Mountain weather
North Grampian Mountain weather forecast table
Confidence
High for general evolution, but low for precipitation details on Wednesday and Thursday, and again on Sunday.
Mountain weather hazards
Hazards apply at or above 300m, reflecting the more severe conditions which can occur at altitude.
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.
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.
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.
Mountain weather forecast
Cloudy with outbreaks of rain spreading north. Chilly. Gusty.
| Time | 06:00 | 09:00 | 12:00 | 15:00 | 18:00 | 21:00 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Weather (at 800m) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Chance of precipitation (at 800m) |
10% | 30% | 40% | 40% | 30% | 20% |
Wind direction and speed (mph)
Altitude above mean sea level
| Time | 06:00 | 09:00 | 12:00 | 15:00 | 18:00 | 21:00 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1300m |
S
39
|
S
39
|
S
42
|
S
40
|
S
36
|
S
37
|
| 900m |
S
41
|
S
41
|
S
43
|
S
43
|
S
37
|
S
35
|
| 600m |
SW
12
|
SW
17
|
S
20
|
S
25
|
S
22
|
S
20
|
| 300m |
SE
2
|
NW
3
|
W
4
|
S
11
|
S
11
|
S
11
|
| Glen |
SW
3
|
SW
6
|
SW
5
|
SW
7
|
S
4
|
S
3
|
Wind gust (mph)
Altitude above mean sea level
| Time | 06:00 | 09:00 | 12:00 | 15:00 | 18:00 | 21:00 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1300m | 48 | 50 | 55 | 52 | 48 | 49 |
| 900m | 48 | 49 | 52 | 52 | 46 | 44 |
| 600m | 18 | 23 | 28 | 36 | 32 | 28 |
| 300m | 8 | 7 | 13 | 28 | 28 | 27 |
| Glen | 24 | 25 | 22 | 25 | 19 | 18 |
Altitude above mean sea level
| Time | 06:00 | 09:00 | 12:00 | 15:00 | 18:00 | 21:00 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1300m |
-2°
|
0°
|
-1°
|
-1°
|
0°
|
0°
|
| 900m |
4°
|
5°
|
4°
|
4°
|
4°
|
4°
|
| 600m |
5°
|
6°
|
6°
|
6°
|
6°
|
6°
|
| 300m |
-1°
|
3°
|
7°
|
9°
|
8°
|
8°
|
| Glen |
3°
|
6°
|
9°
|
9°
|
9°
|
9°
|
| Freezing Level |
500m
|
1,600m
|
1,600m
|
1,600m
|
1,600m
|
1,600m
|
Altitude above mean sea level
| Time | 06:00 | 09:00 | 12:00 | 15:00 | 18:00 | 21:00 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1300m |
-11°
|
-9°
|
-10°
|
-10°
|
-9°
|
-8°
|
| 900m |
-3°
|
-2°
|
-3°
|
-3°
|
-3°
|
-3°
|
| 600m |
1°
|
2°
|
1°
|
1°
|
1°
|
1°
|
| 300m |
-3°
|
2°
|
6°
|
6°
|
5°
|
5°
|
| Glen |
1°
|
3°
|
7°
|
7°
|
8°
|
8°
|
Additional weather information
Met Office Aberdeen meteorologist's view
Gusty winds will give difficult walking conditions with a risk of being blown off balance. Navigation could be challenging with energy output significantly increased when walking into the wind. Gale force gusts over the highest summits.
Weather
Dry with clear spells through the early hours, with some frost developing. Cloud spreading north through the morning with some showery outbreaks of rain at times. Remaining cloudy with outbreaks of rain through the rest of the day. Limited chance of clearer spells towards the sheltered north such as Ben Rinnes and Ladder Hills. Feeling cold at height with occasionally strong, gusty winds.
Chance of cloud-free hill tops
90% at first falling to 25% in morning, best chance in sheltered north.
Low cloud and visibility
Clear summits and good visibilities in the early hours but quite widespread cloud down to 500-700m spreading north through the morning with visibilities falling moderate or poor in hill fog and rain.
Mountain weather information
Weather
Some dry intervals possible at first before cloud and rain push east later in the morning, persisting through the middle of the day, clearing east through the late afternoon to allow some dry and clear spells to develop. Rain turning to snow on the summits from late morning as the freezing level falls. Feeling cold.
Chance of cloud-free hill tops
Little chance in the morning. Rising to 90% by evening.
Maximum wind speed expected
Southerly 35-45mph - possibly gusting up to 60mph - at first, easing and veering west to northwest.
Temperature
- At 800m Plus 4C falling to minus 1C.
- Glen Plus 7C to plus 11C.
- Freezing level 1800m falling to 600m.
Low cloud and visibility
Widespread low cloud down to 500-700m and poor visibilities in hill fog and rain or summit snow in the morning. Cloud lifting and clearing through the afternoon to allow mostly clear summits and good visibilities.
Mountain weather information
Fri 6 Mar
Sunrise:
Sunset:
Dry with bright or sunny spells, perhaps cloudier later in west. Freezing level rising to around 1000m. Strong south to southwest winds developing.
Sat 7 Mar
Sunrise:
Sunset:
Staying dry with bright spells and variable cloud. Strong to gale south to southwest winds. Freezing level around 800-1000m.
Sun 8 Mar
Sunrise:
Sunset:
Bright spells and variable cloud. Chance of some showery rain spreading north. Fresh to strong southerly winds. Freezing level around 1200m.
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