What is the weather going to be like on the summit?
Temperature and weather conditions fluctuate at an alarming rate on the summit of Ben Nevis. It is not unknown for the temperature to drop and rise 10 degrees Celsius or more in less than 24 hours. So, when standing at the foot of the mountain in your t-shirt and shorts consider the fact that the summit could be single digits and for more than half the year, covered in snow.
We are incredibly fortunate to have accurate mountain weather forecasts at our fingertips. Taking the time to read them can be the difference between an enjoyable day or a very cold and potentially disastrous one. Something that I have learnt and preach to my clients is to always have a warm jacket. I do not anticipate getting into trouble or injured every time I go out in the hills, but there have been several occasions when I have come across other people in desperate need of assistance then spent hours waiting for help to arrive.
MWUK (Mountain Weather UK) is a really good app that costs around £4. The App feeds data from popular and generally reliable mountain weather resources such as MWIS and Met Office. But if you do not want to pay for the use of the App, look no further than the two simple websites below.
Mountain Weather Information Service – select Scottish Forecast – West Highlands for Ben Nevis area
Met Office Mountain Weather – select Southwest Highlands for Ben Nevis area