Mountain weather

North Grampian

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North Grampian Mountain weather forecast table

Confidence

High generally for the upcoming dry spell, medium for extent of any cloud

Sunrise:
Sunset:

This evening forecast

Mostly cloudy with a few showers, of snow above 900m, and some hill fog on the tops. A few clear intervals. Fresh to strong easterly winds on summits.

Sunrise:
Sunset:
Mountain hazards

Mountain weather hazards

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

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.

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

Mountain weather forecast

Cloudy start in south with isolated light showers then dry and mainly clear and sunny, though some cloud may linger in far north, before increasing in evening. Fresh to strong easterly winds on the summits.

Time 00:00 03:00 06:00 09:00 12:00 15:00 18:00 21:00
Weather
(at 800m)
 Light snow Light snow Fog Cloudy Sunny day Sunny day Sunny day Clear night
Chance of precipitation
(at 800m)
 20% 20% 10% <05% <05% 00% 00% 00%

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 SE
26
 E
22
 E
22
 E
21
 E
19
 E
17
 E
16
 E
17
900m NE
15
 E
17
 E
16
 E
15
 E
16
 E
14
 E
13
 NE
12
600m NE
9
 NE
9
 E
9
 E
12
 E
12
 E
11
 E
10
 NE
7
300m NE
4
 E
6
 E
5
 E
8
 E
9
 E
9
 E
8
 NE
5
Glen NE
3
 NE
5
 E
4
 E
6
 E
8
 E
8
 NE
7
 NE
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 34 29 29 29 26 23 23 23
900m 19 21 21 21 22 20 18 16
600m 13 14 14 18 19 17 15 12
300m 11 15 13 16 18 18 16 14
Glen 11 13 12 15 17 17 17 13

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°
-4°
-3°
-1°
0°
-1°
-2°
900m
0°
0°
-1°
0°
2°
4°
3°
1°
600m
3°
2°
2°
3°
5°
7°
6°
3°
300m
4°
4°
4°
6°
9°
10°
8°
5°
Glen
5°
5°
4°
7°
10°
11°
9°
5°
Freezing Level
1,000m
900m
700m
800m
900m
1,000m
1,000m
900m

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

Additional weather information

Met Office Aberdeen meteorologist's view

Despite the sunshine, a notable chill at height due to fresh winds and low temperatures.

Weather

Cloudy overnight with some light showers, or summit snow flurries. Still a few showers at first over the south around dawn, then most areas will become clear with cloud dispersing to allow long spells of sunshine. Some cloud may linger over the Cromdale Hills and Northern Cairngorms, with some lower cloud extending to the north and east later in the evening

Chance of cloud-free hill tops

40% overnight rising more than 90% in the morning, falling 50% in north and east by midnight.

Low cloud and visibility

Cloud above 700-900m overnight lifting and breaking in morning then mostly no low cloud and very good visibility. Cloud then dropping to 700-900m in north and east during evening.

Sunrise:
Sunset:

Mountain weather information

Weather

A cloudy start the cloud lifting during the morning then breaking up to give a mainly sunny afternoon. Patchy cloud may filter back into the east later in the evening.

Chance of cloud-free hill tops

40% at first otherwise 90% or more.

Maximum wind speed expected

Easterly 20 gusts 30mph.

Temperature

  • At 800m Minus 1 rising to Plus 5 Celsius for a time in the afternoon.
  • Glen Zero rising to Plus 13 Celsius
  • Freezing level 700m rising above summits in afternoon, dropping again in evening.

Low cloud and visibility

Areas of cloud at 700-900m at first otherwise little low cloud and very good visibility.

Mountain weather information

Thu 23 Apr

Sunrise:
Sunset:

Any patchy cloud at dawn soon clearing then another dry and sunny day. Lighter winds. Freezing level 700m rising above summits.

Fri 24 Apr

Sunrise:
Sunset:

Staying dry and sunny with mostly light winds. Warm.

Sat 25 Apr

Sunrise:
Sunset:

Perhaps some low cloud at first in north and east otherwise staying clear with long sunny spells.

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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