Mountain weather
Yellow warning

Yellow weather warning in force for North Grampian

North Grampian Mountain weather forecast table

Confidence

Please note we are aware of an issue affecting forecast wind speeds and gusts for higher-elevation sites (typically above 500m) displayed on the Met Office website and app. The winds shown here in our Mountain Area Forecasts are not affected by this. Our teams are actively working to correct the issue and updates will be deployed as soon as possible. High confidence in the cold, strong southeasterly winds persisting this weekend and into next week. Some uncertainty on the timing and extent of frontal snowfall on Monday night.

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 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.
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.

Mountain weather forecast

Strong winds, gales on tops. Mainly cloudy with snow above 600m, heavy at times in the east. Severe windchill.

Time 06:00 09:00 12:00 15:00 18:00 21:00
Weather
(at 800m)
Heavy snow Light snow Heavy snow Heavy snow Light snow Heavy snow
Chance of precipitation
(at 800m)
80% 80% 80% 80% 80% 80%

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
46
SE
44
SE
41
SE
38
SE
38
SE
39
900m SE
42
SE
43
SE
38
SE
35
SE
36
SE
34
600m SE
19
SE
21
SE
19
SE
17
SE
18
SE
15
300m N
6
N
4
NE
6
NE
5
NE
6
NE
8
Glen E
3
E
3
E
4
E
4
NE
4
NE
3
Wind gust (mph)
Altitude above mean sea level
Time 06:00 09:00 12:00 15:00 18:00 21:00
1300m 57 55 52 49 49 51
900m 49 51 47 43 44 43
600m 26 30 29 26 28 24
300m 11 12 14 15 16 16
Glen 18 17 16 16 16 16

Altitude above mean sea level
Time 06:00 09:00 12:00 15:00 18:00 21:00
1300m
-4°
-5°
-5°
-5°
-5°
-5°
900m
-1°
-1°
-1°
-1°
-1°
-1°
600m
300m
Glen
Freezing Level
600m
600m
600m
600m
600m
600m

Altitude above mean sea level
Time 06:00 09:00 12:00 15:00 18:00 21:00
1300m
-16°
-16°
-16°
-15°
-15°
-15°
900m
-10°
-10°
-10°
-10°
-10°
-10°
600m
-4°
-5°
-5°
-4°
-5°
-4°
300m
-1°
-1°
Glen

Additional weather information

Met Office Aberdeen meteorologist's view

Winds gusting 50-60mph on tops will give very difficult walking conditions with progress highly impeded and a significant risk of being blown over. Challenging navigation with snow drifts and poor visibility on upper slopes.

Weather

Rather cloudy with outbreaks of snow, most persistent in the east and falling as rain below 600-700m. Drier with some brighter spells in the west. Strong winds on upper slopes with gales on tops.

Chance of cloud-free hill tops

20%, best chances for the Monadhliath

Low cloud and visibility

Cloud bases generally 900-1000m, occasionally lowering to 700m on southeasterly facing slopes. Visibility will be generally a few kilometres below cloud bases, but poor or very poor in blowing snow on upper slopes and tops.

Sunrise:
Sunset:

Mountain weather information

Weather

Another rather cloudy with day outbreaks of snow, most persistent in the east and falling as rain below 500-600m. Best of the drier and brighter spells in the west. Strong winds on upper slopes with gales on tops.

Chance of cloud-free hill tops

20%, best chances for the Monadhliath

Maximum wind speed expected

Gusting 45-55mph on tops.

Temperature

  • At 800m Minus 2 Celsius.
  • Glen Plus 4 Celsius.
  • Freezing level 600m

Low cloud and visibility

Cloud bases generally 900-1000m, occasionally lowering to 700m on southeasterly facing slopes. Visibility generally good below cloud bases, but poor or very poor in blowing snow on upper slopes and tops.

Mountain weather information

Mon 26 Jan

Sunrise:
Sunset:

Cloudy with snow showers, turning persistent overnight. Strong winds, gales on tops and remaining bitterly cold. Freezing level 500m.

Tue 27 Jan

Sunrise:
Sunset:

Remaining cold and very windy with snow, heavy at times. Freezing level 600m.

Wed 28 Jan

Sunrise:
Sunset:

Gales or severe gales and bitterly cold with periods of heavy snow. Freezing level 500m.

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