Mountain weather
North Grampian Mountain weather forecast table
Confidence
High confidence in the overall evolution to much colder and windier conditions by the second half of this week and with drifting accumulations of snow likely at all levels by Friday.
This evening forecast
Mainly cloudy with patchy hill fog above 800m and the odd light shower. Bitterly cold at height in fresh winds.
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.
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
Dry and cold with sunny spells and some patchy cloud around summit level.
| Time | 00:00 | 03:00 | 06:00 | 09:00 | 12:00 | 15:00 | 18:00 | 21:00 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Weather (at 800m) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Chance of precipitation (at 800m) |
<05% | <05% | <05% | 10% | 10% | 10% | 10% | 10% |
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 |
NE
19
|
N
17
|
N
15
|
N
14
|
N
12
|
NW
15
|
NW
18
|
NW
20
|
| 900m |
NE
14
|
NE
11
|
NE
9
|
NE
9
|
NW
6
|
W
7
|
W
9
|
W
10
|
| 600m |
NE
8
|
N
4
|
NE
3
|
N
4
|
W
3
|
W
4
|
W
4
|
W
5
|
| 300m |
NE
4
|
NW
2
|
S
1
|
S
1
|
SW
2
|
SW
2
|
SW
3
|
SW
4
|
| Glen |
N
3
|
NW
2
|
NW
1
|
W
2
|
SW
2
|
W
3
|
W
2
|
W
3
|
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 | 26 | 22 | 19 | 18 | 15 | 19 | 23 | 25 |
| 900m | 18 | 14 | 11 | 11 | 8 | 9 | 11 | 12 |
| 600m | 11 | 6 | 5 | 6 | 5 | 6 | 6 | 7 |
| 300m | 8 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 |
| Glen | 9 | 6 | 5 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 |
Altitude above mean sea level
| Time | 00:00 | 03:00 | 06:00 | 09:00 | 12:00 | 15:00 | 18:00 | 21:00 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1300m |
-6°
|
-6°
|
-7°
|
-7°
|
-6°
|
-7°
|
-7°
|
-6°
|
| 900m |
-3°
|
-3°
|
-4°
|
-4°
|
-4°
|
-4°
|
-4°
|
-4°
|
| 600m |
-1°
|
-1°
|
-2°
|
-2°
|
-2°
|
-1°
|
-2°
|
-2°
|
| 300m |
0°
|
-1°
|
-2°
|
-2°
|
-1°
|
-1°
|
-2°
|
-1°
|
| Glen |
0°
|
-1°
|
-2°
|
-3°
|
0°
|
0°
|
-2°
|
-1°
|
| Freezing Level |
300m
|
200m
|
200m
|
200m
|
200m
|
200m
|
100m
|
100m
|
Altitude above mean sea level
| Time | 00:00 | 03:00 | 06:00 | 09:00 | 12:00 | 15:00 | 18:00 | 21:00 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1300m |
-14°
|
-14°
|
-14°
|
-14°
|
-13°
|
-14°
|
-14°
|
-14°
|
| 900m |
-9°
|
-9°
|
-9°
|
-9°
|
-8°
|
-8°
|
-9°
|
-9°
|
| 600m |
-5°
|
-4°
|
-4°
|
-4°
|
-3°
|
-4°
|
-4°
|
-4°
|
| 300m |
-2°
|
-3°
|
-4°
|
-4°
|
-2°
|
-3°
|
-4°
|
-4°
|
| Glen |
-2°
|
-3°
|
-4°
|
-5°
|
-2°
|
-3°
|
-4°
|
-4°
|
Additional weather information
Met Office Aberdeen meteorologist's view
A decent winter day in the mountains but note generally sub zero temperatures at all levels and a bitterly cold windchill at height.
Weather
The odd mist or fog patch in the glens during the early hours and at first. During the day it will be dry and cold with some patchy hill fog but good sunny spells too. The most prolonged sunshine expected in the southwest towards Creag Meagaidh. Winds generally light, but moderate at height and strengthening in the evening.
Chance of cloud-free hill tops
80%
Low cloud and visibility
A few patches of cloud around 1000-1200m, most especially across northern ranges. Visibility will be excellent outside of cloud and any low level mist or fog patches.
Mountain weather information
Weather
It will be a bright day with patchy cloud in the morning, thickening at times in the afternoon bringing a few showery outbreaks of rain, and falling as snow above 1000m. Winds becoming strong at height through the afternoon bringing a bitterly cold wind chill.
Chance of cloud-free hill tops
60% at first, decreasing to 10% by the evening.
Maximum wind speed expected
Gusting to around 50mph by evening.
Temperature
- At 800m Minus 3 rising Plus 1 Celsius.
- Glen Minus 1 rising Plus 4 Celsius.
- Freezing level Surface to 200m at first, rising to 1000m.
Low cloud and visibility
Patches of cloud around 800-1000m during the morning becoming more extensive through the afternoon. Visibility will be generally good, but occasionally deteriorating to a few kilometres or less in showers.
Mountain weather information
Thu 1 Jan
Sunrise:
Sunset:
A bitterly cold day with frequent showers, increasingly falling as snow to lower levels through the day. Strong winds with gales at height.
Fri 2 Jan
Sunrise:
Sunset:
Frequent snow showers at all levels with drifting accumulations. Sub zero temperatures and gales making it feel bitterly cold.
Sat 3 Jan
Sunrise:
Sunset:
Remaining bitterly cold with snow showers at all levels. Strong to gale force winds at height.
Updated at:
Summit specific forecast
Mountain summit forecast map
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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