Mountain weather
North Grampian Mountain weather forecast table
Confidence
High confidence for overall setup and for an unsettled couple of days before high pressure builds from Tuesday.
Mountain weather hazards
Hazards apply at or above 300m, reflecting the more severe conditions which can occur at altitude.
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.
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.
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.
Mountain weather forecast
A mostly cloudy and windy day. Light rain in the east and clearer spells northwest. Feeling cold.
| Time | 06:00 | 09:00 | 12:00 | 15:00 | 18:00 | 21:00 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Weather (at 800m) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Chance of precipitation (at 800m) |
<05% | <05% | 20% | 30% | 30% | 30% |
Wind direction and speed (mph)
Altitude above mean sea level
| Time | 06:00 | 09:00 | 12:00 | 15:00 | 18:00 | 21:00 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1300m |
SE
44
|
SE
43
|
SE
32
|
SE
32
|
SE
30
|
SE
31
|
| 900m |
SE
30
|
SE
44
|
SE
32
|
SE
26
|
SE
23
|
E
23
|
| 600m |
N
13
|
SE
25
|
SE
18
|
SE
9
|
NE
9
|
NE
9
|
| 300m |
E
3
|
SE
5
|
SE
4
|
E
3
|
SE
3
|
E
5
|
| Glen |
E
2
|
NE
2
|
N
4
|
N
4
|
NE
3
|
NE
3
|
Wind gust (mph)
Altitude above mean sea level
| Time | 06:00 | 09:00 | 12:00 | 15:00 | 18:00 | 21:00 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1300m | 55 | 55 | 42 | 40 | 39 | 41 |
| 900m | 34 | 55 | 43 | 36 | 29 | 27 |
| 600m | 16 | 37 | 30 | 18 | 12 | 12 |
| 300m | 8 | 15 | 8 | 7 | 8 | 12 |
| Glen | 9 | 9 | 8 | 8 | 11 | 10 |
Altitude above mean sea level
| Time | 06:00 | 09:00 | 12:00 | 15:00 | 18:00 | 21:00 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1300m |
-2°
|
-2°
|
-2°
|
-2°
|
-1°
|
0°
|
| 900m |
2°
|
2°
|
2°
|
3°
|
2°
|
2°
|
| 600m |
3°
|
4°
|
5°
|
4°
|
4°
|
4°
|
| 300m |
4°
|
5°
|
6°
|
4°
|
4°
|
5°
|
| Glen |
4°
|
4°
|
6°
|
5°
|
5°
|
6°
|
| Freezing Level |
1,100m
|
1,100m
|
1,100m
|
1,100m
|
1,300m
|
1,400m
|
Altitude above mean sea level
| Time | 06:00 | 09:00 | 12:00 | 15:00 | 18:00 | 21:00 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1300m |
-12°
|
-11°
|
-10°
|
-10°
|
-9°
|
-9°
|
| 900m |
-6°
|
-6°
|
-5°
|
-4°
|
-4°
|
-4°
|
| 600m |
-1°
|
-2°
|
0°
|
1°
|
0°
|
1°
|
| 300m |
2°
|
3°
|
4°
|
3°
|
3°
|
3°
|
| Glen |
3°
|
3°
|
5°
|
4°
|
4°
|
5°
|
Additional weather information
Met Office Aberdeen meteorologist's view
Strong winds will make for strenuous walking conditions. Feeling cold with risk of severe wind chill.
Weather
A mostly cloudy day with outbreaks of light patchy rain, mainly focused on southeast facing slopes. The northwest largely dry with some brighter spells. Turning cloudy for all in the evening. Rain falling as snow to 800m in the morning rising 1200m later. Strong southeasterly winds with a risk of gales or severe gales on highest tops.
Chance of cloud-free hill tops
60% northwest, 20% east. Falling to nil in evening.
Low cloud and visibility
Some occasional low cloud bases 700-900m through the morning and afternoon but still some breaks and cloud free tops at times in the northwest. Cloud thickening and lowering in the evening with widespread bases down to valley level. Outside of cloud, visibility mostly good but poor at times in rain.
Mountain weather information
Weather
A cloudy start with light rain. Heavy rain soon moving northwards over the area. Heavy rain clears to the north by late morning leaving the rest of the day mostly dry and cloudy with light rain in the east and some clear intervals in the northwest by evening. Snow falling only on the highest tops at first. Strong southeasterly winds with gales on highest routes. Marked wind chill.
Chance of cloud-free hill tops
Nil, rising to 20% later.
Maximum wind speed expected
Southeasterly 35-45mph gusting 45-55mph.
Temperature
- At 800m Plus 2-3 Celsius.
- Glen Plus 8 Celsius.
- Freezing level Above summits.
Low cloud and visibility
Widespread low cloud with base 400-600m for much of the day but some breaks developing in the evening in the northwest. Outside of cloud, visibility mostly good poor at times in rain.
Mountain weather information
Tue 23 Dec
Sunrise:
Sunset:
High pressure building. Cloudy with outbreaks of rain. Fresh to strong southeasterly winds. Freezing level above summits.
Wed 24 Dec
Sunrise:
Sunset:
Mostly dry and cloudy. Moderate southeasterly winds. Freezing level 800m.
Thu 25 Dec
Sunrise:
Sunset:
Mostly cloudy and dry, some bright intervals. Moderate southeasterly winds. Freezing level 500m.
Updated at:
Summit specific forecast
Mountain summit forecast map
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Key
Mountain summits
Other points of interest
Cluster of multiple stations
Includes the northern and western Cairngorms National Park, Monadhliath, Ben Alder, Creag Meagaidh, Loch Ericht and Loch Rannoch.
For snow and avalanche hazard forecasts please visit Scottish Avalanche Information Service