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Ben Nevis, Highland

56.80°N, 5.00°W · ~1286m · 08:03 – 18:05
Updated 21:36
Temp
1°C
↓ 0.2 / 1hr
Wind
22.1
↓ 0.9 / 1hr
Condition
Moderate drizzle
Moderate drizzle
Score
0.0
Terrible
Time
Condition
Precip mm
Precip %
Temp
Temp °C
Feels °C
Wind
Direction
Wind mph
Gust mph
Detail
Humidity %
Pressure
Vis km
UV Index
CAPE J/kg
Score
Tue 20 Oct Wed 21 Oct Thu 22 Oct Fri 23 Oct Sat 24 Oct Sun 25 Oct Mon 26 Oct
21:00 22:00 23:00 00:00 01:00 02:00 03:00 04:00 05:00 06:00 07:00 08:00 09:00 10:00 11:00 12:00 13:00 14:00 15:00 16:00 17:00 18:00 19:00 20:00 21:00 22:00 23:00 00:00 01:00 02:00 03:00 04:00 05:00 06:00 07:00 08:00 09:00 10:00 11:00 12:00 13:00 14:00 15:00 16:00 17:00 18:00 19:00 20:00 21:00 22:00 23:00 00:00 01:00 02:00 03:00 04:00 05:00 06:00 07:00 08:00 09:00 10:00 11:00 12:00 13:00 14:00 15:00 16:00 17:00 18:00 19:00 20:00 21:00 22:00 23:00 00:00 01:00 02:00 03:00 04:00 05:00 06:00 07:00 08:00 09:00 10:00 11:00 12:00 13:00 14:00 15:00 16:00 17:00 18:00 19:00 20:00 21:00 22:00 23:00 00:00 01:00 01:00 02:00 03:00 04:00 05:00 06:00 07:00 08:00 09:00 10:00 11:00 12:00 13:00 14:00 15:00 16:00 17:00 18:00 19:00 20:00 21:00 22:00 23:00 00:00 01:00 02:00 03:00 04:00 05:00 06:00 07:00 08:00 09:00 10:00 11:00 12:00 13:00 14:00 15:00 16:00 17:00 18:00 19:00 20:00 21:00 22:00 23:00
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0.8 0.7 - - 0.1 0.8 0.8 0.2 0.1 0.1 0.2 0.1 0.1 0.5 0.3 - 0.2 2.3 0.4 0.1 - - 0.2 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.1 - 0.2 0.1 - - 0.4 - 0.1 0.3 - 0.1 - 0.2 - - - - - - - 0.1 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 2.7 2.7 2.7 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 0.8 0.1 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 0.8 2.9 2.9 2.9 2.9 2.9
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3.1 2.8 15.1 12.2 11.6 8.2 15.8 16.7 11.6 6.5 7.5 11 14.4 4.4 21 5.3 0 0.1 0.1 0.1 11.7 11 7 17.9 3.9 6.2 35 51.9 0.1 52.9 27.8 12.1 11.2 43.4 0.1 20.1 8.2 37.7 36 35 53.7 46.4 45.9 47.5 37.9 46.2 33 27.4 22.8 16.7 13.2 14.1 14.9 11.4 8 4.5 3.9 3.4 2.9 2 1 0 0 0 0 1.7 3.3 4.9 9.8 14.8 19.8 20.9 22 23.1 22.6 22.1 21.6 18.4 15.3 12.2 12.1 12.1 12.1 9.5 6.9 4.2 3.8 3.3 2.8 9.7 16.7 23.6 16.8 9.9 3.1 2.9 2.7 2.5 3.4 4.3 5.2 5 4.8 4.6 4.3 3.9 3.5 3.6 3.8 4 3.9 3.9 3.9 4.8 5.7 6.6 12.6 18.5 24.5 24.8 25 25.3 25 24.8 24.5 23.9 23.2 22.5 23.3 24.2 25 24.9 24.9 24.9 18 11.1 4.2 3.9 3.7 3.5 3.3 3 2.8 3.2 3.5 3.9 4.3 4.6
- - - - - - - - - - - - - 0.2 0.4 0.5 0.2 0.2 0.2 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 0.2 0.4 0.7 0.9 0.6 0.4 0.2 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 0.2 0.4 0.6 0.7 0.8 0.7 0.6 0.4 0.3 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 0.2 0.5 0.6 0.7 0.8 0.8 0.7 0.5 0.2 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 0.2 0.4 0.6 0.8 0.8 0.7 0.6 0.6 0.3 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 0.2 0.6 0.6 0.7 0.7 0.7 0.6 0.4 0.2 - - - - - - -
0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 10 20 10 20 20 30 20 30 30 40 20 20 20 0 0 0 10 0 0 10 10 0 0 0 20 40 40 60 60 40 10 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 10 10 10 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 30 80 100 80 30 0 0 0 0 10 20 20 20 10 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 10 10 10
0.0 0.0 0.0 0.3 2.7 3.4 1.5 2.8 2.6 2.9 4.8 5.2 5.9 8.5 7.0 5.4 2.9 1.8 2.4 3.8 3.4 3.9 3.1 3.6 3.7 3.8 6.3 7.2 4.3 6.8 5.6 6.5 5.0 7.0 3.8 6.5 5.2 6.2 6.1 5.6 6.4 5.8 4.4 5.7 4.2 5.4 4.2 4.6 6.7 6.5 7.6 8.8 8.8 8.8 7.3 7.1 7.2 7.4 8.8 8.8 8.8 8.8 8.8 8.8 8.8 8.8 8.8 8.8 7.2 6.8 6.4 6.3 6.4 6.5 7.8 7.8 8.1 8.5 10.0 8.8 8.8 7.5 7.1 6.9 6.7 6.1 4.6 2.6 1.1 0.0 0.0 0.1 1.3 0.3 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.3 2.6 3.3 4.1 4.9 5.7 6.4 6.8 7.1 6.2 6.6 7.1 7.4 7.5 7.3 7.3 7.4 8.8 8.8 7.5 7.5 7.5 7.5 8.8 8.8 8.8 8.8 6.8 4.9 4.2 3.4 2.6 2.0
Best Activity Window
WeatherDuck score WeatherDuck score Wind matters most. Rain comes next. Sky only nudges it. Temperature is off by default because layers and kit change comfort.
Day average
0.0/10
Windy, wet, dull day
Best window
21:00-22:00
avg 0.0/10
Day average: 0.0/10
Best window: 21:00-22:00 · Avg 0.0
06:00 · Past
07:00 · Past
08:00 · Past
09:00 · Past
10:00 · Past
11:00 · Past
12:00 · Past
13:00 · Past
14:00 · Past
15:00 · Past
16:00 · Past
17:00 · Past
18:00 · Past
19:00 · Past
20:00 · Past
21:00 · 0.0/10
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21
What this shows
The selected day from 06:00 to 21:00, scored from 0-10. The top line gives the day average and strongest window; the bars show how conditions rise and fall through that activity window. WeatherDuck score — Wind up to 5 mph (matters a lot) · Rain none at all (matters a fair bit) · Sky At least Mostly cloudy (matters a fair bit).
Score Customiser
WeatherDuck score
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These factors shape your score — set a comfy range for each, and how much it matters. Add more from the tray, or remove ones you don't care about. The bars update instantly.

Wind
Comfy range up to 5 mph
How much it matters
matters a lot
Rain
Comfy range none at all
How much it matters
matters a fair bit
Sky
Comfy range At least Mostly cloudy
How much it matters
matters a fair bit
Temperature
Comfy range 0 – 25°C
How much it matters
matters a fair bit
Time of day
Comfy range any time of day
How much it matters
matters a fair bit
UV
Comfy range any UV level
How much it matters
matters a fair bit
Wind direction
Comfy range any direction
How much it matters
matters a fair bit
Visibility
Comfy range at least 5 km
How much it matters
matters a fair bit
Not counted — tap to add
Day briefing

Light drizzle

4° / 1° · Today · Tue 20

Persistent rain most likely in morning, midday, and afternoon / evening. Southeasterly winds averaging around 18 mph with peaks near 23 mph, gusting to 47 mph. Temperatures range from 1C to 4C, turning cooler later with largely cloudy skies. Watch for a frost risk in colder spots.

7.2 mm
Rain total
23 mph SE
Wind max
gusts 47 mph
0.3
UV max
Off-season
Pollen
25
Air quality
Fair
Very low
Thunder
CAPE 10
Atmosphere
Cloud avg 99%
Freezing level 2,030 mup to 3,210 m
Fog risk Low
Sun & Moon
08:03 / 18:05
Sun ↑↓
10 h 1 m
Daylight
16:28 / --
Moon ↑↓
Waxing Gibbous
Moon phase
72% lit
Live rain radar
LIVE
Loading radar…
--:--
Light Moderate Heavy
Radar data by RainViewer
Is it muddy out there? 1.4 mm last 24 h · free account unlocks the verdict Sign up →
Ground conditions
Is it muddy out there?
A free account unlocks the local dryness verdict. No payment details.
1.4 mm
Last 24 h
37.2 mm
Last 7 days
Measured at Glen Nevis rain gauge, 3.9 km away
Create a free account
Rain gauges and totals stay free for everyone
What to wear
Rain expected and gusty winds and sub-zero wind chill; full waterproofs, layer up for wind chill.
LayerItemMaterialWhy
Base Thermal base layer Heavyweight merino or synthetic thermal; avoid cotton -6°C feels temp
Mid Heavy fleece Heavy fleece or synthetic fill; not down (rain forecast) Wind chill feels like -6°C
Outer Waterproof jacket Breathable membrane (Gore-Tex etc.), hood Heavy rain + 45 mph gusts
Lower Waterproof trousers Over existing trousers, breathable Heavy rain forecast
Feet Insulated waterproof boots Stiff sole for frozen ground, thick socks (wool blend) Frozen ground, ice risk
Extras Warm hat, thick gloves, balaclava Windproof gloves, spare pair. Consider microspikes for ice Feels like -6°C with a risk to exposed skin
Layer up. Plan to wear the main protection from the start.
Wear from the start 5 pieces
Add before you go Weather protection

Tap an item to see why

Essential Recommended Guidance

Guidance based on the forecast, not professional safety advice. Always use your own judgement. BMC layering guide →

Essential Recommended
This is general guidance based on forecast data, not professional safety advice. Always use your own judgement. BMC layering guide →
Inversion Outlook Forecast source Met Office Seamless
UKV 2 km with UKMO Global fallback
Likelihood labels describe the model signal, not an exact percentage chance.
Morning 00:00–12:00 · Afternoon 12:00–00:00
Up to two qualifying hours before midnight join the next morning. Lochaber & the Great Glen region
Unlikely
Tuesday afternoon BEST
No clear window yet.
Confidence: N/A
TUE AFTERNOON
No clear window
Unlikely
Confidence: N/A
WED MORNING
No clear window
Unlikely
Confidence: N/A
WED AFTERNOON
No clear window
Unlikely
Confidence: N/A
Tap a period for detail
Key Factors What we look for

Our inversion forecast combines five weather factors and how long favourable conditions are expected to last.

Temperature lid
Warm air sitting above cooler valley air, the essential ingredient for a cloud sea.
Valley moisture
Whether the valley air is damp enough to form and hold cloud.
Layer contrast
A sharp boundary between the cloudy valley and the dry air above it.
Summit clarity
Clear, dry air above the cloud layer. The better this is, the cleaner the summit views.
Wind speed
Light winds at low levels keep the inversion intact and the cloud sea flat.
Duration
How long the conditions hold. A sustained event gives more time to get above the clouds.
Temperature lid
Poor
Valley moisture
Good
Layer contrast
Poor
Summit clarity
Poor
Wind speed
Poor
Duration
0h
No temperature inversion detected
Valley air moist enough
No moisture contrast, diffuse profile
Saturated above, no clear cap
Too windy, mixing likely
No sustained favourable window
Create Free Account for 1 Alert
Loading…
Cloud Inversion Heatmap About this map A shaded area means several nearby locations agree — amber for possible, green for likely, blue for very likely. The bands always sit inside one another, so stronger signals appear more solid.
The purple dot marks your location.
Drag the timeline to see how the chance changes through the night.
Very likely Likely Possible
Atmospheric Profile · Glen Nevis · 16 m
Loading… Timeline
Atmospheric profile data for Ben Nevis,GB
Surface Pressure

Humidity at Pressure Levels

Tap heights to compare both charts.

Higher humidity means the air is closer to saturation.

Temperature at Pressure Levels

Tap heights to compare both charts.

Warmer air above cooler air can indicate an inversion.

All heights shown equally.

Golden Hour
Today
DARKNESS
DAYLIGHT
07:18
07:43
08:03 Sunrise
08:23
08:48
Golden Hour · 40 min
Be at your summit by 07:43
Allow time to set up before the light show begins.
Monthly Inversion Chance
Illustrative relative chance by season
Illustrative — typical UK pattern
J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
~2 proper inversion days per year. Mostly late autumn to spring.

Cloud inversions explained

What is a cloud inversion near Ben Nevis, Highland?

A cloud inversion happens when cool, moist air becomes trapped in valleys beneath warmer air above. If the trapped moisture turns into fog or low cloud, the hills can rise through it into clearer air and sunshine. From a summit, the result can look like a wide sea of cloud with only the higher peaks visible.

The best chance near Ben Nevis, Highland is a calm, settled night with moist valley air, a warm lid above and clearer, drier air over the tops. The bands on this page, from Unlikely to Very likely, describe the strength of that overall signal rather than a percentage promise, so always check timing, estimated cloud height and wind before setting off.

How to read this page. The headline outlook covers the surrounding region. Key Factors and the Atmospheric Profile describe the nearest available atmospheric profile.

See the dedicated Ben Nevis cloud inversion page Read the full UK cloud inversion guide See how WeatherDuck forecasts inversions
Tonight's Stargazing
0
Very poor conditions Skies look closed in — best to wait it out.
Waxing Gibbous Moon Waxing Gibbous 72%
Overcast Cloud Cover Overcast 100%
Moon Times Rise 16:28
Sky Clarity 9 km Clear
Lunar Day Day 9.6
Light Pollution View map ↓
Tonight's Aurora
Aurora & Solar Wind NOAA
2.7 Planetary Kp Low
Wind Speed 390 km/s
Bz -2.9 nT
Density 7.4 p/cm³
Bt 7.9 nT
No significant aurora activity expected tonight.
Observed 20:05 UTC · cached 5 min

Nightly Outlook

Tonight · 20 Oct

Waxing Gibbous · 72% illuminated

0/100
No good window tonight 100% cloud cover all night
Moon height above horizon Daylight
18:00–10:00 next morning
Moonset 01:42 Sunset 18:05Sunrise 08:05
Every hour in detail
Hours after midnight are the following morning.
HourCloud coverMoon
18:00 100% Above horizon
19:00 100% Above horizon
20:00 100% Above horizon
21:00 100% Above horizon
22:00 100% Above horizon
23:00 100% Above horizon
00:00 100% Above horizon
01:00 100% Above horizon
02:00 100% Below horizon
03:00 100% Below horizon
04:00 100% Below horizon
05:00 100% Below horizon
06:00 100% Below horizon
07:00 100% Below horizon
08:00 100% Below horizon
09:00 100% Below horizon
Highest moon 18° at 21:00 Lunar day 9.6

Aurora Kp · 3-Day Forecast

NOAA SWPC · 3-hourly
Higher Kp = stronger geomagnetic activity = better aurora chances. For UK observers, Kp 4+ means aurora is possible from N. Scotland; Kp 5+ brings it across the whole UK.
Today
Tue 20 Oct
Unsettled
Peak Kp 4.7 at 18:00 UTC
Faint aurora possible from N. Scotland.
9630
4.7 · 18:00
0003060912151821
Tomorrow
Wed 21 Oct
Unsettled
Peak Kp 4.7 at 00:00 UTC
Faint aurora possible from N. Scotland.
9630
4.7 · 00:00
0003060912151821
Thu 22
Thu 22 Oct
Unsettled
Peak Kp 3.7 at 03:00 UTC
Slightly unsettled — minor activity, no aurora expected.
9630
3.7 · 03:00
0003060912151821
Aurora Forecast Map
NOAA OVATION Aurora Forecast
Global — OVATION Model
UK Focus
NOAA OVATION Model • Auto-refreshed
Your Night Sky
Meteor Showers
Orionids Active Now
Oct 2 – Nov 7 · Peak Oct 21
Fast, with persistent trains.
1
day to peak
Coming up this year
Leonids Nov 17
Nov 6 – Nov 30
Occasional storms. Fast, bright.
Geminids Dec 14
Dec 4 – Dec 20
Best of the year. Bright, multi-coloured.
Earlier this year
Quadrantids Jan 4
Jan 1 – Jan 6
Strong, short-lived peak. Bright fireballs.
Lyrids Apr 22
Apr 16 – Apr 25
Sparse, sometimes glowing trails.
Eta Aquariids May 6
Apr 19 – May 28
Best before dawn. Fast meteors.
Delta Aquariids Jul 30
Jul 12 – Aug 23
Steady rates, faint. Best late night.
Perseids Aug 12
Jul 17 – Aug 24
Bright, reliable. Best summer shower.
Light Pollution Map
Understanding the stargazing score

The stargazing score combines cloud cover and moon illumination to estimate how good conditions are for observing the night sky. Cloud cover is the dominant factor — even the darkest location is useless under heavy cloud.

The Bortle scale measures light pollution from 1 (pristine dark sky) to 9 (inner-city sky). In the UK, the best accessible sites reach Bortle 2 to 3, found in areas like Northumberland International Dark Sky Park, parts of the Lake District, Snowdonia, the Brecon Beacons, and the Scottish Highlands. At Bortle 3, the Milky Way is clearly visible and dozens of deep-sky objects are observable with binoculars.

Moon phase matters: A new moon (0% illumination) provides the darkest sky. A full moon floods the sky with light, washing out everything except planets and the brightest stars. The best stargazing combines a new or thin crescent moon with clear skies.

Practical tips: Give your eyes 20 to 30 minutes to dark-adapt after arriving at your spot. Avoid looking at phone screens (use a red-light torch instead). The hours after midnight are often best, as the atmosphere settles and any remaining cloud may clear.

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