Mountain weather

Mountain weather

North Grampian

Confidence

High confidence in the main themes for the rest of this week. While Sunday will be the best day of the weekend, some uncertainty remains regarding the timing of the rain clearing south on Saturday night.

Mountain hazards

Mountain weather hazards

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

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.
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.

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.
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.

Mountain weather forecast

Mainly cloudy with outbreaks of rain. Drier, brighter in east. Gales on tops.

Time
Time
06:00
09:00
12:00
15:00
18:00
21:00
Weather
(at 800m)
Weather symbols Heavy Rain Heavy Rain Heavy Rain Heavy Rain Heavy Rain Cloudy
Chance of
precipitation
(at 800m)
Chance of precipitation
60%
60%
60%
60%
40%
40%

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 SW 31mph knots
SW
31mph
SW 33mph knots
SW
33mph
SW 33mph knots
SW
33mph
SW 33mph knots
SW
33mph
SW 32mph knots
SW
32mph
SW 33mph knots
SW
33mph
900m
900m SW 31mph knots
SW
31mph
SW 32mph knots
SW
32mph
SW 32mph knots
SW
32mph
SW 33mph knots
SW
33mph
SW 33mph knots
SW
33mph
SW 32mph knots
SW
32mph
600m
600m SW 19mph knots
SW
19mph
SW 22mph knots
SW
22mph
SW 21mph knots
SW
21mph
SW 23mph knots
SW
23mph
SW 21mph knots
SW
21mph
SW 20mph knots
SW
20mph
300m
300m SW 7mph knots
SW
7mph
SW 12mph knots
SW
12mph
SW 14mph knots
SW
14mph
SW 14mph knots
SW
14mph
SW 11mph knots
SW
11mph
SW 11mph knots
SW
11mph
Glen
Glen SW 2mph knots
SW
2mph
SW 5mph knots
SW
5mph
SW 7mph knots
SW
7mph
SW 6mph knots
SW
6mph
SW 5mph knots
SW
5mph
SW 4mph knots
SW
4mph

Wind gust

Altitude above mean sea level
Time
Time
06:00
09:00
12:00
15:00
18:00
21:00
1300m
1300m 40mph 44mph 44mph 44mph 44mph 45mph
900m
900m 36mph 40mph 40mph 41mph 41mph 41mph
600m
600m 24mph 29mph 29mph 32mph 29mph 29mph
300m
300m 20mph 25mph 30mph 29mph 25mph 26mph
Glen
Glen 18mph 22mph 24mph 23mph 23mph 23mph

Altitude above mean sea level
Time
Time
06:00
09:00
12:00
15:00
18:00
21:00
1300m
1300m -2 degrees Celsius -2 degrees Celsius 0 degrees Celsius -1 degrees Celsius -1 degrees Celsius -2 degrees Celsius
900m
900m 2 degrees Celsius 3 degrees Celsius 4 degrees Celsius 4 degrees Celsius 3 degrees Celsius 2 degrees Celsius
600m
600m 6 degrees Celsius 7 degrees Celsius 7 degrees Celsius 7 degrees Celsius 7 degrees Celsius 6 degrees Celsius
300m
300m 10 degrees Celsius 11 degrees Celsius 12 degrees Celsius 11 degrees Celsius 11 degrees Celsius 10 degrees Celsius
Glen
Glen 10 degrees Celsius 13 degrees Celsius 14 degrees Celsius 14 degrees Celsius 12 degrees Celsius 11 degrees Celsius
Freezing Level Freezing Level
2000m
2200m
2300m
2300m
2500m
2500m

Additional weather information

Meteorologist's view

Gusts above 50mph on tops will give very difficult walking conditions with a significant risk of being blown over, especially during the afternoon and evening as winds strengthen. Also note the sub-zero wind-chill on tops.

Weather

A mainly cloudy, windy day with showery outbreaks of rain, the rain most frequent west of the A9 but patchier across the Cairngorms where some brighter spells are expected. Gales on tops, strengthening further later.

Chance of cloud-free hill tops

40% rising to 60%, best chances in the east.

Low cloud and visibility

Occasional cloud bases down to 900m during the morning and in outbreaks of rain, but generally lifting to 1100m or above outside of rain in the afternoon. Visibility will be generally good below cloud bases, briefly deteriorating in outbreaks of rain.

Ground conditions

No recent ground conditions report available.

Summit specific forecast