Mountain weather

Mountain weather

North Grampian

Confidence

High confidence in changeable and unsettled weather until Saturday. High confidence more likely to bring settled conditions from the weekend, but lower confidence on exact details.

Mountain hazards

Mountain weather hazards

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

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.
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.

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.
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

Mostly bright start. Scattered heavy showers later, perhaps thundery. Cold at height.

Time
Time
06:00
09:00
12:00
15:00
18:00
21:00
Weather
(at 800m)
Weather symbols Sunny intervals Light rain showers Heavy rain showers Thundery showers Heavy rain showers Heavy rain showers (night)
Chance of
precipitation
(at 800m)
Chance of precipitation
40%
60%
70%
80%
70%
50%

Wind direction and speed

Altitude above mean sea level
Time
Time
06:00
09:00
12:00
15:00
18:00
21:00
1300m
1300m W 18mph knots
W
18mph
W 15mph knots
W
15mph
W 15mph knots
W
15mph
W 19mph knots
W
19mph
W 21mph knots
W
21mph
W 20mph knots
W
20mph
900m
900m SW 16mph knots
SW
16mph
SW 15mph knots
SW
15mph
W 15mph knots
W
15mph
W 18mph knots
W
18mph
W 19mph knots
W
19mph
SW 19mph knots
SW
19mph
600m
600m SW 12mph knots
SW
12mph
SW 12mph knots
SW
12mph
W 12mph knots
W
12mph
W 13mph knots
W
13mph
W 14mph knots
W
14mph
SW 12mph knots
SW
12mph
300m
300m SW 4mph knots
SW
4mph
SW 7mph knots
SW
7mph
W 8mph knots
W
8mph
SW 10mph knots
SW
10mph
W 7mph knots
W
7mph
SW 6mph knots
SW
6mph
Glen
Glen SW 2mph knots
SW
2mph
W 3mph knots
W
3mph
W 5mph knots
W
5mph
SW 6mph knots
SW
6mph
W 5mph knots
W
5mph
SW 3mph knots
SW
3mph

Wind gust

Altitude above mean sea level
Time
Time
06:00
09:00
12:00
15:00
18:00
21:00
1300m
1300m 22mph 19mph 20mph 26mph 28mph 27mph
900m
900m 19mph 18mph 19mph 24mph 24mph 23mph
600m
600m 15mph 16mph 17mph 19mph 20mph 18mph
300m
300m 12mph 14mph 15mph 19mph 15mph 16mph
Glen
Glen 9mph 11mph 13mph 16mph 15mph 13mph

Altitude above mean sea level
Time
Time
06:00
09:00
12:00
15:00
18:00
21:00
1300m
1300m -7 degrees Celsius -5 degrees Celsius -3 degrees Celsius -3 degrees Celsius -4 degrees Celsius -6 degrees Celsius
900m
900m -2 degrees Celsius -1 degrees Celsius 1 degrees Celsius 1 degrees Celsius 0 degrees Celsius -1 degrees Celsius
600m
600m 2 degrees Celsius 3 degrees Celsius 5 degrees Celsius 5 degrees Celsius 5 degrees Celsius 3 degrees Celsius
300m
300m 6 degrees Celsius 8 degrees Celsius 9 degrees Celsius 9 degrees Celsius 9 degrees Celsius 7 degrees Celsius
Glen
Glen 8 degrees Celsius 11 degrees Celsius 11 degrees Celsius 11 degrees Celsius 10 degrees Celsius 8 degrees Celsius
Freezing Level Freezing Level
1200m
1300m
1400m
1400m
1400m
1300m

Additional weather information

Meteorologist's view

Risk of thunderstorms throughout the afternoon. Feeling chilly on highest routes despite sunny spells as well as being a bit blustery here at times, particularly in and around showers.

Weather

Largely dry with bright or sunny spells to start but with a few showers, mainly west of the A9. Scattered showers breaking out everywhere from late morning, these heavy at times with the chance of lightning. Showers gradually fading in the evening.

Chance of cloud-free hill tops

70% falling to 40% by afternoon.

Low cloud and visibility

Clear summits and good visibilities in the morning outside of showers. Areas of cloud down to around 600-800m in the afternoon and evening, mostly as showers pass through, with visibilities dropping moderate or poor in heavy rain.

Ground conditions

No recent ground conditions report available.

Summit specific forecast