Lochaber
Thursday 3 September 2026 · Ben Nevis, the Mamores and surrounding ranges
Why: Rain could reach the main walking period or hold off until later; forecast models disagree on the timing.
Persistent rain is the main concern. Light southwesterly wind, with summit clag likely.
High-ground wind (900 m)
Southwesterly around 10 mph at 900 m. Gusts reaching around 15 mph at 900 m, with locally higher values possible on the most exposed tops. Starting nearer 5 mph, then strengthening toward 10 mph later.
Walking impact
Little effect on walking, although exposed tops may still feel chilly.
Ground conditions
The ground is likely to be wet after recent rain.
Spate risk
There could be a spate risk based on forecast rainfall. Burns and unbridged crossings may rise quickly. The heaviest rain is expected later in the day. Crossing risk is expected throughout the day, continuing overnight and easing after around 02:00 the following morning. Turn back if a crossing looks unsafe.
Rain and showers
Persistent rain for much of the day. The heaviest rain is expected later in the day.
Cloud-free summits
Around 10%. Best early at about 20%; lowest around midday at about 0%.
Cloud and visibility
Cloud bases mostly around 400-700 m. Most higher summits are likely to be in cloud for much of the day, with only brief or isolated breaks.
Temperature and wind chill
Around 9°C at 900 m, feeling like 7°C in the wind.
Freezing level
Above the summits.
Daylight
Sunrise 06:25 — Sunset 20:11 — about 13.8 hours daylight.
Overnight · 6 p.m.–9 a.m.Wild campingBetaA damp or wet night is likely, with about 6.2 mm before pack-up. 54/100Mixed · 600 m View detailsHide details
Full regional overnight outlook
Across representative hills, open-hillside camping looks mixed around 600 m (54/100). A wet night is likely, with around 6 mm indicated between pitching and packing up.
Elevation reference (open ground)
- Wind / gust
- 7 / 11 mph
- Coldest
- 9.3°C
- In cloud
- Unlikely
- Condensation
- High
- Wind / gust
- 8 / 16 mph
- Coldest
- 8.9°C
- In cloud
- 68% of night
- Condensation
- High
- Wind / gust
- 9 / 18 mph
- Coldest
- 7.0°C
- In cloud
- 74% of night
- Condensation
- High
Open-hillside guidance across representative hills. Local shelter, ridges, tent design and the exact pitch can change conditions substantially. Read about sleeping-bag comfort ratings, pitching in strong winds or using the wild-camping forecast.
Daytime · exposed rockClimbing & scramblingBetaWet rock is likely on some representative hills. 18/100Poor · Very poor View detailsHide details
Full regional climbing & scrambling outlook
Conditions for exposed scrambling across the area look very poor (18/100). Rain is likely to leave rock wet; polished slabs, vegetation and drainage lines may be notably worse. Mapped summit-point geology across the representative hills includes psammite, pelite or semipelite, granite, gneiss or gabbro and volcanic rock; moisture response can therefore vary substantially between crags and routes.
Representative summit-point samples across the region; individual crags and routes may differ.
Generic exposed hands-on-rock terrain across representative summits; mapped summit-point geology is a broad regional sample, not a named-route survey. Contains British Geological Survey materials © UKRI 2026. How to use the climbing and scrambling forecast.
Updated 30 August 2026 at 04:40 UTC. See typical weekly and monthly conditions for Lochaber.