Mountain weather

North Grampian Mountain weather forecast table

Confidence

High for changeable conditions, medium for the timing of those changes.

Sunrise:
Sunset:

This evening forecast

Cloudy with outbreaks of rain, much of it fairly light but a few heavy bursts over Creag Meagaidh and Ben Alder, accompanied by hill fog. Gale to severe gale force southwesterly winds.

Sunrise:
Sunset:
Mountain hazards

Mountain weather hazards

Hazards apply at or above 300m, reflecting the more severe conditions which can occur at altitude.

hazard Severe Chill Effect
Wind significantly lowers the ‘feels-like’ temperature relative to the actual temperature, with even moderate winds significantly adding to the chilling effect. Strong winds can result in a severe and debilitating wind chill many degrees below the actual temperature. This effect will be enhanced in rain or wet snow. Without protection, prolonged exposure could result in frost nip or frostbite on exposed parts of the body and/or hypothermia.

hazard Heavy Persistent Snow
Heavy snow can lead to rapid changes in underfoot conditions and paths may become treacherous or hidden. It also brings very poor visibility and often makes navigation much more challenging. When deep snow accumulates progress is often time consuming and strenuous, significantly affecting the distance one can travel on foot. Deep drifts can develop if snow is combined with strong winds. A heightened avalanche risk is possible and avalanche reports should be consulted where available.
hazard Gales
Gale force winds (gusts over 50mph) make walking difficult and strenuous with a potential to be blown over by gusts. There is often a marked increase in winds through cols or on exposed ridges and summits. Distances can take longer to cover and compass bearings become harder to follow accurately.
hazard Poor Visibility
Poor visibility presents challenging route finding conditions. Visibility could be significantly less than 50 metres in all directions with few or no visual references, especially on featureless moors or plateaux. Distances become hard to judge and cliff or cornice edges can be difficult to recognise. These conditions require good navigational skills. There is a risk of white-out conditions when mist or fog is combined with extensive snow cover.
hazard Heavy Persistent Rain
Heavy and persistent rain can lead to drenched clothing and footwear with waterproofs often becoming soaked through, especially if accompanied by strong winds. This can lead to significant loss of body heat and an increased likelihood of hypothermia. Terrain may turn increasingly boggy underfoot while streams can flood and become impassable. There may also be a risk of flooding in valleys or glens. If there is snow cover, a heightened avalanche hazard is possible and avalanche reports should be consulted where available.

hazard Blizzards
Blizzards and whiteouts present challenging and serious conditions due to a combination of falling or blowing snow, strong winds and cold temperatures. They can be highly disorientating, often resulting in near-zero visibility with limited or no visual references and no distinction between ground and sky. Cliff edges and cornices may not be apparent, even close up. These conditions require very good navigational skills.
hazard Storm Force Winds
Storm force winds (gusts over 70mph) make walking very strenuous with any mobility virtually impossible over exposed ground. Where these conditions occur there is a high risk of being blown over and even standing may be impossible at times with a risk of being blown off one’s feet. Basic tasks such as using a map, eating, putting on extra clothing or communication become extremely difficult away from any shelter.
hazard Strong Sunlight
Harmful UV levels from sunlight increase with altitude giving a greater risk of sunburn and eye damage, even on some overcast days. On breezy days, the cooling effect of wind on exposed skin may disguise any feeling of sunburn until it is too late. If there is snow cover, glare increases the effect of UV rays especially on the eyes. It is advisable to wear sun block, protective clothing such as a long-sleeved top and hat and have good quality eye protection.

Mountain weather forecast

A showery day, the showers more frequent in afternoon and turning increasingly to snow at lower levels. Severe gales gradually easing.

Time 00:00 03:00 06:00 09:00 12:00 15:00 18:00 21:00
Weather
(at 800m)
Light rain Light shower (night) Sleet Heavy snow shower (day) Heavy snow Heavy snow Heavy snow Cloudy
Chance of precipitation
(at 800m)
60% 30% 30% 40% 80% 60% 30% 20%,

Wind direction and speed (mph)
Altitude above mean sea level
Time 00:00 03:00 06:00 09:00 12:00 15:00 18:00 21:00
1300m SW
57
SW
57
SW
49
SW
44
SW
38
SW
28
W
22
NW
25
900m SW
51
SW
51
SW
43
SW
38
SW
32
SW
23
W
16
W
18
600m SW
35
SW
34
SW
28
SW
27
SW
24
SW
18
SW
11
W
13
300m SW
19
SW
20
SW
16
SW
16
SW
16
SW
12
W
7
SW
7
Glen SW
11
SW
11
SW
8
SW
9
W
10
W
8
W
5
W
4
Wind gust (mph)
Altitude above mean sea level
Time 00:00 03:00 06:00 09:00 12:00 15:00 18:00 21:00
1300m 74 74 64 58 49 36 28 33
900m 64 63 54 49 42 31 20 24
600m 47 47 39 37 35 25 16 19
300m 42 42 34 33 33 24 14 15
Glen 39 40 30 30 29 21 16 16

Altitude above mean sea level
Time 00:00 03:00 06:00 09:00 12:00 15:00 18:00 21:00
1300m
-1°
-2°
-3°
-3°
-3°
-5°
-6°
900m
-1°
-2°
600m
300m
Glen
Freezing Level
1,600m
1,200m
900m
900m
900m
800m
600m
500m

Altitude above mean sea level
Time 00:00 03:00 06:00 09:00 12:00 15:00 18:00 21:00
1300m
-9°
-11°
-13°
-13°
-12°
-12°
-13°
-15°
900m
-4°
-6°
-8°
-8°
-7°
-7°
-8°
-9°
600m
-1°
-3°
-3°
-3°
-3°
-3°
-5°
300m
-1°
Glen

Additional weather information

Met Office Aberdeen meteorologist's view

A range of winter hazards to be aware of

Weather

Rain turning showery in the early hours the showers turning to snow above 1000m. The day will bring showers and sunny interludes, with snow above 900m at first but turning to snow down to 700m in the afternoon, 500m by evening and to 250m by midnight. The showers turning more frequent during the afternoon especially towards Loch Ericht, then more isolated in the evening, with fewer reaching Strathdon

Chance of cloud-free hill tops

40%.

Low cloud and visibility

Broken at 900m or above, occasionally overcast with patches to 600m especially near heavier showers which will themselves bring poor visibility away from cloud as snow showers turn heavier. Very poor in any blizzard conditions that develop.

Sunrise:
Sunset:

Mountain weather information

Weather

Clear or sunny intervals and occasional showers, some heavy, with snow above 300m, perhaps to low levels at first. The showers turning lighter towards evening

Chance of cloud-free hill tops

50%

Maximum wind speed expected

Strong to gale northwesterly winds on the tops so feeling very cold.

Temperature

  • At 800m Minus 4 Celsius
  • Glen Zero rising to Plus 5 Celsius
  • Freezing level All levels rising to 400m in afternoon, dropping in evening

Low cloud and visibility

Cloud broken at 750m or above, with brief drops to 600m as snow showers pass through. Visibility good dropping poor in snow showers.

Mountain weather information

Thu 26 Mar

Sunrise:
Sunset:

A few wintry showers in the morning then the afternoon dry and bright. Cloud and light snow edging in from west in evening, turning to rain later. Freezing level 400m rising above summits later in the evening. Fresh northwest winds becoming southwest later.

Fri 27 Mar

Sunrise:
Sunset:

Bright with occasional showers, with snow above 600-700m. Strong northwesterly winds

Sat 28 Mar

Sunrise:
Sunset:

Bright with sunny intervals and the odd shower, freezing levels around 800m

Updated at:

Summit specific forecast

Mountain summit forecast map

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For snow and avalanche hazard forecasts please visit Scottish Avalanche Information Service