Mountain weather
South Grampian and Southeast Highlands Mountain weather forecast table
Confidence
Medium confidence in exact rain and wind detail on Wednesday. High confidence for unsettled weather through the period, but low confidence in details from Thursday onwards.
Mountain weather hazards
Hazards apply at or above 300m, reflecting the more severe conditions which can occur at altitude.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Mountain weather forecast
Very windy with gale to storm-force winds. Heavy showers, rain later.
| Time | 06:00 | 09:00 | 12:00 | 15:00 | 18:00 | 21:00 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Weather (at 800m) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Chance of precipitation (at 800m) |
60% | 60% | 80% | 50% | 30% | 70% |
Wind direction and speed (mph)
Altitude above mean sea level
| Time | 06:00 | 09:00 | 12:00 | 15:00 | 18:00 | 21:00 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1100m |
SW
64
|
SW
55
|
SW
54
|
SW
63
|
SW
58
|
SW
58
|
| 900m |
SW
44
|
SW
37
|
SW
38
|
SW
44
|
SW
41
|
SW
40
|
| 600m |
SW
29
|
SW
24
|
SW
26
|
W
29
|
SW
28
|
SW
27
|
| 300m |
SW
17
|
SW
12
|
SW
17
|
W
18
|
SW
16
|
SW
15
|
| Glen |
SW
14
|
SW
13
|
SW
16
|
W
18
|
SW
17
|
SW
16
|
Wind gust (mph)
Altitude above mean sea level
| Time | 06:00 | 09:00 | 12:00 | 15:00 | 18:00 | 21:00 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1100m | 73 | 64 | 65 | 76 | 70 | 71 |
| 900m | 54 | 46 | 49 | 56 | 54 | 53 |
| 600m | 49 | 42 | 45 | 51 | 49 | 48 |
| 300m | 39 | 29 | 38 | 41 | 37 | 35 |
| Glen | 32 | 30 | 34 | 38 | 36 | 35 |
Altitude above mean sea level
| Time | 06:00 | 09:00 | 12:00 | 15:00 | 18:00 | 21:00 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1100m |
0°
|
0°
|
0°
|
0°
|
1°
|
2°
|
| 900m |
2°
|
2°
|
2°
|
2°
|
3°
|
4°
|
| 600m |
5°
|
4°
|
4°
|
4°
|
5°
|
6°
|
| 300m |
7°
|
5°
|
6°
|
7°
|
7°
|
8°
|
| Glen |
7°
|
6°
|
7°
|
8°
|
8°
|
9°
|
| Freezing Level |
1,200m
|
1,100m
|
1,100m
|
1,100m
|
1,400m
|
1,700m
|
Altitude above mean sea level
| Time | 06:00 | 09:00 | 12:00 | 15:00 | 18:00 | 21:00 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1100m |
-11°
|
-10°
|
-11°
|
-11°
|
-9°
|
-7°
|
| 900m |
-6°
|
-7°
|
-7°
|
-6°
|
-5°
|
-3°
|
| 600m |
-2°
|
-2°
|
-3°
|
-2°
|
-1°
|
1°
|
| 300m |
3°
|
2°
|
2°
|
2°
|
4°
|
5°
|
| Glen |
4°
|
2°
|
3°
|
3°
|
4°
|
6°
|
Additional weather information
Met Office Aberdeen meteorologist's view
Occasional storm-force winds over the highest summits means any mobility will be almost impossible on exposed ground with a risk of being blown off your feet. National severe weather warnings are in force so keep up to date with the latest forecast. Feeling bitterly cold in strong winds and frequent showers.
Weather
Gale-force gusts to low levels throughout the day with severe gales or occasional storm-force gusts on summits and ridges, as Storm Bram, lying to the north of Scotland, moves slowly east. Heavy showers spread in from the west, wintry above 900-1000m and with a chance of hail and lightning, becoming more frequent for a time during the middle of the day. Easing off for a time in the afternoon, before more persistent rain spreads east through the evening. Staying mostly dry towards the more sheltered east of the Aberdeenshire and Angus hills
Chance of cloud-free hill tops
30%, 60% in the northeast.
Low cloud and visibility
Quite widespread cloud down to 800-1000m visibilities falling poor in frequent showers. Cloud more broken allowing for clear spells over Aberdeenshire and Angus hills.
Mountain weather information
Weather
Rain clearing in the early hours. Then dry much of Thursday morning. Clouding over from late morning and continuing through the afternoon with some outbreaks of rain or drizzle, perhaps some heavier bursts at times. Staying drier over the more sheltered northeast.
Chance of cloud-free hill tops
30%, best chances in the northeast.
Maximum wind speed expected
Southwest backing south, 30-40mph, gusting 50-60mph over high summits and ridges.
Temperature
- At 800m Plus 1C to plus 4C.
- Glen Plus 6C to plus 10C.
- Freezing level 1300m at first, rising well above summits.
Low cloud and visibility
Quite widespread cloud down to 600-800m and visibilities falling poor in light rain, drizzle, or hill fog.
Mountain weather information
Fri 12 Dec
Sunrise:
Sunset:
Cloudy with fresh southerly winds and outbreaks of mostly light rain, clearing east through the afternoon. As this clears the freezing level falls to 800-1000m allowing for some summit snow.
Sat 13 Dec
Sunrise:
Sunset:
Dry but increasingly cloudy morning. Rain spreads east later. Strengthening southwest winds. Freezing level rising above summits.
Sun 14 Dec
Sunrise:
Sunset:
Rain clears east in morning. Then cloudy with some showers or further rain. Fresh to strong southwest winds.
Updated at:
Summit specific forecast
Mountain summit forecast map
Loading map…
Key
Mountain summits
Other points of interest
Cluster of multiple stations
Including South and East Cairngorms National Park, Aberdeenshire and Angus Hills, Ben Vrackie, Ben Lawers, Loch Tay and Ochils
For snow and avalanche hazard forecasts please visit Scottish Avalanche Information Service