Mountain weather
Yellow warning

Yellow weather warning in force for North Grampian

North Grampian Mountain weather forecast table

Confidence

High confidence in the strong southeasterly airflow continuing during the next few days with spells of rain and hill snow. Low confidence in details from Monday.

Sunrise:
Sunset:

This evening forecast

Outbreaks of rain and snow, freezing level falling to 400m this evening. Severe gales or storm force gusts on tops.

Sunrise:
Sunset:
Mountain hazards

Mountain weather hazards

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

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 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 Heavy Persistent Snow
Heavy snow can lead to rapid changes in underfoot conditions and paths may become treacherous or hidden. It also brings very poor visibility and often makes navigation much more challenging. When deep snow accumulates progress is often time consuming and strenuous, significantly affecting the distance one can travel on foot. Deep drifts can develop if snow is combined with strong winds. A heightened avalanche risk is possible and avalanche reports should be consulted where available.
hazard 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.
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.

Mountain weather forecast

Outbreaks of snow, blizzards at height but freezing level rising slightly. Strong winds and gales, storm force on tops in morning.

Time 00:00 03:00 06:00 09:00 12:00 15:00 18:00 21:00
Weather
(at 800m)
Heavy snow Heavy snow Heavy snow Heavy snow Heavy snow Heavy snow Heavy snow Heavy snow
Chance of precipitation
(at 800m)
60% 60% 60% 60% 60% 60% 60% 60%

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 SE
53
SE
51
SE
52
SE
51
SE
42
SE
37
SE
39
SE
37
900m SE
50
SE
46
SE
49
SE
48
SE
36
E
29
E
33
E
29
600m SE
28
SE
25
SE
25
SE
25
E
18
E
13
E
15
E
15
300m E
10
E
8
E
8
E
7
E
8
E
9
E
8
E
9
Glen E
3
E
3
E
3
E
3
E
4
E
4
NE
4
E
3
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 68 66 68 66 56 49 52 50
900m 60 56 60 59 45 36 42 37
600m 37 34 35 36 26 20 23 23
300m 29 24 24 22 21 22 21 22
Glen 18 17 18 18 17 15 15 17

Altitude above mean sea level
Time 00:00 03:00 06:00 09:00 12:00 15:00 18:00 21:00
1300m
-5°
-6°
-5°
-5°
-4°
-4°
-4°
-4°
900m
-2°
-2°
-2°
-1°
-1°
-1°
600m
300m
Glen
Freezing Level
500m
500m
500m
600m
700m
700m
700m
800m

Altitude above mean sea level
Time 00:00 03:00 06:00 09:00 12:00 15:00 18:00 21:00
1300m
-18°
-18°
-17°
-17°
-14°
-14°
-14°
-14°
900m
-12°
-12°
-12°
-11°
-9°
-8°
-9°
-9°
600m
-7°
-7°
-7°
-6°
-4°
-3°
-3°
-4°
300m
-2°
-2°
-2°
-1°
Glen

Additional weather information

Met Office Aberdeen meteorologist's view

Gusts to around 70mph in the morning will make walking extremely difficult on exposed ground with a high risk of being blown over. Winds slightly easing into the afternoon but still very challenging conditions with frequent poor visibility on tops in blowing snow.

Weather

Rather cloudy with showery outbreaks of snow but some and drier and brighter breaks in the west. Freezing level initially 400-500m in the morning, rising to 700-800m in the afternoon. Very windy with gales and blizzards on upper exposed ground; strongest winds during the morning with storm force gusts on tops before easing slightly through the afternoon. Severe windchill.

Chance of cloud-free hill tops

20%, best chances for the Monadhliath.

Low cloud and visibility

Cloud bases generally 800-900m, occasionally lowering especially on southeasterly facing slopes. Visibility will be a few kilometres below cloud bases but poor or very poor in snow or blowing snow on upper slopes.

Sunrise:
Sunset:

Mountain weather information

Weather

Bright spells and patchy snow, most persistent in the east and falling as rain below 600m. Strong winds with gales on the upper slopes.

Chance of cloud-free hill tops

20% best chances in the west.

Maximum wind speed expected

Gusting to 50-60mph on tops.

Temperature

  • At 800m Minus 1 Celsius.
  • Glen Plus 4 Celsius.
  • Freezing level 600-800m.

Low cloud and visibility

Cloud bases generally 900-1000m, occasionally lowering especially on southeasterly facing slopes. Visibility will be generally good below cloud bases but poor or very poor in snow or blowing snow on upper slopes.

Mountain weather information

Sun 25 Jan

Sunrise:
Sunset:

Cloudy with outbreaks of rain and hill snow. Freezing level 800-1000m. Strong to gale force winds on tops.

Mon 26 Jan

Sunrise:
Sunset:

Cloudy conditions continuing with rain and hill snow. Freezing level 600-800m. Gales or severe gales on tops.

Tue 27 Jan

Sunrise:
Sunset:

Rain and hill snow, perhaps persistent for a time. Strong to gale force winds on tops.

Updated at:

Summit specific forecast

Mountain summit forecast map

Loading map…

For snow and avalanche hazard forecasts please visit Scottish Avalanche Information Service