Mountain weather

North Grampian

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North Grampian Mountain weather forecast table

Confidence

High confidence in generally unsettled conditions. Low confidence in details Wednesday and Friday.

Sunrise:
Sunset:

This evening forecast

A few showers feed in from the west through the evening, heavy at times and falling as snow above 700-800m. Staying mostly dry for Ben Rinnes, Ladder Hills and the Lecht. Summits often clear and good visibilities outside of showers, but visibilities rapidly and temporarily falling poor and cloud becoming quite extensive down to 500-700m as showers pass through. Southwest winds 30-40mph, perhaps gusting 40-55mph at times. Feeling cold at height.

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 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 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 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 hazards explained
Avalanche information for Scotland. Scottish Avalanche Information Service.

Mountain weather forecast

Heavy showers morning. Dry from late afternoon. Rain late evening.

Time 00:00 03:00 06:00 09:00 12:00 15:00 18:00 21:00
Weather
(at 800m)
 Sleet shower (night) Sleet shower (night) Sleet shower (night) Sleet shower (day) Sleet shower (day) Sunny intervals Cloudy Light snow
Chance of precipitation
(at 800m)
 70% 80% 80% 70% 50% 30% 10% 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 SW
34
 SW
39
 SW
36
 W
35
 W
32
 W
30
 W
19
 S
15
900m SW
32
 SW
36
 SW
34
 SW
31
 W
28
 W
23
 SW
15
 S
15
600m SW
20
 SW
21
 SW
22
 SW
20
 SW
18
 W
17
 SW
11
 SW
7
300m SW
9
 SW
11
 SW
10
 SW
10
 SW
10
 SW
9
 SW
5
 S
3
Glen SW
5
 SW
5
 SW
4
 SW
5
 W
6
 W
6
 SW
4
 SW
5
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 44 51 48 46 42 39 25 19
900m 39 44 42 39 35 30 20 19
600m 28 30 31 28 25 24 16 14
300m 23 25 24 23 22 20 14 11
Glen 23 22 21 20 22 20 12 14

Altitude above mean sea level
Time 00:00 03:00 06:00 09:00 12:00 15:00 18:00 21:00
1300m
-3°
-3°
-3°
-3°
-2°
-2°
-2°
-2°
900m
0°
0°
0°
0°
1°
2°
1°
2°
600m
2°
2°
2°
2°
3°
4°
4°
4°
300m
4°
4°
4°
4°
6°
7°
5°
4°
Glen
4°
4°
5°
4°
7°
8°
6°
6°
Freezing Level
900m
900m
900m
900m
1,000m
1,100m
1,100m
1,100m

Altitude above mean sea level
Time 00:00 03:00 06:00 09:00 12:00 15:00 18:00 21:00
1300m
-13°
-13°
-12°
-12°
-11°
-10°
-9°
-7°
900m
-8°
-8°
-8°
-8°
-6°
-5°
-4°
-3°
600m
-4°
-4°
-4°
-4°
-2°
0°
0°
2°
300m
1°
0°
1°
1°
3°
4°
3°
3°
Glen
2°
2°
3°
2°
5°
7°
4°
3°

Additional weather information

Met Office Aberdeen meteorologist's view

Gusts of 40-55mph in the morning will give difficult walking conditions with a risk of being blown off balance. Navigation could be challenging with energy output significantly increased when walking into the wind. Feeling cold at height so suitable clothing is advised. Keep up to date with the latest forecast from the Scottish Avalanche Information Service (SAIS). Underfoot conditions may still be quite icy at moderate elevations with ongoing thaw of snow.

Weather

Scattered showers feed in from the west through the morning, falling as snow above 900-1000m, and heavy at times. Best of the dry, bright conditions in the more sheltered northeast towards Ben Rinnes, the Ladder Hills and the Lecht. These showers will die out through the afternoon, becoming mostly dry for all around dusk. Then cloud and rain spread northeast through the late evening. Strong winds in the morning will ease through the afternoon.

Chance of cloud-free hill tops

In morning: 40% southwest, 70% northeast. Rising 80% for all by dusk. Falling 20% or less in the southwest late evening.

Low cloud and visibility

Quite extensive areas of cloud down to 500-700m and visibilities falling poor as showers pass through in the morning. Clear breaks between showers in the morning, especially in the sheltered northeast, these becoming widespread and prolonged through the afternoon with only patches of cloud around summit height. Cloud becomes extensive again in the southwest through the evening.

Sunrise:
Sunset:

Mountain weather information

Weather

Rain clears north in the early hours. Then dry during the rest of the day. Quite widespread cloud in southwestern areas through the day, bright spells in the northeast. Further rain may spread east in the evening. Strong winds. A touch milder than Monday, but still cold at height.

Chance of cloud-free hill tops

25% in southwest, 75% in sheltered northeast.

Maximum wind speed expected

South to southwest 35-45mph, gusting 50-60mph possible at height.

Temperature

  • At 800m Plus 2C to plus 5C.
  • Glen Plus 5C rising to plus 11C.
  • Freezing level 1400-1600m rising well above summits.

Low cloud and visibility

Quite extensive cloud down to 400-600m in the southwest with poor visibilities in hill fog, though the very highest summits may poke out above the cloud layer. Low cloud will be much more broken in the sheltered northeast with summits mostly clear and good visibilities.

Mountain weather information

Wed 25 Feb

Sunrise:
Sunset:

Cloud and rain, clearing later in the day. Freezing level above summits falling to 1000-1200m or so later. Strong southerly winds easing.

Thu 26 Feb

Sunrise:
Sunset:

Rain or showers, heavy at times. Strong southwest winds. Freezing level around 1000-1200m.

Fri 27 Feb

Sunrise:
Sunset:

Rain in the morning, then showers, heavy at times. Strong southwest winds veer northwest. Freezing level around 1000-1200m falling to 600m or so later

Updated at:
Mountain weather explained

Summit specific forecast

Mountain summit forecast map

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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

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