Mountain weather
North Grampian Mountain weather forecast table
Confidence
A couple of hours uncertainty on timing of rain on Sunday and exact wind strength. Moderate confidence for position of rain band on Monday. Low confidence in exact wind speeds and rain amounts on Tuesday and Wednesday.
This evening forecast
Cloudy this evening and to start the night. Remaining showers die out through the evening to give a dry start to the night. Light to moderate southerly winds, 15-20 mph across the tops. Freezing level above the summits.
Mountain weather hazards
Hazards apply at or above 300m, reflecting the more severe conditions which can occur at altitude.
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.
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.
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.
Mountain weather forecast
Dry mostly cloudy morning. Heavy rain and summit snow afternoon and evening.
| Time | 00:00 | 03:00 | 06:00 | 09:00 | 12:00 | 15:00 | 18:00 | 21:00 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Weather (at 800m) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Chance of precipitation (at 800m) |
<05% | <05% | <05% | 10% | 20% | 60% | 90% | 70% |
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
14
|
SW
15
|
S
13
|
S
14
|
SE
23
|
SE
33
|
SE
33
|
SW
25
|
| 900m |
S
14
|
S
15
|
S
12
|
S
14
|
SE
15
|
SE
29
|
SE
26
|
SW
20
|
| 600m |
SW
8
|
SW
9
|
SW
6
|
SE
6
|
E
6
|
SW
8
|
E
10
|
SW
9
|
| 300m |
SW
3
|
SW
3
|
SW
3
|
SW
3
|
W
3
|
SE
3
|
NE
3
|
SW
3
|
| Glen |
SW
3
|
SW
3
|
SW
3
|
S
2
|
S
2
|
S
2
|
S
3
|
SW
2
|
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 | 19 | 19 | 16 | 19 | 30 | 42 | 41 | 31 |
| 900m | 17 | 17 | 15 | 17 | 20 | 36 | 32 | 24 |
| 600m | 11 | 12 | 8 | 8 | 9 | 12 | 15 | 13 |
| 300m | 8 | 8 | 6 | 5 | 5 | 6 | 6 | 7 |
| Glen | 12 | 12 | 11 | 10 | 8 | 8 | 11 | 11 |
Altitude above mean sea level
| Time | 00:00 | 03:00 | 06:00 | 09:00 | 12:00 | 15:00 | 18:00 | 21:00 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1300m |
0°
|
0°
|
0°
|
0°
|
0°
|
-1°
|
-2°
|
-1°
|
| 900m |
4°
|
4°
|
4°
|
4°
|
5°
|
3°
|
2°
|
2°
|
| 600m |
6°
|
5°
|
6°
|
6°
|
5°
|
5°
|
4°
|
4°
|
| 300m |
4°
|
4°
|
3°
|
3°
|
5°
|
5°
|
5°
|
5°
|
| Glen |
6°
|
6°
|
5°
|
4°
|
6°
|
7°
|
6°
|
6°
|
| Freezing Level |
1,400m
|
1,400m
|
1,400m
|
1,500m
|
1,400m
|
1,400m
|
1,300m
|
1,300m
|
Altitude above mean sea level
| Time | 00:00 | 03:00 | 06:00 | 09:00 | 12:00 | 15:00 | 18:00 | 21:00 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1300m |
-6°
|
-6°
|
-5°
|
-6°
|
-8°
|
-9°
|
-10°
|
-9°
|
| 900m |
0°
|
-1°
|
0°
|
0°
|
0°
|
-4°
|
-5°
|
-4°
|
| 600m |
3°
|
3°
|
3°
|
4°
|
4°
|
2°
|
1°
|
0°
|
| 300m |
3°
|
3°
|
2°
|
2°
|
4°
|
4°
|
4°
|
3°
|
| Glen |
4°
|
4°
|
3°
|
3°
|
6°
|
6°
|
5°
|
4°
|
Additional weather information
Met Office Aberdeen meteorologist's view
Deteriorating conditions in the afternoon. Note very wet conditions will enhance the wind-chill effect.
Weather
Dry through the early hours and morning, some low cloud across western hills, but some bright or sunny spells north of the Cairngorm plateau. Cloud thickening around midday with persistent often heavy rain spreading north through the afternoon, turning to sleet or wet snow on the highest summits late afternoon. Rain and summit snow easing late evening, most hills largely dry by midnight.
Chance of cloud-free hill tops
30-40%, best chance in the north during the morning
Low cloud and visibility
Often good visibility to start across northern hills, with frequent cloud around 700m, mainly across southern hills, tops of the Cairngorm plateau may often be above the low level cloud. Visibility falling very poor in the afternoon as cloud lowers to 600-700m across all hills.
Mountain weather information
Weather
Patchy cloud with a few isolated showers in the early hours. Showers merge to more persistent rain in the morning, falling as snow above 1100m, although north of the Cairngorms plateau likely to remain dry. Rain and summit snow breaking up to scattered showers through the afternoon, turning dry in the evening.
Chance of cloud-free hill tops
30% in the south, 60% in the north.
Maximum wind speed expected
Southwest 30 gusting 40 mph increasing to 40 gusting 50 mph for a few hours in the afternoon.
Temperature
- At 800m Plus 2 or 3 Celsius.
- Glen Plus 1 Celsius rising to 6 Celsius.
- Freezing level 1200-1300m.
Low cloud and visibility
Very poor visibility in frequent low cloud for most hills, bases 700-800m, but very good visibility north of the Cairngorm plateau where cloud likely to be mostly above the summits.
Mountain weather information
Tue 9 Dec
Sunrise:
Sunset:
A very windy day with a high chance of storm force winds across the tops, gales to lower levels. Outbreaks of rain, most persistent in the west. Freezing levels above the summits.
Wed 10 Dec
Sunrise:
Sunset:
Storm force southwesterly summit winds and rain, slowly easing through the day as winds turn northwesterly, dry later. Freezing level above the summits, lowering to 1000m late evening.
Thu 11 Dec
Sunrise:
Sunset:
A dry bright start, but southerly winds increasing through the day with rain later. Freezing level 900m, rising above the summits.
Updated at:
Summit specific forecast
Mountain summit forecast map
Loading map…
Key
Mountain summits
Other points of interest
Cluster of multiple stations
Includes the northern and western Cairngorms National Park, Monadhliath, Ben Alder, Creag Meagaidh, Loch Ericht and Loch Rannoch.
For snow and avalanche hazard forecasts please visit Scottish Avalanche Information Service