Mountain weather

North Grampian Mountain weather forecast table

Confidence

High for changeable weather to continue into next week

Sunrise:
Sunset:

This evening forecast

Cold and windy with scattered snow showers. Strong to gale westerly winds. Freezing level 400 metres.

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 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 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 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.
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.
hazard 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

Rain and summit snow in the morning. Blustery snow showers in the afternoon.

Time 00:00 03:00 06:00 09:00 12:00 15:00 18:00 21:00
Weather
(at 800m)
Cloudy Heavy snow Heavy snow Sleet Hail shower (day) Heavy snow shower (day) Heavy snow shower (day) Hail
Chance of precipitation
(at 800m)
00% 60% 80% 70% 60% 60% 60% 60%

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 W
26
SW
38
SW
53
SW
53
W
43
W
41
W
41
W
38
900m SW
21
SW
34
SW
52
SW
52
W
37
W
34
W
34
W
29
600m SW
14
SW
21
SW
34
SW
34
W
26
W
24
W
23
W
20
300m SW
6
SW
10
SW
18
SW
16
W
19
W
17
W
15
W
12
Glen SW
4
SW
7
SW
11
SW
14
W
12
W
11
W
10
W
7
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 34 51 70 71 58 55 55 51
900m 26 43 65 65 49 46 45 40
600m 20 30 48 48 38 36 35 30
300m 18 25 41 35 39 35 32 26
Glen 17 27 37 43 36 34 31 26

Altitude above mean sea level
Time 00:00 03:00 06:00 09:00 12:00 15:00 18:00 21:00
1300m
-6°
-5°
-4°
-3°
-4°
-5°
-6°
-6°
900m
-2°
-1°
-1°
-2°
-3°
-3°
600m
-1°
300m
Glen
Freezing Level
300m
600m
700m
900m
700m
500m
400m
300m

Altitude above mean sea level
Time 00:00 03:00 06:00 09:00 12:00 15:00 18:00 21:00
1300m
-15°
-15°
-16°
-15°
-14°
-16°
-17°
-17°
900m
-10°
-10°
-10°
-9°
-9°
-11°
-12°
-12°
600m
-6°
-5°
-5°
-4°
-5°
-6°
-7°
-8°
300m
-2°
-2°
-2°
-1°
-3°
-4°
Glen
-1°
-1°
-1°

Additional weather information

Met Office Aberdeen meteorologist's view

Be prepared for winter conditions at height with snow, gales and severe wind chill. Making progress will be slow. Wind speeds will reach 70 to 90 mph across the Cairngorm Plateau.

Weather

Rain, sleet and summit snow will spread southeast during the early hours, clearing away from mid-morning. The rest of the day will see blustery showers of hail or snow.

Chance of cloud-free hill tops

50%, best chance in the afternoon

Low cloud and visibility

Widespread cloud down to 700 to 900 metres at first. Cloud becoming more broken around 900 metres from late morning onwards but lowering to 800 metres in any heavier showers in the afternoon. Visibility will be very poor in any snow.

Sunrise:
Sunset:

Mountain weather information

Weather

Variable amounts of cloud and snow and hail showers, these heaviest in the morning. Showers will become lighter and less widespread in the afternoon and evening. Very windy at first with severe wind chill.

Chance of cloud-free hill tops

70%

Maximum wind speed expected

Northwesterly average speeds 35 mph with gusts to 50 mph, but 15 mph higher on the very highest tops

Temperature

  • At 800m Minus 2 rising to 0 Celsius
  • Glen 0 rising to 7 Celsius
  • Freezing level 400 rising to 800 metres

Low cloud and visibility

Areas of cloud down to 800 metres in showers at first. Otherwise good visibility with patchy cloud at 900 metres or higher

Mountain weather information

Tue 31 Mar

Sunrise:
Sunset:

A little light rain in the early hours. Otherwise mainly dry and cloudy, but cloud lifting off the lower tops by afternoon. Strong westerly winds. Freezing level above the summits.

Wed 1 Apr

Sunrise:
Sunset:

Rain and summit snow will spread southeast in the morning. Drier in the afternoon with a few snow showers. Freezing level above the summits, lowering to 600 metres by afternoon.

Thu 2 Apr

Sunrise:
Sunset:

Dry with variable amounts of cloud. Freezing level 500 metres.

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