Mountain weather
Amber warning

Amber weather warnings in force for North Grampian

North Grampian Mountain weather forecast table

Confidence

Medium confidence in exact rain and wind detail on Wednesday. High confidence for unsettled weather through the period, but low confidence in details from Thursday onwards.

Sunrise:
Sunset:

This evening forecast

Storm Bram brings storm-force southerly veering southwesterly winds, gusting over 90-100mph over the highest summits bringing a serious risk to safety. Quite widespread cloud down to 800-1000m brings poor visibilities in rain or hill fog, though chance of clearer summits in the sheltered northeast. Feeling bitterly cold as the freezing level, initially above summits, falls to 1000-1200m by midnight.

Sunrise:
Sunset:
Mountain hazards

Mountain weather hazards

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

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 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 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 Thunderstorms
Lightning is a significant mountain hazard which can result in serious injury or death. Mountain terrain often leaves one highly exposed to lightning strikes. Hail may give unpleasant conditions with torrential rain and localised flash flooding also possible, mainly in Summer months.

Mountain weather forecast

Very windy with gale to storm-force winds. Heavy showers, rain later.

Time 00:00 03:00 06:00 09:00 12:00 15:00 18:00 21:00
Weather
(at 800m)
Cloudy Heavy shower (night) Heavy shower (night) Heavy rain Heavy rain Heavy shower (day) Heavy shower (night) Heavy rain
Chance of precipitation
(at 800m)
20% 40% 60% 80% 80% 70% 50% 80%

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
69
SW
67
SW
59
SW
55
SW
56
W
63
W
59
SW
53
900m SW
71
SW
66
SW
56
SW
51
SW
50
SW
53
SW
50
SW
45
600m SW
49
SW
43
SW
36
SW
34
SW
34
SW
36
SW
34
SW
29
300m SW
29
SW
24
SW
21
SW
19
SW
20
SW
21
SW
19
SW
17
Glen SW
10
SW
8
SW
7
SW
6
SW
7
SW
7
SW
7
SW
6
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 92 90 79 73 75 85 80 72
900m 89 83 71 65 64 69 66 61
600m 67 60 50 48 48 52 50 44
300m 62 53 46 42 43 45 42 37
Glen 46 39 36 32 34 38 36 30

Altitude above mean sea level
Time 00:00 03:00 06:00 09:00 12:00 15:00 18:00 21:00
1300m
-2°
-2°
-1°
-2°
-2°
-1°
900m
600m
300m
Glen
Freezing Level
1,100m
1,100m
1,100m
1,100m
1,200m
1,200m
1,400m
1,600m

Altitude above mean sea level
Time 00:00 03:00 06:00 09:00 12:00 15:00 18:00 21:00
1300m
-13°
-13°
-12°
-12°
-12°
-12°
-10°
-8°
900m
-8°
-8°
-7°
-8°
-7°
-7°
-5°
-4°
600m
-3°
-3°
-2°
-3°
-3°
-2°
-1°
300m
Glen

Additional weather information

Met Office Aberdeen meteorologist's view

Occasional storm-force winds over the highest summits means any mobility will be almost impossible on exposed ground with a risk of being blown off your feet. National severe weather warnings are in force so keep up to date with the latest forecast. Feeling bitterly cold in strong winds and frequent showers.

Weather

Gale-force gusts to low levels throughout the day with severe gales or occasional storm-force gusts at height as Storm Bram, lying to the north of Scotland, moves slowly east. Heavy showers spread in from the west, wintry above 900-1000m and with a chance of hail and lightning, becoming more frequent for a time during the middle of the day. Easing off for a time in the afternoon, before more persistent rain spreads east through the evening.

Chance of cloud-free hill tops

30% best chances in the northeast.

Low cloud and visibility

Quite widespread cloud down to 800-1000m visibilities falling poor in frequent showers.

Sunrise:
Sunset:

Mountain weather information

Weather

Rain clearing in the early hours. Then dry much of Thursday morning. Clouding over from late morning and continuing through the afternoon with some outbreaks of light rain or drizzle, staying drier over the sheltered northeast.

Chance of cloud-free hill tops

30%, best chances in the northeast.

Maximum wind speed expected

Southwest backing south, 30-40mph, gusting 50-60mph over the Cairngorm summit.

Temperature

  • At 800m Plus 1C to plus 4C.
  • Glen Plus 6C to plus 10C.
  • Freezing level 1300m at first, rising well above summits.

Low cloud and visibility

Quite widespread cloud down to 800-1000m and visibilities falling poor in light rain, drizzle, or hill fog.

Mountain weather information

Fri 12 Dec

Sunrise:
Sunset:

Cloudy with fresh southerly winds and outbreaks of mostly light rain, clearing east through early afternoon. As this clears the freezing level falls to 800-1000m allowing for some summit snow.

Sat 13 Dec

Sunrise:
Sunset:

Dry but increasingly cloudy morning. Rain spreads east later. Strengthening southwest winds. Freezing level rising above summits.

Sun 14 Dec

Sunrise:
Sunset:

Rain clears east in morning. Then cloudy with some showers or further rain. Fresh to strong southwest winds.

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