Mountain weather

Mountain weather

South Grampian and Southeast Highlands

Confidence

High generally, medium for any showers.

Mountain hazards

Mountain weather hazards

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

Strong Sunlight
Harmful UV levels from sunlight increase with altitude giving a greater risk of sunburn and eye damage, even on some overcast days. On breezy days, the cooling effect of wind on exposed skin may disguise any feeling of sunburn until it is too late. If there is snow cover, glare increases the effect of UV rays especially on the eyes. It is advisable to wear sun block, protective clothing such as a long-sleeved top and hat and have good quality eye protection.

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.
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

A cloudy damp start then brightening up with sunny intervals and the odd shower. Fresh westerly winds.

Time
Time
06:00
09:00
12:00
15:00
18:00
21:00
Weather
(at 800m)
Weather symbols Heavy Rain Cloudy Sunny intervals Sunny intervals Sunny intervals Sunny intervals
Chance of
precipitation
(at 800m)
Chance of precipitation
60%
20%
10%
10%
10%
10%

Wind direction and speed

Altitude above mean sea level
Time
Time
06:00
09:00
12:00
15:00
18:00
21:00
1100m
1100m SW 32mph knots
SW
32mph
W 22mph knots
W
22mph
W 20mph knots
W
20mph
W 22mph knots
W
22mph
W 21mph knots
W
21mph
W 22mph knots
W
22mph
900m
900m SW 21mph knots
SW
21mph
W 18mph knots
W
18mph
W 17mph knots
W
17mph
W 18mph knots
W
18mph
W 17mph knots
W
17mph
W 15mph knots
W
15mph
600m
600m W 10mph knots
W
10mph
W 12mph knots
W
12mph
W 13mph knots
W
13mph
W 14mph knots
W
14mph
W 13mph knots
W
13mph
W 10mph knots
W
10mph
300m
300m W 5mph knots
W
5mph
W 9mph knots
W
9mph
W 10mph knots
W
10mph
W 11mph knots
W
11mph
W 9mph knots
W
9mph
W 6mph knots
W
6mph
Glen
Glen W 7mph knots
W
7mph
W 10mph knots
W
10mph
W 10mph knots
W
10mph
W 11mph knots
W
11mph
W 9mph knots
W
9mph
W 6mph knots
W
6mph

Wind gust

Altitude above mean sea level
Time
Time
06:00
09:00
12:00
15:00
18:00
21:00
1100m
1100m 37mph 27mph 26mph 28mph 27mph 27mph
900m
900m 26mph 23mph 23mph 24mph 23mph 20mph
600m
600m 20mph 19mph 21mph 23mph 22mph 18mph
300m
300m 14mph 18mph 19mph 21mph 18mph 14mph
Glen
Glen 18mph 19mph 19mph 21mph 17mph 15mph

Altitude above mean sea level
Time
Time
06:00
09:00
12:00
15:00
18:00
21:00
1100m
1100m 1 degrees Celsius 0 degrees Celsius 3 degrees Celsius 3 degrees Celsius 2 degrees Celsius -1 degrees Celsius
900m
900m 4 degrees Celsius 4 degrees Celsius 6 degrees Celsius 7 degrees Celsius 6 degrees Celsius 3 degrees Celsius
600m
600m 9 degrees Celsius 9 degrees Celsius 10 degrees Celsius 11 degrees Celsius 9 degrees Celsius 7 degrees Celsius
300m
300m 12 degrees Celsius 12 degrees Celsius 14 degrees Celsius 14 degrees Celsius 13 degrees Celsius 10 degrees Celsius
Glen
Glen 13 degrees Celsius 14 degrees Celsius 15 degrees Celsius 15 degrees Celsius 14 degrees Celsius 11 degrees Celsius
Freezing Level Freezing Level
2500m
1800m
2000m
1900m
1900m
1800m

Additional weather information

Meteorologist's view

Note the high sunburn risk once the cloud breaks up

Weather

Cloudy overnight with some rain and drizzle, clearing the Aberdeenshire Hills around dawn, and these drier conditions extending south to all by mid morning. Then mainly dry with broken cloud and sunny intervals but a few brief showers are possible in the north, in the afternoon and evening.

Chance of cloud-free hill tops

10% at first improving 90% during the morning.

Low cloud and visibility

Low cloud at 450-600m at first in morning with poor visibility at lower levels in rain. Cloud then lifting to mainly above tops by mid morning with mainly good visibility, but some patches above 900m near showers.

Ground conditions

No recent ground conditions report available.

Summit specific forecast