Mountain weather
North Grampian Mountain weather forecast table
Confidence
High for changeable weather to continue over the next few days
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
Patchy rain and snow spreading east in the afternoon and evening
| Time | 06:00 | 09:00 | 12:00 | 15:00 | 18:00 | 21:00 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Weather (at 800m) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Chance of precipitation (at 800m) |
10% | 10% | 20% | 50% | 50% | 60% |
Wind direction and speed (mph)
Altitude above mean sea level
| Time | 06:00 | 09:00 | 12:00 | 15:00 | 18:00 | 21:00 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1300m |
NW
32
|
NW
26
|
W
18
|
SW
21
|
SW
32
|
SW
36
|
| 900m |
W
24
|
W
20
|
W
17
|
SW
21
|
S
33
|
S
36
|
| 600m |
W
13
|
W
14
|
W
13
|
SW
14
|
SW
21
|
SW
22
|
| 300m |
W
3
|
W
7
|
W
9
|
SW
8
|
SW
9
|
SW
8
|
| Glen |
SW
4
|
W
5
|
W
8
|
SW
7
|
SW
10
|
SW
11
|
Wind gust (mph)
Altitude above mean sea level
| Time | 06:00 | 09:00 | 12:00 | 15:00 | 18:00 | 21:00 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1300m | 41 | 33 | 22 | 27 | 43 | 49 |
| 900m | 28 | 25 | 21 | 26 | 40 | 44 |
| 600m | 18 | 19 | 18 | 18 | 30 | 32 |
| 300m | 13 | 15 | 17 | 17 | 23 | 23 |
| Glen | 18 | 16 | 18 | 19 | 28 | 31 |
Altitude above mean sea level
| Time | 06:00 | 09:00 | 12:00 | 15:00 | 18:00 | 21:00 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1300m |
-8°
|
-8°
|
-6°
|
-5°
|
-4°
|
-2°
|
| 900m |
-4°
|
-4°
|
-2°
|
-1°
|
0°
|
1°
|
| 600m |
-2°
|
-1°
|
1°
|
1°
|
3°
|
3°
|
| 300m |
-2°
|
1°
|
4°
|
4°
|
4°
|
4°
|
| Glen |
-1°
|
2°
|
5°
|
5°
|
5°
|
5°
|
| Freezing Level |
0m
|
200m
|
400m
|
600m
|
800m
|
1,400m
|
Altitude above mean sea level
| Time | 06:00 | 09:00 | 12:00 | 15:00 | 18:00 | 21:00 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1300m |
-20°
|
-18°
|
-14°
|
-13°
|
-13°
|
-11°
|
| 900m |
-13°
|
-12°
|
-9°
|
-8°
|
-7°
|
-6°
|
| 600m |
-8°
|
-7°
|
-4°
|
-4°
|
-3°
|
-2°
|
| 300m |
-4°
|
-2°
|
1°
|
1°
|
1°
|
1°
|
| Glen |
-3°
|
0°
|
2°
|
2°
|
1°
|
1°
|
Additional weather information
Met Office Aberdeen meteorologist's view
Note strengthening winds later in the day.
Weather
The morning will be dry with clear or sunny intervals. Clouding over in the afternoon with some patchy light snow spreading eastwards. Further patchy snow at first in the evening, but this turning to rain as the freezing level rises from the west.
Chance of cloud-free hill tops
90% falling 30% in evening
Low cloud and visibility
Very good visibility in morning then reducing as light snow arrives during the afternoon. Cloud will lower to 700 metres across the west of the area from late afternoon onwards, with summit cloud becoming more extensive elsewhere in the evening
Mountain weather information
Weather
Rain clearing away in the early hours then dry for a time in the morning. Snow and hail showers will develop from mid-morning, becoming more widespread and occasionally heavy by afternoon. Strong summit winds leading to severe wind chill.
Chance of cloud-free hill tops
70%
Maximum wind speed expected
Westerly average speeds of 35 mph with gusts to 50 mph
Temperature
- At 800m Plus 2 falling to minus 1 Celsius
- Glen Plus 2 rising to 7 Celsius
- Freezing level Above summits falling to 600 metres by afternoon
Low cloud and visibility
Cloud down to 700 metres in the early hours. Otherwise very good visibility with cloud lowering to 800 metres as showers pass by.
Mountain weather information
Sat 28 Mar
Sunrise:
Sunset:
Cold and windy with hail and snow showers, occasionally heavy. Westerly summit gales. Freezing level 600 metres.
Sun 29 Mar
Sunrise:
Sunset:
Rain and summit snow, occasionally heavy, will spread east through the morning. Snow and hail showers following on for the afternoon. Freezing level rising to higher summit level in the morning, falling back to 700 metres in the afternoon. West or southwesterly summit gales.
Mon 30 Mar
Sunrise:
Sunset:
Snow showers in the morning, dying out in the afternoon. Rain and snow likely later in the day. Freezing level 600 metres rising to above summits later.
Updated at:
Summit specific forecast
Mountain summit forecast map
Loading map…
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