Mountain weather

North Grampian Mountain weather forecast table

Confidence

High confidence for overall setup of southeasterly flow and for the cloudy, cold and often wet conditions to continue. Lower confidence for exact detail of rain and snow levels.

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 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 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 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 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 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 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.

Mountain weather forecast

Cloudy with periods of sleet turning to snow at low levels through the morning, blizzards at times with gales on southeast summits. Brighter in the west.

Time 06:00 09:00 12:00 15:00 18:00 21:00
Weather
(at 800m)
Heavy snow Heavy snow Light snow Light snow Light snow Light snow
Chance of precipitation
(at 800m)
80% 70% 70% 70% 70% 70%

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
45
SE
43
SE
45
SE
45
E
44
E
46
900m SE
37
SE
35
E
37
SE
39
E
39
E
36
600m N
11
NE
12
E
15
E
18
E
19
NE
15
300m NE
5
NE
7
E
8
NE
8
NE
8
E
9
Glen NE
2
NE
3
E
4
NE
4
NE
4
NE
4
Wind gust (mph)
Altitude above mean sea level
Time 06:00 09:00 12:00 15:00 18:00 21:00
1300m 56 54 57 56 56 59
900m 42 40 44 46 47 43
600m 15 15 21 25 26 21
300m 11 17 20 18 20 22
Glen 11 15 16 16 16 18

Altitude above mean sea level
Time 06:00 09:00 12:00 15:00 18:00 21:00
1300m
-5°
-5°
-5°
-6°
-7°
-7°
900m
-1°
-1°
-2°
-2°
-3°
-3°
600m
-1°
-1°
300m
Glen
Freezing Level
600m
600m
500m
400m
300m
300m

Altitude above mean sea level
Time 06:00 09:00 12:00 15:00 18:00 21:00
1300m
-16°
-16°
-17°
-18°
-19°
-19°
900m
-10°
-10°
-11°
-12°
-13°
-13°
600m
-3°
-4°
-5°
-6°
-8°
-7°
300m
-1°
-1°
-3°
-3°
Glen
-1°

Additional weather information

Met Office Aberdeen meteorologist's view

Feeling very cold, combined with strong winds and gales, periods of snow and blizzard conditions will combine to make walking on eastern ridges hazardous and only suitable for experienced climbers.

Weather

Extensive cloud with snow in the east. Drier and brighter far northwest. Fresh southeast summit wind becoming stronger with a risk of blizzard and gales later.

Chance of cloud-free hill tops

Mostly nil, 10% in northwest.

Low cloud and visibility

Extensive cloud down to 300-500m together with hill fog or snow with blizzard conditions at times will lower the visibility to very poor. Some breaks in the cloud in northwest may give brief clearer spells.

Sunrise:
Sunset:

Mountain weather information

Weather

Cloudy with snow to low levels. Fresh northeast summit wind. Freezing level 200m rising to 600m by the end of the day.

Chance of cloud-free hill tops

Mostly nil, 20% in northwest.

Maximum wind speed expected

Easterly 20-30mph and gusts up to 30-40mph.

Temperature

  • At 800m Minus 3 rising to minus 1 Celsius
  • Glen Minus 1 Celsius rising plus 2 Celsius.
  • Freezing level 200 metres rising to 600 metres

Low cloud and visibility

Extensive cloud down to 300-500m together with hill fog or snow with blizzard conditions at times will lower the visibility to very poor. Some breaks in the cloud in northwest may give brief clearer spells.

Mountain weather information

Sat 7 Feb

Sunrise:
Sunset:

Cloudy with snow in the east. Drier and brighter west. Moderate east summit wind. Freezing level 300m rising to 1000m in the afternoon.

Sun 8 Feb

Sunrise:
Sunset:

Cloudy with sleet or snow in the east, moderate southeast summit wind easing, freezing level 1000m to begin, falling later to 600m for a time before rising again to 1000m.

Mon 9 Feb

Sunrise:
Sunset:

Remaining cloudy with freezing levels 1000m and lighter southerly winds.

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