Mountain weather

North Grampian Mountain weather forecast table

Confidence

High for Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday. Low for extent of precipitation later in the week.

Sunrise:
Sunset:

This evening forecast

Dry with thinning cloud. Freezing level lowering to 900 metres.

Sunrise:
Sunset:
Mountain hazards

Mountain weather hazards

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

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 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 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 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

Dry morning, cloudier afternoon with patchy rain

Time 00:00 03:00 06:00 09:00 12:00 15:00 18:00 21:00
Weather
(at 800m)
Cloudy Cloudy Sunny day Sunny day Sunny intervals Cloudy Light rain Light rain
Chance of precipitation
(at 800m)
00% 00% 00% 00% 00% 20% 30% 30%

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 W
13
W
18
W
19
W
23
SW
31
W
36
SW
35
W
33
900m W
8
SW
14
SW
16
SW
21
SW
23
SW
31
SW
31
SW
28
600m W
5
SW
10
SW
11
SW
12
SW
15
SW
21
SW
21
SW
20
300m SW
2
SW
4
SW
5
SW
6
SW
11
SW
13
SW
13
SW
12
Glen SW
2
SW
4
SW
4
SW
6
SW
8
SW
8
SW
7
SW
6
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 16 22 24 32 42 49 47 45
900m 11 17 20 27 31 41 40 37
600m 7 13 15 18 23 31 32 31
300m 6 11 14 17 25 29 29 26
Glen 6 13 15 17 25 26 26 24

Altitude above mean sea level
Time 00:00 03:00 06:00 09:00 12:00 15:00 18:00 21:00
1300m
-3°
-2°
-1°
900m
600m
300m
Glen
11°
11°
Freezing Level
900m
800m
1,700m
2,000m
2,200m
2,500m
2,500m
2,300m

Altitude above mean sea level
Time 00:00 03:00 06:00 09:00 12:00 15:00 18:00 21:00
1300m
-8°
-8°
-7°
-6°
-5°
-6°
-6°
-5°
900m
-3°
-4°
-4°
-3°
-1°
-2°
-2°
-1°
600m
-2°
-1°
300m
Glen
-1°

Additional weather information

Met Office Aberdeen meteorologist's view

Summits will become shrouded during the afternoon leading to navigational difficulties, especially west of the A9. Winds will also strengthen during the afternoon with a risk of gales on the highest tops towards evening.

Weather

The morning will be dry with some sunshine. Thickening cloud will bring some patchy rain from the west in the afternoon and evening.

Chance of cloud-free hill tops

60%, best chance across the Cairngorms

Low cloud and visibility

Very good visibility in the morning with little in the way of summit cloud. Hill fog gradually becoming more extensive from the west through the afternoon with cloud lowering to 650 to 900 metres, lowest bases towards the Great Glen.

Sunrise:
Sunset:

Mountain weather information

Weather

Hill fog and patchy rain clearing away during the early hours. Then it will be a dry day with variable amounts of cloud. Brisk winds on the summits.

Chance of cloud-free hill tops

70%

Maximum wind speed expected

Westerly average speeds of 25 mph with gusts to 35 mph on the higher tops

Temperature

  • At 800m Plus 3 Celsius
  • Glen Plus 7 rising to 12 Celsius
  • Freezing level 1200 to 1500 metres

Low cloud and visibility

Very good visibility with great air clarity. Patchy cloud above 850 metres, this most prevalent across Monadhliath and the Cairngorms shrouding the higher tops at times.

Mountain weather information

Wed 26 Mar

Sunrise:
Sunset:

Dry with only small amounts of summit cloud for most of the day. Thickening cloud will bring rain for a time later in the afternoon and evening. Higher summit southwesterly gales.

Thu 27 Mar

Sunrise:
Sunset:

Cloud and windy with wintry showers or occasionally longer spells of rain or higher summit snow.

Fri 28 Mar

Sunrise:
Sunset:

Mostly cloudy with scattered wintry showers.

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