Mountain weather

Mountain weather

North Grampian

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Confidence

Unsettled and often windy with summit gales towards the end of the week, blustery Autumnal conditions. Some brighter weather to be found mainly further east with the weather moving in from the Atlantic. Uncertainties in cloud details and amount of showers on any day.

Sunrise: Sunset:
Sunrise: Sunset:
Mountain hazards

Mountain weather hazards

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

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.

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.
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.
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.
Updated: 
Mountain hazards explained

Mountain weather forecast

Dry and bright start in the east, becoming showery everywhere, strong westerly winds, summit gales likely.

Time
 Time
06:00
09:00
12:00
15:00
18:00
21:00
Weather
(at 800m)
 Weather symbols Cloudy Heavy Rain Heavy Rain Heavy Rain Heavy Rain Heavy Rain
Chance of
precipitation
(at 800m)
 Chance of precipitation
10%
30%
60%
80%
60%
60%

Wind direction and speed

Altitude above mean sea level
Time
 Time
06:00
09:00
12:00
15:00
18:00
21:00
1300m
 1300m SW 36mph knots
SW
36mph
 SW 38mph knots
SW
38mph
 SW 36mph knots
SW
36mph
 W 39mph knots
W
39mph
 W 45mph knots
W
45mph
 W 43mph knots
W
43mph
900m
 900m SW 35mph knots
SW
35mph
 SW 35mph knots
SW
35mph
 SW 33mph knots
SW
33mph
 SW 35mph knots
SW
35mph
 W 38mph knots
W
38mph
 W 36mph knots
W
36mph
600m
 600m SW 19mph knots
SW
19mph
 SW 23mph knots
SW
23mph
 SW 24mph knots
SW
24mph
 SW 24mph knots
SW
24mph
 W 25mph knots
W
25mph
 W 24mph knots
W
24mph
300m
 300m SW 8mph knots
SW
8mph
 SW 12mph knots
SW
12mph
 SW 13mph knots
SW
13mph
 SW 13mph knots
SW
13mph
 SW 12mph knots
SW
12mph
 SW 12mph knots
SW
12mph
Glen
 Glen SW 4mph knots
SW
4mph
 SW 4mph knots
SW
4mph
 SW 6mph knots
SW
6mph
 SW 6mph knots
SW
6mph
 W 5mph knots
W
5mph
 SW 4mph knots
SW
4mph

Wind gust

Altitude above mean sea level
Time
 Time
06:00
09:00
12:00
15:00
18:00
21:00
1300m
 1300m 47mph 51mph 48mph 52mph 59mph 56mph
900m
 900m 41mph 44mph 42mph 44mph 48mph 45mph
600m
 600m 25mph 31mph 32mph 32mph 35mph 34mph
300m
 300m 23mph 28mph 28mph 27mph 27mph 27mph
Glen
 Glen 22mph 22mph 23mph 26mph 27mph 24mph

Altitude above mean sea level
Time
 Time
06:00
09:00
12:00
15:00
18:00
21:00
1300m
 1300m -6 degrees Celsius -6 degrees Celsius -4 degrees Celsius -5 degrees Celsius -7 degrees Celsius -7 degrees Celsius
900m
 900m -2 degrees Celsius -1 degrees Celsius 0 degrees Celsius 0 degrees Celsius -2 degrees Celsius -2 degrees Celsius
600m
 600m 3 degrees Celsius 3 degrees Celsius 4 degrees Celsius 4 degrees Celsius 3 degrees Celsius 2 degrees Celsius
300m
 300m 7 degrees Celsius 8 degrees Celsius 8 degrees Celsius 8 degrees Celsius 7 degrees Celsius 6 degrees Celsius
Glen
 Glen 7 degrees Celsius 9 degrees Celsius 11 degrees Celsius 11 degrees Celsius 9 degrees Celsius 8 degrees Celsius
Freezing Level Freezing Level
1600m
1600m
1800m
1800m
1700m
1600m

Additional weather information

Meteorologist's view

Summit gales likely with gusty winds around showers. On the Cairngorm Plateau winds may be closer to 70mph around some showers.

Weather

Showers in the west overnight, clear spells in the east. A bright start around eastern hills but a few showers for western ranges. The general theme will be a showery day with showers grouping together at times in the west to give longer spells of rain, some bright and dry weather at times for eastern hills. Becoming very blustery by late morning with summit gales likely in the afternoon and feeling quite chilly for the time of year.

Chance of cloud-free hill tops

50% in the west, 80% in the east. Best chance of clear summits likely for ranges east of the A9.

Low cloud and visibility

Patches of low cloud above 600m to start the day but as showers become more frequent cloud will gather and lower in more persistent showers with periods of low cloud above 500m, the best conditions will be found in the east with a good chance of some summit views across the ranges at times. Visibility will be good outwith showers turning moderate in heavier shower and perhaps poor for a time in the west in extended showers.

Ground conditions

No recent ground conditions report available.

Summit specific forecast

Includes the northern and western Cairngorms National Park, Monadhliath, Ben Alder, Creag Meagaidh, Loch Ericht and Loch Rannoch.

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