General Situation:

Low pressure continues to lie to the west of the UK feeding frontal systems up across the country from the SW, these often then stalling over the Scottish Highlands. Later in the weekend it looks like the Low will move across Scotland an into the North Sea whereupon it will start feeding colder northerly winds down across the country for next week.

Friday 31st March:

It will start chilly in the Scottish Highlands, but rain already affecting the Southern Uplands, Argyll and Perthshire will push further north through the morning to give a pretty wet day for all parts. Snow is likely over higher ground, falling to around 2,000ft generally but possibly down to 1,000ft to the north of Glen Affric and Skye. Low cloud also persisting though the day. Whiteout conditions likely at times. Rain should ease across the Southern Uplands by afternoon, but even so low cloud will remain and further showers are likely at times, especially towards the Moffat area and in Galloway and by evening another area of more persitent rain will have moved in from the west.

Most of England and Wales will start bright but with a few scattered showers developing through the morning. These heaviest and most persitent over western coastal hills, especially the SW Moors and Wales, and becoming more frequent by evening further north when they may merge into longer spells of rain for a time across Snowdonia and Cumbria. Best chance for some brighter, drier weather looks like being the Welsh Marches, eastern parts of the Peak and Yorkshire Dales, and the N York Moors. Here cloud levels should be above summit level, but elsewhere expect hill fog over the tops. Although relatively mild, a strong - probably gale force across the SW Moors and the hills of S Wales - westerly wind will make it feel chilly everywhere.

Saturday 1st April:

Looks like staying fairly wet overnight across much of Scotland and with some heavy showers working across N Wales and NW England by morning. These likely to persist and affect most upland areas through the day, apart from the Highlands where there will be the lighter, but more persistent rain - once again with snow over the summits although accumulations won't be that great. Hill fog again fairly extensive and genrally down to at least 2,000ft. Probably becoming dry across the SW Moors by evening. Winds will be a bit lighter though, although still strong to gale force at times in the SW and over western coastal hills. A few brighter spells once again will be most likely around the Welsh Marches, Peak District and N York Moors.

Sunday 2nd April

As low pressure moves away into the North Sea it should become a bit drier everywhere, rain across the Highlands slowly petering out by afternoon and elsewhere showers generally lighter and less frequent. Cloud levels also rising, especially across the Highlands. However, colder air will be working in to the north of Scotland so any precipitation here turning more readily to sleet or snow, even to low level, by afternoon. The Southern Uplands and England and Wales still fairly mild though, but still will a fresh westerly wind, strong in the west. Cloud more broken and with most summits below 3,000ft clear of cloud.

Monday 3rd April:

Becoming clearer overnight with a widespread frost developing. A cold northerly wind across Scotland and the north of England bringing a few wintry shower, initially to northern coastal hills but more widespread actross the Highland by afternooon, with a few filtering down into the Southern Uplands, Galloway, Cumbria and the N Pennines by afternoon, although generally these of rain with sleet or snow only above about 2,500ft. Elsewhere looks like a dry morning but with cloud quickly spreading in from the SW as another area of persistent rain and extensive hill fog moves in to affect the SW Moors by midday and all of Wales, and much of England through the afternoon.

Summary: Unsettled, mild but breezy in the south, cool in the far north. Often wet.

Snow Conditions: Still a good bit of snow in the Highlands, particularly the Cairngorms. Some further small accumulation likely over the weekend, mainly over 2,000ft but perhaps to lower level later in the North Highlands. Avalanche risk likely to be Cat 3 or Cat 4 - more details from SAIS

Further Outlook: A brief spell of cold northerlies spreading down across all parts by midweek, but soon becoming more unsettled and turning a bit milder with fronts starting to push in from the west by the weekend.

Note:this is a personal interpretation of likely weather conditions on the UK hills and is intended for general guidance purposes only. Local conditions may vary and changes may occur suddenly and without warning.Extreme caution should always be exercised when venturing into the hills

TOI 12:10pm BST - 30th March 2006

Forecast by Andy Mayhew for Ukww

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