North Grampian Mountain weather forecast table
Confidence
High confidence for extremely cold conditions to be setting in from Thursday with drifting accumulations of snow likely at all levels.
This evening forecast
Dry and largely clear aside from some mist and fog patches at low levels. Light westerly winds.
Mountain weather hazards
Hazards apply at or above 300m, reflecting the more severe conditions which can occur at altitude.
Severe Chill Effect
Gales
Poor Visibility
Mountain weather forecast
Turning mainly cloudy with showery outbreaks of rain, sleet and snow. Winds strengthening with severe gales at height in the afternoon.
| Time | 00:00 | 03:00 | 06:00 | 09:00 | 12:00 | 15:00 | 18:00 | 21:00 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Weather (at 800m) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Chance of precipitation (at 800m) |
<05% | <05% | <05% | 10% | 20% | 40% | 40% | 30% |
| Time | 00:00 | 03:00 | 06:00 | 09:00 | 12:00 | 15:00 | 18:00 | 21:00 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1300m |
NW
20
|
NW
23
|
NW
27
|
W
31
|
W
33
|
W
39
|
W
44
|
W
44
|
| 900m |
W
10
|
W
13
|
SW
17
|
SW
23
|
SW
27
|
W
32
|
W
35
|
W
35
|
| 600m |
W
5
|
W
6
|
SW
9
|
SW
16
|
SW
19
|
W
22
|
W
24
|
W
24
|
| 300m |
SW
3
|
SW
5
|
W
5
|
SW
7
|
SW
8
|
W
8
|
W
11
|
W
11
|
| Glen |
W
3
|
SW
3
|
SW
3
|
SW
4
|
W
5
|
W
5
|
W
5
|
W
5
|
| Time | 00:00 | 03:00 | 06:00 | 09:00 | 12:00 | 15:00 | 18:00 | 21:00 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1300m | 26 | 29 | 35 | 40 | 44 | 52 | 59 | 59 |
| 900m | 12 | 16 | 21 | 28 | 34 | 41 | 45 | 46 |
| 600m | 7 | 9 | 13 | 22 | 27 | 31 | 34 | 35 |
| 300m | 7 | 11 | 14 | 17 | 21 | 22 | 25 | 27 |
| Glen | 9 | 11 | 15 | 17 | 23 | 24 | 26 | 26 |
| Time | 00:00 | 03:00 | 06:00 | 09:00 | 12:00 | 15:00 | 18:00 | 21:00 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1300m |
-6°
|
-5°
|
-5°
|
-5°
|
-4°
|
-3°
|
-4°
|
-4°
|
| 900m |
-3°
|
-2°
|
-2°
|
-2°
|
-1°
|
0°
|
-1°
|
-1°
|
| 600m |
-2°
|
-1°
|
0°
|
0°
|
2°
|
2°
|
2°
|
1°
|
| 300m |
-2°
|
-2°
|
-1°
|
0°
|
2°
|
2°
|
3°
|
2°
|
| Glen |
-1°
|
0°
|
0°
|
-1°
|
3°
|
4°
|
4°
|
3°
|
| Freezing Level |
100m
|
100m
|
100m
|
200m
|
700m
|
800m
|
800m
|
700m
|
| Time | 00:00 | 03:00 | 06:00 | 09:00 | 12:00 | 15:00 | 18:00 | 21:00 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1300m |
-14°
|
-13°
|
-14°
|
-14°
|
-13°
|
-13°
|
-14°
|
-15°
|
| 900m |
-8°
|
-8°
|
-9°
|
-9°
|
-9°
|
-9°
|
-9°
|
-10°
|
| 600m |
-5°
|
-4°
|
-4°
|
-5°
|
-4°
|
-4°
|
-5°
|
-5°
|
| 300m |
-4°
|
-4°
|
-4°
|
-4°
|
-2°
|
-1°
|
-1°
|
-2°
|
| Glen |
-3°
|
-3°
|
-3°
|
-4°
|
0°
|
1°
|
1°
|
-1°
|
Additional weather information
Met Office Aberdeen meteorologist's view
Very difficult walking conditions at height, especially in the afternoon with a significant risk of being blown over. Be prepared for sudden increases in wind on the Cairngorm Plateau and on lee slopes.
Weather
A bright start to the day with patchy cloud through the morning. Cloud thickening at times in the afternoon to bring a few outbreaks of light rain, falling as snow above 800m. Further showery outbreaks of rain expected for the evening, these turning increasingly wintry to lower levels through the night. Bitterly cold with winds becoming strong on upper slopes and severe gales on the Cairngorm plateau in the afternoon.
Chance of cloud-free hill tops
30% decreasing to 10% in the afternoon.
Low cloud and visibility
Patches of cloud around 800-1000m to start the day, thickening and occasionally lowering slightly in outbreaks of rain, sleet and hill snow. Visibility will be generally good below cloud bases but perhaps deteriorating to a couple of kilometres in sleet and snow.
Mountain weather information
Weather
A bitterly cold and windy day with frequent showers falling as snow and hail down to low levels and with drifting accumulations.
Chance of cloud-free hill tops
30%
Maximum wind speed expected
Northwest 30 to 40mph, gusting to 60mph on the summits.
Temperature
- At 800m Minus 2 decreasing minus 5 Celsius.
- Glen Plus 1 decreasing minus 2 Celsius.
- Freezing level 400m falling to the surface in the afternoon.
Low cloud and visibility
Generally good visibility, but quickly deteriorating poor or very poor in snow showers with cloud bases 700-900m or perhaps lower at times.
Mountain weather information
Fri 2 Jan
Bitterly cold with sunny spells and snow or hail showers falling and accumulating at all levels.
Sat 3 Jan
Remaining very cold with strong winds and snow or hail showers accumulating at all levels and extreme wind chill at height.
Sun 4 Jan
Another severely cold day with sunny spells and snow or hail showers accumulating at all levels. Strong winds at height.
Summit specific forecast
Mountain summit forecast map
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