Mountain weather

North Grampian Mountain weather forecast table

Confidence

High confidence for southeasterly, rather cold conditions to continue, lower for daily details.

Sunrise:
Sunset:
Mountain hazards

Mountain weather hazards

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

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.

hazard Blizzards
Blizzards and whiteouts present challenging and serious conditions due to a combination of falling or blowing snow, strong winds and cold temperatures. They can be highly disorientating, often resulting in near-zero visibility with limited or no visual references and no distinction between ground and sky. Cliff edges and cornices may not be apparent, even close up. These conditions require very good navigational skills.
hazard Heavy Persistent Snow
Heavy snow can lead to rapid changes in underfoot conditions and paths may become treacherous or hidden. It also brings very poor visibility and often makes navigation much more challenging. When deep snow accumulates progress is often time consuming and strenuous, significantly affecting the distance one can travel on foot. Deep drifts can develop if snow is combined with strong winds. A heightened avalanche risk is possible and avalanche reports should be consulted where available.
hazard 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.

Mountain weather forecast

Cloudy with frequent snowy outbreaks throughout the morning becoming more widespread into the afternoon. Southeasterly winds, gales or severe gales on tops.

Time 06:00 09:00 12:00 15:00 18:00 21:00
Weather
(at 800m)
Light snow Light snow Light snow Light snow Light snow Light snow
Chance of precipitation
(at 800m)
60% 60% 60% 60% 60% 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 SE
49
SE
54
SE
53
SE
51
SE
43
SE
41
900m SE
39
S
47
SE
47
SE
38
SE
38
SE
34
600m NE
15
E
14
SE
18
E
13
E
16
NE
13
300m E
5
NE
5
E
7
E
7
E
7
E
7
Glen NE
1
NE
3
E
6
E
4
E
3
NE
3
Wind gust (mph)
Altitude above mean sea level
Time 06:00 09:00 12:00 15:00 18:00 21:00
1300m 61 66 65 63 54 52
900m 45 55 56 46 45 42
600m 19 21 27 19 24 18
300m 12 11 17 15 18 16
Glen 9 12 17 16 12 11

Altitude above mean sea level
Time 06:00 09:00 12:00 15:00 18:00 21:00
1300m
-7°
-6°
-6°
-6°
-6°
-5°
900m
-3°
-3°
-2°
-2°
-2°
-2°
600m
300m
Glen
Freezing Level
400m
400m
500m
500m
500m
500m

Altitude above mean sea level
Time 06:00 09:00 12:00 15:00 18:00 21:00
1300m
-19°
-19°
-19°
-18°
-17°
-16°
900m
-13°
-13°
-13°
-12°
-11°
-11°
600m
-6°
-6°
-6°
-4°
-5°
-4°
300m
-1°
Glen

Additional weather information

Met Office Aberdeen meteorologist's view

Winds easing marginally and freezing level becoming slightly higher into the weekend, however snow above 500m and very cold conditions persist.

Weather

Further snow showers mainly in south and east of area with some more persistent snow developing during Friday. The snow to all levels for a time rising 300-400m. Blizzard conditions at height. Little of this reaching the area to the north and west of the Cairngorms where staying mainly dry.

Chance of cloud-free hill tops

10%, but 30% in northwest.

Low cloud and visibility

Extensive cloud at 600-750m with a few lower patches but bases broken or above tops in the northwest around the Monadliaths. Poor visibility in snow.

Sunrise:
Sunset:

Mountain weather information

Weather

Mainly cloudy with hill fog and some sporadic light rain, with snow above 500-600m. Less windy but a fresh southeasterly on the tops.

Chance of cloud-free hill tops

Near zero for most but 40% in north west.

Maximum wind speed expected

Becoming less windy with Southeasterly 20-30mph, gusts of 35mph possible at tops.

Temperature

  • At 800m Minus 4 Celsius rising to Minus 1
  • Glen Zero Celsius rising to Plus 4
  • Freezing level 500m rising to 600m.

Low cloud and visibility

Low cloud to 300m at times with widespread hill fog above, moderate visibility in rain and poor in snow.

Mountain weather information

Sun 1 Feb

Sunrise:
Sunset:

Mainly cloudy, some light rain, and hill snow above 600m.

Mon 2 Feb

Sunrise:
Sunset:

Mainly cloudy, some rain and snow, the snow level probably lowering to 400m with freshening easterly winds.

Tue 3 Feb

Sunrise:
Sunset:

Becoming increasingly windy with southeasterly gales expected and snow level to 100m.

Updated at:

Summit specific forecast

Mountain summit forecast map

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For snow and avalanche hazard forecasts please visit Scottish Avalanche Information Service