Mountain weather

North Grampian Mountain weather forecast table

Confidence

High confidence for unsettled weather with rain and strong winds at times, but low confidence for day to day details, especially from Monday.

Sunrise:
Sunset:

This evening forecast

Cloudy but dry for ranges west of the A9. Otherwise, dull and overcast with widespread cloud down to 300-500m and frequent outbreaks of snow, rain below 400-500m. Feeling bitterly cold with east to southeast winds 40-50mph.

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 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 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.

Mountain weather forecast

Dull, cloudy with some snow, mainly east of A9. Cold. Strong winds easing.

Time 00:00 03:00 06:00 09:00 12:00 15:00 18:00 21:00
Weather
(at 800m)
Light snow Light snow Light snow Light snow Light snow Light snow Light snow Light snow
Chance of precipitation
(at 800m)
80% 80% 80% 70% 70% 80% 80% 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 SE
42
SE
36
SE
34
SE
36
SE
35
SE
33
SE
31
SE
32
900m SE
38
SE
29
SE
27
SE
25
SE
26
E
23
E
20
SE
20
600m NE
11
E
12
E
11
N
10
NE
10
NE
11
NE
10
SE
9
300m E
5
E
7
E
5
E
4
E
6
E
6
E
4
E
4
Glen NE
3
NE
3
NE
2
NE
2
NE
4
NE
4
E
3
E
3
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 53 46 44 45 44 43 40 41
900m 45 35 32 30 32 28 23 25
600m 18 19 17 14 14 15 13 13
300m 13 14 13 11 13 14 11 10
Glen 10 11 10 10 12 12 10 12

Altitude above mean sea level
Time 00:00 03:00 06:00 09:00 12:00 15:00 18:00 21:00
1300m
-5°
-4°
-4°
-4°
-4°
-4°
-3°
-3°
900m
-1°
-1°
-1°
-1°
-1°
600m
300m
Glen
Freezing Level
600m
600m
700m
700m
700m
800m
800m
900m

Altitude above mean sea level
Time 00:00 03:00 06:00 09:00 12:00 15:00 18:00 21:00
1300m
-16°
-15°
-14°
-14°
-14°
-13°
-12°
-12°
900m
-10°
-9°
-8°
-8°
-8°
-8°
-7°
-7°
600m
-4°
-3°
-3°
-3°
-2°
-2°
-2°
-2°
300m
Glen

Additional weather information

Met Office Aberdeen meteorologist's view

Windy conditions with a chance of summit gales in the early morning will make for fairly arduous walking on exposed terrain with buffeting of clothing. Balance may be affected at times. Feeling cold at height so suitable clothing is advised. Widespread low cloud and hill fog so good navigation skills will be required. Keep up to date with the latest avalanche forecast from the Scottish Avalanche Information Service (SAIS).

Weather

A strong southeasterly flow will bring further rain, or snow above 500-600m at first, rising to 800-900m by evening. This heavy at times, but staying drier in shelter west of the A9 where there will be the only chance of any limited brighter spells. Feeling cold with east to southeast winds gusting 40-50mph.

Chance of cloud-free hill tops

Little chance in east, 25% west of A9.

Low cloud and visibility

Widespread cloud down to 300-500m and poor visibilities in hill fog and outbreaks of snow. Small chance of limited breaks west of the A9.

Sunrise:
Sunset:

Mountain weather information

Weather

Cloudy throughout the day. Outbreaks of rain throughout the day, occasionally heavy, falling as snow above 900m or so. Remaining cold. The only chance of limited brighter spells west of the A9.

Chance of cloud-free hill tops

Little chance.

Maximum wind speed expected

Southeast 25-40mph

Temperature

  • At 800m Minus 1C to plus 1C.
  • Glen Plus 2C rising to plus 6C.
  • Freezing level 900-1000m falling to 700-800m.

Low cloud and visibility

Largely widespread areas of cloud down to 300-500m all day, with associated poor visibilities in hill fog and rain or summit snow. Limited chance of more broken cloud with good visibilities west of the A9.

Mountain weather information

Mon 2 Feb

Sunrise:
Sunset:

Cloudy with frequent outbreaks of rain, or snow above 500-600m. Drier west of A9. Strong to gale southeast winds.

Tue 3 Feb

Sunrise:
Sunset:

Cloudy with showery outbreaks of snow, drier west of A9. Freezing level around 200-400m. Strong to gale southeast winds.

Wed 4 Feb

Sunrise:
Sunset:

Cloudy with persistent rain or summit snow. Freezing level around 400-600m. Strong to gale southeast 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