Mountain weather
North Grampian Mountain weather forecast table
Confidence
High confidence for the unsettled and mobile westerly pattern to continue but lower confidence in exact details and timings of rainfall events.
This evening forecast
Mostly cloudy with outbreaks of rain, which may be heavy at times. Best of any drier and clearer spells in the east. Strong southwesterly winds, perhaps reaching gale force on highest summits.
Mountain weather hazards
Hazards apply at or above 300m, reflecting the more severe conditions which can occur at altitude.
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.
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.
Storm Force Winds
Storm force winds (gusts over 70mph) make walking very strenuous with any mobility virtually impossible over exposed ground. Where these conditions occur there is a high risk of being blown over and even standing may be impossible at times with a risk of being blown off one’s feet. Basic tasks such as using a map, eating, putting on extra clothing or communication become extremely difficult away from any shelter.
Mountain weather forecast
Mostly cloudy with outbreaks of rain. Drier spells later. Strong to gale force winds.
| 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) |
90% | 90% | 30% | 40% | 60% | 60% | 40% | 40% |
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
37
|
SW
35
|
SW
41
|
SW
49
|
S
47
|
SW
46
|
SW
44
|
SW
44
|
| 900m |
SW
34
|
SW
36
|
SW
39
|
SW
44
|
S
50
|
SW
48
|
SW
39
|
SW
39
|
| 600m |
SW
17
|
SW
22
|
SW
23
|
SW
23
|
S
31
|
SW
31
|
SW
25
|
SW
25
|
| 300m |
SW
7
|
SW
10
|
SW
12
|
SW
12
|
SW
15
|
SW
15
|
SW
14
|
SW
13
|
| Glen |
SW
5
|
SW
5
|
SW
6
|
SW
6
|
SW
8
|
SW
8
|
SW
7
|
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 | 49 | 46 | 54 | 64 | 61 | 60 | 58 | 57 |
| 900m | 41 | 43 | 47 | 53 | 61 | 59 | 48 | 49 |
| 600m | 26 | 31 | 31 | 32 | 42 | 42 | 35 | 35 |
| 300m | 21 | 26 | 29 | 28 | 34 | 34 | 31 | 29 |
| Glen | 22 | 24 | 24 | 26 | 29 | 31 | 28 | 24 |
Altitude above mean sea level
| Time | 00:00 | 03:00 | 06:00 | 09:00 | 12:00 | 15:00 | 18:00 | 21:00 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1300m |
0°
|
0°
|
-1°
|
-2°
|
-2°
|
-1°
|
-1°
|
-2°
|
| 900m |
4°
|
3°
|
3°
|
2°
|
3°
|
3°
|
2°
|
2°
|
| 600m |
7°
|
6°
|
5°
|
4°
|
5°
|
6°
|
5°
|
4°
|
| 300m |
8°
|
7°
|
7°
|
7°
|
8°
|
8°
|
7°
|
6°
|
| Glen |
8°
|
8°
|
7°
|
7°
|
8°
|
9°
|
8°
|
6°
|
| Freezing Level |
1,500m
|
1,500m
|
1,200m
|
1,100m
|
1,200m
|
1,400m
|
1,200m
|
1,000m
|
Altitude above mean sea level
| Time | 00:00 | 03:00 | 06:00 | 09:00 | 12:00 | 15:00 | 18:00 | 21:00 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1300m |
-8°
|
-9°
|
-10°
|
-12°
|
-12°
|
-11°
|
-11°
|
-12°
|
| 900m |
-2°
|
-4°
|
-5°
|
-7°
|
-6°
|
-5°
|
-5°
|
-7°
|
| 600m |
2°
|
1°
|
0°
|
-1°
|
-1°
|
0°
|
0°
|
-2°
|
| 300m |
6°
|
4°
|
4°
|
3°
|
4°
|
4°
|
3°
|
2°
|
| Glen |
6°
|
6°
|
5°
|
5°
|
6°
|
6°
|
5°
|
4°
|
Additional weather information
Met Office Aberdeen meteorologist's view
Cold and wet with rain and low cloud making for tricky navigation at times. Strong winds give a wind chill risk as well as risk of being blown over.
Weather
Cloudy with showers through the early hours. A brief drier spell in the morning before a band of rain spreads eastwards from late morning through the afternoon. This clears to showers with some clear spells in the evening, the best of these in the east. Some sleet or snow on highest routes. Strong to gale force southwesterly winds may reach severe gales on highest routes. Feeling cold.
Chance of cloud-free hill tops
30%, best chance in the east.
Low cloud and visibility
Low cloud with base 600-800m throughout the day. Some breaks developing at times, the best of these in the east, where summits may become cloud free for a time. Visibility poor in cloud and rain, good outside of cloud.
Mountain weather information
Weather
Cloudy with showers in the morning, heavy at times. Turning drier and brighter through the afternoon leading to a dry evening with long clear periods. Some sleet or snow falling on higher routes. Strong to gale force southwesterly winds in the morning easing and turning northwesterly later.
Chance of cloud-free hill tops
30% in the morning, increasing to >90% in the evening.
Maximum wind speed expected
Southwesterly 40-45mph gusting 45-50mph in the morning. Easing to northwesterly 15mph gusting 25mph by late evening.
Temperature
- At 800m Plus 2C falling to minus 2C later.
- Glen Plus 6C falling to 2C later.
- Freezing level 1000m falling 200m.
Low cloud and visibility
Occasional low cloud with base 600-800m in the morning. Cloud gradually breaking up and clearing through the day to long clear periods in the evening.
Mountain weather information
Sat 28 Feb
Sunrise:
Sunset:
Sunny spells and largely for much of the day, turning cloudier in the evening as rain spreads eastwards. South to southwesterly winds strengthening through the day with gales developing. Freezing level 200m rising to 1000m, sleet or snow above this height.
Sun 1 Mar
Sunrise:
Sunset:
Cloudy with heavy rain clearing to brighter spells and showers. Strong to gale force southerly winds. Freezing level around 1000m, sleet or snow above this height.
Mon 2 Mar
Sunrise:
Sunset:
Cloudy with rain in the morning, drier spells later. Strong southwesterly winds. Freezing level around 1000m, sleet or snow above this 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