Mountain weather
North Grampian Mountain weather forecast table
Confidence
Generally high, but some uncertainty in strength of winds Monday and Tuesday. Low for Wednesday night and Thursday.
Mountain weather hazards
Hazards apply at or above 300m, reflecting the more severe conditions which can occur at altitude.
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.
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
A damp start with hill fog. Turning largely dry with sunny spells.
| Time | 06:00 | 09:00 | 12:00 | 15:00 | 18:00 | 21:00 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Weather (at 800m) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Chance of precipitation (at 800m) |
70% | 60% | 20% | 10% | 10% | <05% |
Wind direction and speed (mph)
Altitude above mean sea level
| Time | 06:00 | 09:00 | 12:00 | 15:00 | 18:00 | 21:00 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1300m |
W
26
|
NW
24
|
NW
24
|
W
23
|
W
18
|
W
15
|
| 900m |
W
22
|
W
17
|
W
20
|
W
19
|
W
14
|
SW
13
|
| 600m |
W
15
|
NW
11
|
W
15
|
W
15
|
W
10
|
SW
9
|
| 300m |
W
8
|
NW
5
|
W
11
|
W
11
|
W
7
|
SW
5
|
| Glen |
W
3
|
NW
5
|
NW
6
|
W
6
|
W
5
|
SW
2
|
Wind gust (mph)
Altitude above mean sea level
| Time | 06:00 | 09:00 | 12:00 | 15:00 | 18:00 | 21:00 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1300m | 33 | 30 | 31 | 30 | 24 | 20 |
| 900m | 26 | 21 | 25 | 25 | 19 | 16 |
| 600m | 19 | 14 | 21 | 21 | 15 | 14 |
| 300m | 17 | 12 | 21 | 21 | 15 | 12 |
| Glen | 15 | 18 | 18 | 18 | 16 | 9 |
Altitude above mean sea level
| Time | 06:00 | 09:00 | 12:00 | 15:00 | 18:00 | 21:00 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1300m |
9°
|
7°
|
8°
|
8°
|
6°
|
4°
|
| 900m |
12°
|
10°
|
11°
|
11°
|
10°
|
8°
|
| 600m |
13°
|
12°
|
14°
|
14°
|
13°
|
11°
|
| 300m |
14°
|
15°
|
17°
|
17°
|
15°
|
13°
|
| Glen |
14°
|
17°
|
19°
|
18°
|
16°
|
13°
|
| Freezing Level |
2,600m
|
2,100m
|
2,000m
|
2,000m
|
2,100m
|
2,000m
|
Altitude above mean sea level
| Time | 06:00 | 09:00 | 12:00 | 15:00 | 18:00 | 21:00 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1300m |
5°
|
2°
|
3°
|
4°
|
2°
|
0°
|
| 900m |
8°
|
7°
|
7°
|
8°
|
7°
|
5°
|
| 600m |
11°
|
10°
|
11°
|
11°
|
11°
|
9°
|
| 300m |
14°
|
15°
|
15°
|
15°
|
14°
|
12°
|
| Glen |
14°
|
15°
|
17°
|
16°
|
14°
|
13°
|
Additional weather information
Met Office Aberdeen meteorologist's view
Moderate to high UV levels, sun protection recommended. A low risk of heavier showers in the afternoon.
Weather
Low cloud and outbreaks of mainly light rain to start. Gradually turning drier and brighter through the morning with some sunny spells developing from late morning. A largely dry afternoon with sunny spells, just an outside chance of a few isolated showers. Sunny then clear spells in the evening, but high cloud increasing to start the night.
Chance of cloud-free hill tops
Initially 30% becoming from late morning 90%
Low cloud and visibility
Mostly poor visibility to start in extensive cloud, bases 600-700m. Visibility improving as cloud lifts to 1000m, becoming increasingly patchy by late morning. Very good visibility through the afternoon with hills cloud free.
Mountain weather information
Weather
Outbreaks of rain spread northeast and turn heavy through the early hours. Outbreaks of rain for much of the day, heaviest in the morning. Severe gales increasing to storm force winds on high ground, making progress very challenging, with any mobility near impossible on the summits and high plateaux.
Chance of cloud-free hill tops
Generally 40% lifting 70% in east for the afternoon
Maximum wind speed expected
South 30 gusting 40-45 mph at dawn soon increasing to 50 gusting 60 mph, Southwest 60 gusting 70-80 mph in the afternoon, perhaps 90-100 mph at times across the highest summits.
Temperature
- At 800m Plus 5-7 Celsius
- Glen Plus 10 Celsius increasing 19 Celsius during the afternoon
- Freezing level Above summits
Low cloud and visibility
Visibility becoming moderate or poor in rain, very poor within cloud with bases quite extensive from 600m, but lifting and breaking in east for the afternoon
Mountain weather information
Tue 5 Aug
Sunrise:
Sunset:
Showers, these frequent and occasionally heavy at first, before gradually easing through the afternoon and evening. Gale to severe gale summit winds. Freezing level above summits.
Wed 6 Aug
Sunrise:
Sunset:
Mainly dry with bright or sunny spells, but a chance of rain in the evening. Fresh to strong summit winds, possibly increasing to severe summit gales in the evening. Freezing level above summits.
Thu 7 Aug
Sunrise:
Sunset:
Showers, perhaps merging to longer periods of rain for a time. Summit gales easing slightly later. Freezing level above summits.
Updated at:
Summit specific forecast
Mountain summit forecast map
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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