Mountain weather
North Grampian Mountain weather forecast table
Confidence
High confidence for mainly dry conditions over next couple of days and for a change to more unsettled weather to move in from the west. Low confidence in timing and detail of any rain and snow from Friday onwards.
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.
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.
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.
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 weather forecast
Mainly dry and very cold with severe gale force winds at times.
| Time | 06:00 | 09:00 | 12:00 | 15:00 | 18:00 | 21:00 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Weather (at 800m) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Chance of precipitation (at 800m) |
00% | 00% | 00% | 00% | 00% | 00% |
Wind direction and speed (mph)
Altitude above mean sea level
| Time | 06:00 | 09:00 | 12:00 | 15:00 | 18:00 | 21:00 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1300m |
SE
49
|
SE
55
|
SE
55
|
SE
54
|
SE
56
|
SE
53
|
| 900m |
SE
41
|
SE
46
|
S
61
|
SE
60
|
SE
61
|
SE
57
|
| 600m |
NE
13
|
W
14
|
S
30
|
S
30
|
SE
27
|
SE
21
|
| 300m |
NE
4
|
N
4
|
NW
9
|
N
9
|
N
9
|
W
8
|
| Glen |
S
4
|
S
2
|
S
5
|
S
4
|
S
4
|
S
5
|
Wind gust (mph)
Altitude above mean sea level
| Time | 06:00 | 09:00 | 12:00 | 15:00 | 18:00 | 21:00 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1300m | 60 | 66 | 66 | 66 | 70 | 66 |
| 900m | 48 | 54 | 73 | 72 | 73 | 69 |
| 600m | 17 | 18 | 45 | 46 | 40 | 29 |
| 300m | 7 | 7 | 14 | 15 | 14 | 12 |
| Glen | 17 | 16 | 14 | 16 | 15 | 20 |
Altitude above mean sea level
| Time | 06:00 | 09:00 | 12:00 | 15:00 | 18:00 | 21:00 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1300m |
-9°
|
-8°
|
-8°
|
-8°
|
-8°
|
-8°
|
| 900m |
-4°
|
-4°
|
-4°
|
-4°
|
-4°
|
-4°
|
| 600m |
-2°
|
-1°
|
-1°
|
-1°
|
-1°
|
-1°
|
| 300m |
-2°
|
-1°
|
2°
|
2°
|
1°
|
1°
|
| Glen |
-1°
|
1°
|
3°
|
3°
|
2°
|
1°
|
| Freezing Level |
0m
|
100m
|
200m
|
200m
|
200m
|
100m
|
Altitude above mean sea level
| Time | 06:00 | 09:00 | 12:00 | 15:00 | 18:00 | 21:00 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1300m |
-22°
|
-22°
|
-21°
|
-21°
|
-22°
|
-21°
|
| 900m |
-15°
|
-15°
|
-16°
|
-16°
|
-16°
|
-16°
|
| 600m |
-8°
|
-7°
|
-10°
|
-9°
|
-9°
|
-8°
|
| 300m |
-5°
|
-3°
|
-1°
|
-2°
|
-3°
|
-3°
|
| Glen |
-3°
|
-1°
|
0°
|
1°
|
-1°
|
-2°
|
Additional weather information
Met Office Aberdeen meteorologist's view
A very cold day on the hills with a risk of severe wind chill. Gale force winds will make for tough walking conditions with the risk of being blown over.
Weather
A very cold, mainly dry and largely cloudy day with a few bright or sunny spells breaking through, the best of these in the north. Perhaps some light snow showers over the Cairngorms. Windy, with gale of severe gales on summits giving severe wind chill.
Chance of cloud-free hill tops
70%, 90% in north.
Low cloud and visibility
Some occasional low cloud around 1000m, especially in the south, otherwise cloud above summits, but patchy cloud down to 800m in any snow showers. Generally very good visibility but poor in any cloud and snow.
Mountain weather information
Weather
Mostly cloudy and dry for much of the day with some bright spells in the north, but some light snow showers in south and west in the afternoon. Cloudier in the evening as a band of rain and snow spreads eastwards, snow falling above about 300m. Strong winds with gales or severe gales on higher routes. Very cold.
Chance of cloud-free hill tops
80% much of the day, but 40% at times in south and west and 20% in the evening.
Maximum wind speed expected
Southerly or southeasterly, turning southwesterly later, 45-55mph gusting 55-65mph, bit easing to 30 guts 45mph for a time in the afternoon.
Temperature
- At 800m Minus 3 Celsius.
- Glen Minus 1 rising to plus 3 Celsius.
- Freezing level 100m rising to 700m by the end of the day.
Low cloud and visibility
Scattered cloud base 1000m through the day, but broken 800m at times in afternoon in south and west and becoming widespread in evening and lowering to 400-600m. Visibility very good, but poor at tiem sin south and west and becoming very poor in the evening with rain, snow and low cloud.
Mountain weather information
Fri 20 Feb
Sunrise:
Sunset:
Cloudy with a band of rain and snow spreading eastwards in the morning, followed by heavy showers. Gale or severe gale force southwest winds. Becoming milder with freezing level 700m rising to 1200m.
Sat 21 Feb
Sunrise:
Sunset:
Cloudy with outbreaks of rain, but snow over higher tops. Strong southwesterly winds. Freezing level 1200m rising above summits.
Sun 22 Feb
Sunrise:
Sunset:
Cloudy with showers, these falling as snow on the summits, but down to 700m later. Gale force southwesterly winds turning west or northwesterly later with freezing level falling to 900m.
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