Mountain weather

North Grampian Mountain weather forecast table

Confidence

High confidence for mild but unsettled conditions for the rest of the week becoming colder during the weekend. Lower confidence for detail from the weekend.

Sunrise:
Sunset:

This evening forecast

Dry over the Cairngorm, Ben Rinnes area at first, rain in the southwest will then spread northeast from the late evening. Gale southwest summit winds.

Sunrise:
Sunset:
Mountain hazards

Mountain weather hazards

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

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 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 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 Thunderstorms
Lightning is a significant mountain hazard which can result in serious injury or death. Mountain terrain often leaves one highly exposed to lightning strikes. Hail may give unpleasant conditions with torrential rain and localised flash flooding also possible, mainly in Summer months.
hazard 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

Cloudy with rain, turning showery later. Gale southwest wind strengthens to storm force over the summits later.

Time 00:00 03:00 06:00 09:00 12:00 15:00 18:00 21:00
Weather
(at 800m)
Heavy rain Heavy rain Heavy rain Heavy rain Light rain Sleet Heavy shower (night) Heavy shower (night)
Chance of precipitation
(at 800m)
60% 50% 40% 40% 30% 40% 40% 30%

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
47
SW
44
SW
43
SW
43
SW
46
SW
50
SW
51
SW
57
900m SW
45
SW
40
SW
37
S
39
SW
43
SW
47
SW
48
SW
53
600m SW
31
SW
27
SW
24
SW
25
SW
29
SW
32
SW
33
SW
37
300m SW
13
SW
12
SW
12
SW
13
SW
15
SW
19
SW
20
SW
23
Glen SW
6
SW
5
SW
5
SW
4
SW
6
SW
7
SW
6
SW
6
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 60 57 56 56 62 68 69 77
900m 55 49 46 49 54 59 62 68
600m 43 36 33 35 40 45 47 52
300m 32 30 28 30 35 41 42 49
Glen 29 27 24 25 27 33 33 36

Altitude above mean sea level
Time 00:00 03:00 06:00 09:00 12:00 15:00 18:00 21:00
1300m
-1°
-2°
900m
600m
10°
300m
10°
10°
11°
11°
10°
Glen
10°
10°
10°
12°
12°
Freezing Level
2,600m
2,500m
2,400m
2,600m
2,200m
1,900m
1,100m
1,100m

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°
-4°
-5°
-5°
-6°
-11°
-12°
900m
-1°
-5°
-7°
600m
-1°
-2°
300m
Glen
10°

Additional weather information

Met Office Aberdeen meteorologist's view

Low cloud and rain make navigation difficult in the morning. It will feel very cold as the cloud breaks in the afternoon and the strong wind will make walking difficult to low levels with an increasing risk of being blown over in the strengthening wind later.

Weather

The morning will be cloudy with hill fog which will be accompanied by outbreaks of rain, this heavy at times. The rain and cloud will clear from the afternoon to leave patchy cloud with showers by the evening. These showers will be heavy and thundery at times. The wind will strengthen to gale to lower levels from the morning, increasing to above storm force from the evening.

Chance of cloud-free hill tops

10% rising to 80% by late afternoon.

Low cloud and visibility

Extensive cloud 400-600m in the morning will lower to 200m at times in rain. The cloud will lift and break during the afternoon with bases rising to 700-900m.

Sunrise:
Sunset:

Mountain weather information

Weather

A cloudy day with frequent showers, these showers will be heavy and perhaps thundery at times, falling as snow above 800m.

Chance of cloud-free hill tops

20%.

Maximum wind speed expected

Southwest 65-75mph gust 85mph decreasing northwest 30-35mph gust 45mph later.

Temperature

  • At 800m Plus 2-3C.
  • Glen Plus 3C rising plus 8C.
  • Freezing level 1000m rising 1200m later.

Low cloud and visibility

Cloud will be broken 400-600m lowering 200m in heavier showers.

Mountain weather information

Sat 29 Nov

Sunrise:
Sunset:

Sunny spells with a few wintry showers. Moderate northwest summit wind. Freezing level 200-400m.

Sun 30 Nov

Sunrise:
Sunset:

A dry and bright day becoming cloudy later. Moderate southeast summit wind. Freezing level 200-400m.

Mon 1 Dec

Sunrise:
Sunset:

Cloudy with outbreaks of rain, some heavy becoming brighter with showers later. Fresh southwest summit wind. Freezing level 700m.

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