Is it safe to climb West Lomond today and tomorrow?

Today on West Lomond is rated Good and tomorrow Good, from the summit forecast. Summit forecast updated 04:54, 18 Oct. The reasons are below, followed by what the rating can't tell you.

Is it safe to climb West Lomond today?

Good Today Sunday 18 October

• Wind and gusts: Summit wind up to 7 mph, gusting 12 mph. That is under the Marginal line of 25 mph wind or 45 mph gusts.
• Rain: 0% chance of rain, about 0 mm in all.
• Cloud: Cloud cover averages 5% and humidity 77% at summit height. The forecast gives no cloud base height; the main peak page estimates one from the valley forecast.
• Temperature and wind chill: Up to 7°C at the summit, down to -1°C, feeling as cold as -4°C in the wind. Below freezing at the summit, so expect ice on rock and paths, especially early.
• Daylight: Sunrise 07:51, sunset 18:05: 10h 14m of daylight. The longest route listed here takes about 2h 5m there and back by Naismith's rule, before stops.

Is it safe to climb West Lomond tomorrow?

Good Tomorrow Monday 19 October

• Wind and gusts: Summit wind up to 18 mph, gusting 23 mph. That is under the Marginal line of 25 mph wind or 45 mph gusts.
• Rain: 4% chance of rain, about 0 mm in all.
• Cloud: Cloud cover averages 54% and humidity 89% at summit height. The forecast gives no cloud base height; the main peak page estimates one from the valley forecast.
• Temperature and wind chill: Up to 9°C at the summit, down to 0°C, feeling as cold as -2°C in the wind.
• Daylight: Sunrise 07:53, sunset 18:02: 10h 9m of daylight. The longest route listed here takes about 2h 5m there and back by Naismith's rule, before stops.

What the verdict covers, and what it doesn't

Peakify rates each day Good, Marginal or Poor from the forecast summit wind, gusts, chance of rain and wind chill. Wind of 40 mph or gusts of 65 mph make it Poor; wind of 25 mph, gusts of 45 mph, a 60% chance of rain or a feels-like temperature of -8°C or below make it Marginal. That is all it measures: the weather forecast at the summit.

It does not know your fitness or experience, whether you can navigate in cloud with a map and compass, or what you are carrying. It does not see the state of the path, river levels, snow and ice already on the ground, or how the forecast is changing during the day. A Good day can still go wrong if you start late, turn an ankle or lose the path in mist, and a Marginal day can be fine for an experienced party on the easiest route.

On any day, carry waterproofs, warm layers, a hat and gloves, food, water, a head torch and a charged phone, and know how you would navigate if the top is in cloud. Tell someone your route and when you expect to be down. In winter conditions you need an ice axe and crampons and the skill to use them, or a guide.

Route notes for West Lomond

Craigmead car park

From Craigmead car park (Falkland to Leslie road). A broad path crosses open moorland and climbs the steep grassy cone to the trig pillar. Graded Easy: a clear path with no hands-on ground. The weather at the top is the same as on any other route. About 2h 5m there and back by Naismith's rule (4.0 km one way, 276 m of ascent).

Full distances, ascent and times are on the West Lomond routes page.

In an emergency

Call 999, ask for the police and then mountain rescue. Mountain rescue teams in the UK are volunteers called out through the police. Give your location (a grid reference from a map or phone app if you can), what has happened, how many are in your group and your phone number, then keep the phone free. If you have no signal, try to move to higher ground or text 999; you need to have registered your phone with the emergencySMS service before for a text to work.

Questions about West Lomond

Is it safe to climb West Lomond today?

Today, Sunday 18 October: mainly clear, up to 7°C at the summit, feeling as cold as -4°C, summit wind 7 mph gusting 12 mph, 0% chance of rain. Rated Good. The rating covers the summit weather only; your route, kit and experience matter as much.

Is it safe to climb West Lomond tomorrow?

Tomorrow, Monday 19 October: fog, up to 9°C at the summit, feeling as cold as -2°C, summit wind 18 mph gusting 23 mph, 4% chance of rain. Rated Good.

How does Peakify decide whether West Lomond is safe to climb?

Peakify rates each day Good, Marginal or Poor from the forecast summit wind, gusts, chance of rain and wind chill. Wind of 40 mph or gusts of 65 mph make it Poor; wind of 25 mph, gusts of 45 mph, a 60% chance of rain or a feels-like temperature of -8°C or below make it Marginal. It does not judge your fitness, kit, navigation or the state of the path.

Who do I call in an emergency on West Lomond?

Call 999, ask for the police and then mountain rescue. Give your location (a grid reference if you can), what happened and how many are in your group. Stay with the casualty and keep them warm.