Mountain weather

North Grampian Mountain weather forecast table

Confidence

Generally high for high pressure to bring a few days of more settled and bright weather and for a breakdown of this later in the week. Low confidence in timing and details of weather systems from Thursday onwards.

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 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 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 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 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

Early snow clearing to a dry and bright day. Very cold.

Time 06:00 09:00 12:00 15:00 18:00 21:00
Weather
(at 800m)
Light snow shower (day) Sunny intervals Sunny day Sunny intervals Cloudy Cloudy
Chance of precipitation
(at 800m)
30% 10% 00% 00% 00% 00%

Wind direction and speed (mph)
Altitude above mean sea level
Time 06:00 09:00 12:00 15:00 18:00 21:00
1300m NW
38
N
36
N
26
N
16
E
15
SE
21
900m NW
28
NW
22
N
15
NE
10
SE
11
SE
15
600m NW
13
W
9
N
8
NE
5
SE
7
S
5
300m N
4
NW
2
N
6
N
3
SE
3
SW
2
Glen NW
2
NW
5
N
4
N
3
SW
3
S
2
Wind gust (mph)
Altitude above mean sea level
Time 06:00 09:00 12:00 15:00 18:00 21:00
1300m 48 45 32 21 19 25
900m 32 26 19 12 13 18
600m 17 12 11 8 9 8
300m 17 12 13 7 5 5
Glen 19 21 13 8 6 8

Altitude above mean sea level
Time 06:00 09:00 12:00 15:00 18:00 21:00
1300m
-11°
-10°
-10°
-10°
-12°
-11°
900m
-7°
-7°
-6°
-5°
-6°
-6°
600m
-5°
-4°
-3°
-2°
-3°
-5°
300m
-3°
-3°
-3°
-5°
Glen
-3°
-2°
-3°
-4°
Freezing Level
0m
0m
0m
0m
0m
0m

Altitude above mean sea level
Time 06:00 09:00 12:00 15:00 18:00 21:00
1300m
-24°
-23°
-20°
-18°
-20°
-20°
900m
-17°
-16°
-13°
-11°
-12°
-13°
600m
-12°
-10°
-8°
-6°
-8°
-8°
300m
-6°
-5°
-3°
-1°
-6°
-8°
Glen
-5°
-5°
-1°
-5°
-6°

Additional weather information

Met Office Aberdeen meteorologist's view

Besides any early morning snow showers it will be a dry and crisp day on the hills with some sunny spells but feeling bitterly cold. Winds easing but still breezy at times so expect a marked wind chill.

Weather

A few snow showers clearing around dawn. This leaves a dry and very cold day with sunny spells, turning cloudier in the evening. Strong to gale force winds in the morning soon easing.

Chance of cloud-free hill tops

80%

Low cloud and visibility

Low cloud with base 600-800m soon clearing to leave very isolated low cloud bases around 1000m. Visibility generally very good, but very poor in cloud and snow early in the day.

Sunrise:
Sunset:

Mountain weather information

Weather

A dry day with some bright or sunny spells. Feeling very cold with southeasterly winds becoming strong at times and give a severe wind chill.

Chance of cloud-free hill tops

90%

Maximum wind speed expected

Southeasterly 30-35mph gusting 35-45mph.

Temperature

  • At 800m Between minus 5 and minus 8 Celsius.
  • Glen Minus 3 Celsius rising to plus 2 Celsius.
  • Freezing level 100m, frozen down to valley level.

Low cloud and visibility

Some very isolated cloud around 1000m but otherwise all cloud staying above summits. Good visibility.

Mountain weather information

Thu 19 Feb

Sunrise:
Sunset:

Mostly dry with bright spells, some outbreaks of rain and snow later. Strong to gale force southerly winds. Freezing level 100m rising to 400m.

Fri 20 Feb

Sunrise:
Sunset:

Cloudy with heavy rain and snow spreading eastwards. Gale force southwesterly winds. Freezing level 400m rising to around 1000m.

Sat 21 Feb

Sunrise:
Sunset:

Cloudy start with rain and snow, drier with some bright spells later. Strong to gale force winds. Freezing level around 1000m.

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