast uses cautious mixed-rock guidance. The summit pin is shown separately and may not represent nearby crags. Route samples add context where available.

Summit-area sample Porphyritic microdiorite Etive Dyke Swarm Around 888 m Seen on Stob a' Choire Mheadhoin and Stob Coire Easain

Diorite is a hard, crystalline rock. It grips well when dry and is fair when wet. It is generally solid, though cracked into blocks along its joints.

BGS record
Summit-area sample Pelite Loch Treig Schist And Quartzite Formation 566–998 m samples Seen on Stob a' Choire Mheadhoin and Stob Coire Easain

Schist is a flaky, mica-rich rock that splits into layers. It has only fair grip when dry and is slippery when wet, as the mica gives it a greasy sheen. It splits easily along its layers, so flakes and ledges can be loose, and it is often grassy and vegetated.

BGS record
Summit-area sample Quartzite Stob Quartzite Member Around 1,106 m Seen on Stob a' Choire Mheadhoin and Stob Coire Easain

Quartzite is a very hard rock made almost entirely of quartz. It grips well when dry and is notoriously slippery when wet. It splits into sharp, angular blocks, so expect loose scree and boulder fields, and edges that can cut gloves and hands.

BGS record
Summit-area sample Pelite and calcsilicate-rock Leven Schist Formation

Schist is a flaky, mica-rich rock that splits into layers. It has only fair grip when dry and is slippery when wet, as the mica gives it a greasy sheen. It splits easily along its layers, so flakes and ledges can be loose, and it is often grassy and vegetated.

Summit-area sample Mica schist Leven Schist Formation

Schist is a flaky, mica-rich rock that splits into layers. It has only fair grip when dry and is slippery when wet, as the mica gives it a greasy sheen. It splits easily along its layers, so flakes and ledges can be loose, and it is often grassy and vegetated.

Generic exposed scrambling terrain; BGS summit-area bedrock samples are 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.

Did this match your experience?Tell us about the rock surface and wind to help improve this beta forecast.Give feedback

A broad surface report is enough; you do not need to identify a particular route.

Overnight · Aurora, stars & meteorsAfter darkBetaMostly cloudy, so little chance of seeing the stars. Rain at times. Hazy, which dims the fainter stars. View forecastClose forecast

After dark: aurora and stargazing

Night beginning 2026-11-17. All times are UK local time.

Aurora outlook

Raised geomagnetic activity is possible. This long-range outlook does not establish a visible display or clear skies.

A broad activity outlook, not a forecast of a visible display. Cloud and activity can change before the night.

Stargazing

Poor sky conditions during the best available spell: 17 Nov, 19:00 GMT to 20:00 GMT.

Mostly cloudy, so little chance of seeing the stars. Rain at times. Hazy, which dims the fainter stars.

Moon-free dark sky: 17 Nov, 23:35 GMT to 18 Nov, 05:50 GMT.

Sky conditions through the night
Fully dark periods. Conditions can change between forecast hours.
TimeViewing conditions
17 Nov, 18:20 GMT to 19:00 GMTPoor sky conditions

Mostly cloudy, so little chance of seeing the stars. Rain at times. Hazy, which dims the fainter stars.

Limited model coverage.

17 Nov, 19:00 GMT to 20:00 GMTPoor sky conditions

Mostly cloudy, so little chance of seeing the stars. Rain at times. Hazy, which dims the fainter stars.

Limited model coverage.

17 Nov, 20:00 GMT to 21:00 GMTPoor sky conditions

Mostly cloudy, so little chance of seeing the stars. Rain at times. Hazy, which dims the fainter stars.

Limited model coverage.

17 Nov, 21:00 GMT to 22:00 GMTPoor sky conditions

Mostly cloudy, so little chance of seeing the stars. Rain at times. Hazy, which dims the fainter stars.

Limited model coverage.

17 Nov, 22:00 GMT to 23:00 GMTPoor sky conditions

Mostly cloudy, so little chance of seeing the stars. Rain at times. Hazy, which dims the fainter stars.

Limited model coverage.

17 Nov, 23:00 GMT to 18 Nov, 00:00 GMTPoor sky conditions

Mostly cloudy, so little chance of seeing the stars. Rain at times. Hazy, which dims the fainter stars.

Limited model coverage.

18 Nov, 00:00 GMT to 01:00 GMTPoor sky conditions

Mostly cloudy, so little chance of seeing the stars. Rain at times. Hazy, which dims the fainter stars.

Limited model coverage.

18 Nov, 01:00 GMT to 02:00 GMTPoor sky conditions

Mostly cloudy, so little chance of seeing the stars. Rain at times. Hazy, which dims the fainter stars.

Limited model coverage.

18 Nov, 02:00 GMT to 03:00 GMTPoor sky conditions

Mostly cloudy, so little chance of seeing the stars. Rain at times. Hazy, which dims the fainter stars.

Limited model coverage.

18 Nov, 03:00 GMT to 04:00 GMTPoor sky conditions

Mostly cloudy, so little chance of seeing the stars. Rain at times. Hazy, which dims the fainter stars.

Limited model coverage.

18 Nov, 04:00 GMT to 05:00 GMTPoor sky conditions

Mostly cloudy, so little chance of seeing the stars. Rain at times. Hazy, which dims the fainter stars.

Limited model coverage.

18 Nov, 05:00 GMT to 05:50 GMTPoor sky conditions

Mostly cloudy, so little chance of seeing the stars. Rain at times. Hazy, which dims the fainter stars.

Limited model coverage.

Moon, darkness and meteor showers

Gibbous moon, about 56% illuminated.

Moonset around 17 Nov, 23:35 GMT.

Full darkness: 17 Nov, 18:20 GMT to 18 Nov, 05:50 GMT.

Moon times assume an open horizon. Hills can hide the Moon sooner. Moon-free does not mean cloud-free.

Southern Taurids are active on this night. Activity may be much lower away from the peak.

Northern Taurids are active on this night. Activity may be much lower away from the peak.

Leonids are active on this night. Activity may be much lower away from the peak.

  • Southern Taurids: peak around 10 October 2026.
  • Northern Taurids: peak around 12 November 2026.
  • Leonids: peak around 18 November 2026.
  • Geminids: peak around 14 December 2026.
  • Ursids: peak around 22 December 2026.

Dates from the Royal Observatory Greenwich. Activity dates do not guarantee visible meteors. Look across a broad, dark sky, not only north.

Darkness of the surroundings

Estimated darkness rank 229 of 980 assessed peaks (1 is darkest), based on surrounding artificial light in 2021. This is not a measurement of tonight’s sky.

2021 artificial-light baseline, not measured sky brightness or a Bortle class. Changes to lighting, blue-rich LEDs, terrain screening, atmospheric scattering and cloud-reflected light are not resolved. Similar ranks are not meaningfully distinct. Darkness is not a recommendation to climb a summit at night.

VIIRS nighttime lights: Earth Observation Group, Payne Institute for Public Policy, Colorado School of Mines. Reprocessed by OpenGeoHub/OpenLandMap. Cropped and ranked by Mountain Weather.

Sky-weather grades exclude light pollution, terrain and thin haze. They are not mountain safety ratings. Check the mountain and camping forecast separately. Accessible lower viewpoints may be a better choice than summits.

Explore the dedicated aurora forecast, meteor shower forecast or dark-sky and astrophotography forecast.

Recommended kit for this dayWeather-aware packing prompts, plus your core hillwalking kitView kit

For a day hillwalk, not a complete route-specific checklist. Carry navigation and backup you can use, warm and waterproof layers, suitable footwear, food and water, a headtorch, emergency shelter, first aid and a way to call for help. Snow, ice, technical terrain and overnight trips need additional equipment and skills.

Does the weather shape your plans?Optional hill-user research. One answer helps; further questions are up to you.Take part

Help the Mountain Decisions Project understand how forecasts influence hill days, including when plans stay the same. Findings will be shared publicly as summaries, not individual responses.

This is about Stob a' Choire Mheadhoin on Tuesday 17 November 2026. It asks about intentions, not whether you actually went out. No name or account is needed.

Open the questions to take part.

About the research and your privacy · Already been out? Share that experience instead

Weather data: Open-Meteo (CC BY 4.0). Adapted by Mountain Weather.

Forecast run: 2026-11-10

A forecast is part of the decision.

Mountain weather can differ sharply from conditions in the valley. Check official warnings, carry appropriate navigation and clothing, and be ready to change the plan. Read how Mountain Weather forecasts are produced and where their limits lie.