North Grampian

This evening forecast

A few bright interludes and scattered heavy showers at first, these showers becoming less frequent for a time before becoming more frequent again later in the evening, particularly for southwestern ranges such as Ben Alder, Drumochter Hills, and Creag Meagaidh. A small risk of hail and lightning. Very strong southwest winds with mean speeds of 50mph and gusts approaching 60-70mph on the tops will bring a severe wind chill.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

Gales. Heavy showers, some thunder. Some drier, brighter spells in early evening.

Time	Time	00:00	03:00	06:00	09:00	12:00	15:00	18:00	21:00
Weather (at 800m)	Weather symbols
Chance of precipitation (at 800m)	Chance of precipitation	80%	≥95%	≥95%	≥95%	≥95%	90%	70%	50%

Wind direction and speed

Altitude above mean sea level

Time	Time	00:00	03:00	06:00	09:00	12:00	15:00	18:00	21:00
1300m	1300m	SW 47mph knots SW 47mph	SW 46mph knots SW 46mph	SW 41mph knots SW 41mph	SW 40mph knots SW 40mph	W 39mph knots W 39mph	NW 36mph knots NW 36mph	NW 36mph knots NW 36mph	NW 31mph knots NW 31mph
900m	900m	SW 46mph knots SW 46mph	SW 45mph knots SW 45mph	SW 39mph knots SW 39mph	SW 38mph knots SW 38mph	W 33mph knots W 33mph	NW 29mph knots NW 29mph	NW 28mph knots NW 28mph	NW 23mph knots NW 23mph
600m	600m	SW 28mph knots SW 28mph	SW 29mph knots SW 29mph	SW 26mph knots SW 26mph	SW 27mph knots SW 27mph	W 25mph knots W 25mph	NW 18mph knots NW 18mph	NW 16mph knots NW 16mph	NW 13mph knots NW 13mph
300m	300m	SW 15mph knots SW 15mph	SW 15mph knots SW 15mph	SW 14mph knots SW 14mph	SW 15mph knots SW 15mph	W 13mph knots W 13mph	NW 11mph knots NW 11mph	NW 9mph knots NW 9mph	NW 7mph knots NW 7mph
Glen	Glen	SW 4mph knots SW 4mph	SW 4mph knots SW 4mph	SW 4mph knots SW 4mph	SW 5mph knots SW 5mph	W 6mph knots W 6mph	NW 6mph knots NW 6mph	N 4mph knots N 4mph	NW 4mph knots NW 4mph

Wind gust

Altitude above mean sea level

Time	Time	00:00	03:00	06:00	09:00	12:00	15:00	18:00	21:00
1300m	1300m	63mph	61mph	55mph	54mph	53mph	49mph	48mph	41mph
900m	900m	56mph	55mph	48mph	48mph	43mph	38mph	37mph	30mph
600m	600m	38mph	39mph	35mph	37mph	34mph	27mph	25mph	20mph
300m	300m	33mph	35mph	31mph	33mph	28mph	25mph	23mph	18mph
Glen	Glen	28mph	26mph	24mph	24mph	27mph	25mph	19mph	19mph

Altitude above mean sea level

Time	Time	00:00	03:00	06:00	09:00	12:00	15:00	18:00	21:00
1300m	1300m	2 degrees Celsius	2 degrees Celsius	2 degrees Celsius	3 degrees Celsius	4 degrees Celsius	4 degrees Celsius	3 degrees Celsius	2 degrees Celsius
900m	900m	5 degrees Celsius	5 degrees Celsius	6 degrees Celsius	6 degrees Celsius	7 degrees Celsius	7 degrees Celsius	6 degrees Celsius	6 degrees Celsius
600m	600m	8 degrees Celsius	8 degrees Celsius	8 degrees Celsius	8 degrees Celsius	9 degrees Celsius	9 degrees Celsius	8 degrees Celsius	8 degrees Celsius
300m	300m	10 degrees Celsius	10 degrees Celsius	10 degrees Celsius	10 degrees Celsius	11 degrees Celsius	11 degrees Celsius	10 degrees Celsius	9 degrees Celsius
Glen	Glen	10 degrees Celsius	9 degrees Celsius	9 degrees Celsius	11 degrees Celsius	13 degrees Celsius	12 degrees Celsius	12 degrees Celsius	10 degrees Celsius
Freezing Level	Freezing Level	1600m	1700m	1600m	1700m	1900m	1800m	1700m	1700m

Altitude above mean sea level

Time	Time	00:00	03:00	06:00	09:00	12:00	15:00	18:00	21:00
1300m	1300m	-7 degrees Celsius	-7 degrees Celsius	-6 degrees Celsius	-5 degrees Celsius	-4 degrees Celsius	-4 degrees Celsius	-4 degrees Celsius	-5 degrees Celsius
900m	900m	-2 degrees Celsius	-2 degrees Celsius	-1 degrees Celsius	-1 degrees Celsius	1 degrees Celsius	1 degrees Celsius	0 degrees Celsius	0 degrees Celsius
600m	600m	3 degrees Celsius	3 degrees Celsius	3 degrees Celsius	4 degrees Celsius	5 degrees Celsius	5 degrees Celsius	5 degrees Celsius	4 degrees Celsius
300m	300m	6 degrees Celsius	7 degrees Celsius	7 degrees Celsius	8 degrees Celsius	9 degrees Celsius	9 degrees Celsius	8 degrees Celsius	8 degrees Celsius
Glen	Glen	8 degrees Celsius	7 degrees Celsius	8 degrees Celsius	10 degrees Celsius	11 degrees Celsius	10 degrees Celsius	10 degrees Celsius	8 degrees Celsius
Freezing Level	Freezing Level	1600m	1700m	1600m	1700m	1900m	1800m	1700m	1700m

Additional weather information

Meteorologist's view

Walking will be extremely difficult on exposed ground with a high risk of being blown over. These strong winds combined with low temperatures at height will bring significant wind chill and drenching conditions at times.

Weather

Largely cloudy in the morning with frequent heavy showers with a chance of hail and lightning and widespread gales, with a chance of storm force gusts on the tops in the early morning. Best chance of any limited clear, dry spells in the sheltered northeast in the morning. Some brighter spells developing in the late afternoon or early evening as showers become less heavy and frequent for a time. Further showers in the evening but lighter than during the morning. Winds gradually moderate through the second part of the day. Feeling cold at height.

Chance of cloud-free hill tops

30% much of the day, temporarily rising to 60% for a time late afternoon/early evening.

Low cloud and visibility

Cloud frequently falling down to 800-1000m with visibilities falling poor in hill fog and heavy rain as heavy showers pass through, best chance of clearer spells in the morning over the relatively sheltered northeast, and for a few hours in the late afternoon-early evening. Cloud becomes more widespread down to 600-800m later through the evening.

Ground conditions

No recent ground conditions report available.

Mountain weather information

Weather

A much more pleasant day compared to Tuesday. Dry with good bright or sunny spells for much of the day and mostly light or moderate winds. Rather cloudy in the early morning with a few light showers.

Chance of cloud-free hill tops

50% in morning, rising to 90% or higher by midday.

Maximum wind speed expected

Northwest 25-35mph in the morning, easing and then backing southwest later in the day.

Temperature

At 800m Plus 5C to plus 8C.
Glen Plus 7C rising to plus 16C by day.
Freezing level 1400-1200m for a time in the morning, otherwise above summits.

Low cloud and visibility

Through the bulk of the day summits clear with any cloud above the summits and good or excellent visibilities. However, quite extensive areas of cloud around 600-800m in the early morning, the best of the clearer skies in the southwest.

Ground conditions

No recent ground conditions report available.

Mountain weather information

Thu 10 Sep

Sunrise: 06:33

Sunset: 19:45

Dry first thing. Showery rain then spreading east through the day. Strong to gale southerly winds. Freezing level above summits.

Fri 11 Sep

Sunrise: 06:35

Sunset: 19:43

Bright or sunny spells and perhaps the odd shower in the west. Fresh to moderate westerly winds. Freezing level above summits.

Sat 12 Sep

Sunrise: 06:37

Sunset: 19:40

Likely dry start but rain soon spreads east through the day, with freshening southwest winds. Freezing level above summits.

Mountain weather

North Grampian

Confidence

This evening forecast

Mountain weather hazards

Gales

Severe Chill Effect

Poor Visibility

Thunderstorms

Storm Force Winds

Heavy Persistent Rain

Strong Sunlight

Mountain weather forecast

Wind direction and speed

Wind gust

Additional weather information

Meteorologist's view

Weather

Chance of cloud-free hill tops

Low cloud and visibility

Ground conditions

Mountain weather information

Weather

Chance of cloud-free hill tops

Maximum wind speed expected

Temperature

Low cloud and visibility

Ground conditions

Mountain weather information

Thu 10 Sep

Fri 11 Sep

Sat 12 Sep

Summit specific forecast

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Mountain weather

North Grampian

Confidence

This evening forecast

Mountain weather hazards

High likelihood: 1 weather hazards

Gales

Medium likelihood: 3 weather hazards

Severe Chill Effect

Poor Visibility

Thunderstorms

Low likelihood: 3 weather hazards

Storm Force Winds

Heavy Persistent Rain

Strong Sunlight

Mountain weather forecast

Wind

Wind direction and speed

Wind gust

Temperature

Feels Like Temperature

Additional weather information

Meteorologist's view

Weather

Chance of cloud-free hill tops

Low cloud and visibility

Ground conditions

Mountain weather information

Weather

Chance of cloud-free hill tops

Maximum wind speed expected

Temperature

Low cloud and visibility

Ground conditions

Mountain weather information

Thu 10 Sep

Fri 11 Sep

Sat 12 Sep

Summit specific forecast

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