Mountain weather
Yellow warning

Yellow weather warning in force for North Grampian

North Grampian Mountain weather forecast table

Confidence

High confidence for very unsettled weather through the period with strong winds at times.

Sunrise:
Sunset:
Mountain hazards

Mountain weather hazards

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

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 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 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 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 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.
hazard Heavy Persistent Rain
Heavy and persistent rain can lead to drenched clothing and footwear with waterproofs often becoming soaked through, especially if accompanied by strong winds. This can lead to significant loss of body heat and an increased likelihood of hypothermia. Terrain may turn increasingly boggy underfoot while streams can flood and become impassable. There may also be a risk of flooding in valleys or glens. If there is snow cover, a heightened avalanche hazard is possible and avalanche reports should be consulted where available.

Mountain weather forecast

Heavy persistent rain, turning to snow. Widespread gales. Bitterly cold.

Time 06:00 09:00 12:00 15:00 18:00 21:00
Weather
(at 800m)
Heavy snow Heavy snow Heavy snow Heavy snow Heavy snow Heavy snow
Chance of precipitation
(at 800m)
90% 90% 90% 80% 70% 70%

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
62
SE
60
SE
56
SE
52
SE
51
SE
54
900m SE
65
SE
54
SE
49
SE
48
SE
46
SE
48
600m SE
35
SE
23
SE
24
SE
26
SE
24
SE
26
300m E
4
N
5
E
5
SE
7
E
6
E
8
Glen SE
5
SE
6
SE
6
SE
7
SE
4
SE
4
Wind gust (mph)
Altitude above mean sea level
Time 06:00 09:00 12:00 15:00 18:00 21:00
1300m 77 74 71 65 65 69
900m 75 63 58 57 56 59
600m 48 31 32 36 33 36
300m 20 10 17 22 20 23
Glen 24 24 24 25 21 21

Altitude above mean sea level
Time 06:00 09:00 12:00 15:00 18:00 21:00
1300m
-3°
-4°
-4°
-4°
-5°
-5°
900m
-1°
-1°
600m
300m
Glen
Freezing Level
900m
800m
800m
700m
700m
600m

Altitude above mean sea level
Time 06:00 09:00 12:00 15:00 18:00 21:00
1300m
-15°
-16°
-16°
-16°
-16°
-17°
900m
-9°
-9°
-10°
-10°
-11°
-12°
600m
-4°
-3°
-4°
-5°
-5°
-6°
300m
Glen

Additional weather information

Met Office Aberdeen meteorologist's view

Very poor and hazardous all day with underfoot conditions becoming soaked and flooding possible in some areas. Walking will be extremely difficult on exposed ground with a high risk of being blown over. Navigation will be extremely challenging. Feeling bitterly cold in strong winds and soaking conditions bringing severe wind chill. Keep up to date with the latest avalanche forecast from Scottish Avalanche Information Service (SAIS).

Weather

Widespread low cloud and persistent heavy rain at all levels, gradually turning to snow over the summits through the day, down to around 500m by the end of the day. Widespread gale-force southeast winds with storm force gusts on the summits. Staying relatively drier northwest of the A9, but still expect widespread low cloud and outbreaks of rain turning to snow through the day.

Chance of cloud-free hill tops

Little chance in northwest. No chance elsewhere.

Low cloud and visibility

Widespread cloud down to 300-500m and poor visibilities in persistent hill fog and heavy rain, then snow.

Sunrise:
Sunset:

Mountain weather information

Weather

East of the A9 it will be similar to Thursday with further persistent rain feeding in from the southeast, falling as snow above 500-600m. This heavy at times and turning showery and perhaps easing a little later in the day. Staying bitterly cold with widespread gales and storm force summit gusts. Best of any limited drier and brighter conditions west of the A9.

Chance of cloud-free hill tops

20% or less west of the A9. No chance elsewhere.

Maximum wind speed expected

Southeast to east 45-55mph, gusting 70mph or so at times.

Temperature

  • At 800m Minus 2C to minus 4C.
  • Glen Plus 2C to plus 5C.
  • Freezing level 700m rising to 900m.

Low cloud and visibility

Widespread cloud down to 300-500m and poor visibilities in persistent hill fog and heavy rain, then snow.

Mountain weather information

Sat 24 Jan

Sunrise:
Sunset:

Another day of further rain or summit snow. Freezing level 500-700m. Strong east to southeast winds.

Sun 25 Jan

Sunrise:
Sunset:

Staying cloudy and cold with a strong southeasterly. Scattered rain or snow showers. Freezing level 600-800m.

Mon 26 Jan

Sunrise:
Sunset:

Staying quite cloudy and cold with moderate to strong southeasterly winds. Some rain or snow showers. Freezing level 500-700m.

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