Mountain weather
South Grampian and Southeast Highlands Mountain weather forecast table
Confidence
High confidence in seeing generally unsettled weather, but low for details Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday.
This evening forecast
Dry with often clear summits to start and just patches of cloud around 500-700m - mostly for south-facing upslopes of in the southwest. Rain, preceded by summit snow, will spread north through the second half of the evening with cloud becoming widespread over hills west of the A9, staying dry with clearer summits for the Aberdeenshire Hills. Light southwest winds at first will back south to southeast and strengthen to 30-40mph.
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.
Mountain weather forecast
Cloudy with patchy light rain. Mostly dry Aberdeenshire. Windy.
| 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) |
80% | 50% | 20% | 10% | 10% | 10% | 30% | 40% |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1100m |
S
20
|
S
33
|
SW
42
|
SW
41
|
SW
38
|
S
36
|
S
38
|
SW
36
|
| 900m |
S
18
|
S
25
|
SW
26
|
SW
28
|
SW
25
|
S
25
|
S
25
|
SW
24
|
| 600m |
S
6
|
S
8
|
SW
9
|
SW
18
|
SW
15
|
S
13
|
S
15
|
SW
12
|
| 300m |
W
5
|
SE
2
|
S
6
|
SW
11
|
SW
11
|
SW
7
|
SW
6
|
S
6
|
| Glen |
W
3
|
SW
3
|
E
3
|
SW
6
|
SW
7
|
SW
10
|
SW
9
|
SW
7
|
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1100m | 24 | 40 | 50 | 52 | 47 | 46 | 48 | 46 |
| 900m | 22 | 31 | 35 | 40 | 35 | 35 | 35 | 34 |
| 600m | 12 | 19 | 23 | 36 | 31 | 28 | 30 | 26 |
| 300m | 14 | 4 | 12 | 25 | 23 | 16 | 13 | 14 |
| Glen | 7 | 9 | 10 | 16 | 17 | 20 | 20 | 17 |
Altitude above mean sea level
| Time | 00:00 | 03:00 | 06:00 | 09:00 | 12:00 | 15:00 | 18:00 | 21:00 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1100m |
1°
|
2°
|
2°
|
1°
|
1°
|
1°
|
1°
|
1°
|
| 900m |
2°
|
3°
|
3°
|
3°
|
3°
|
3°
|
3°
|
2°
|
| 600m |
4°
|
4°
|
4°
|
4°
|
4°
|
5°
|
4°
|
4°
|
| 300m |
4°
|
5°
|
6°
|
7°
|
8°
|
9°
|
7°
|
7°
|
| Glen |
5°
|
6°
|
6°
|
8°
|
9°
|
10°
|
9°
|
8°
|
| Freezing Level |
1,300m
|
2,100m
|
1,600m
|
1,800m
|
2,300m
|
2,200m
|
2,100m
|
1,900m
|
Altitude above mean sea level
| Time | 00:00 | 03:00 | 06:00 | 09:00 | 12:00 | 15:00 | 18:00 | 21:00 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1100m |
-5°
|
-5°
|
-6°
|
-8°
|
-7°
|
-7°
|
-7°
|
-8°
|
| 900m |
-3°
|
-3°
|
-3°
|
-4°
|
-4°
|
-3°
|
-4°
|
-4°
|
| 600m |
1°
|
0°
|
1°
|
-1°
|
0°
|
0°
|
0°
|
0°
|
| 300m |
2°
|
4°
|
4°
|
4°
|
5°
|
7°
|
6°
|
5°
|
| Glen |
4°
|
4°
|
5°
|
6°
|
7°
|
8°
|
6°
|
6°
|
Additional weather information
Met Office Aberdeen meteorologist's view
Gusts of 50-60mph or so will give difficult walking conditions with a risk of being blown off balance and energy output significantly increased when walking into the wind. This combined with quite extensive low cloud means navigation could be challenging. Feeling cold at height and underfoot conditions may be saturated or quite icy at moderate elevations with ongoing thaw of snow, so suitable clothing is advised. Keep up to date with the latest forecast from the Scottish Avalanche Information Service (SAIS).
Weather
Rain clears north in the early hours. Then a cloudy but mostly dry day, though the odd spot of drizzle possible. Some outbreaks of mostly light rain push in from the west into Perthshire Hills, and other ranges west of the A9 through the evening. Staying largely dry with some bright spells towards the more sheltered northeast towards the Aberdeenshire Hills. Feeling a bit milder than Monday, but still cold at height with strong southerly winds.
Chance of cloud-free hill tops
Little chance in southwest. 60% in sheltered northeast.
Low cloud and visibility
Widespread cloud down to 500-700m and visibilities poor in drizzle or hill fog. Cloud more broken in shelter to the northeast with some clear summits and good visibilities possible.
Mountain weather information
Weather
Low confidence in exact details. Cloudy with rain spreading slowly east through the day, heavy at times. Rain turning showery later in the day with some limited brighter spells possible. Feeling a touch milder than Tuesday, but still quite cold at height.
Chance of cloud-free hill tops
Generally little chance. 40% towards Aberdeenshire Hills, best chances in evening.
Maximum wind speed expected
South to southwest 20-30mph, chance of gusting 40-50mph or so over the highest summits.
Temperature
- At 800m Plus 3C to plus 6C.
- Glen Plus 8C to plus 12C.
- Freezing level Above summits.
Low cloud and visibility
Quite widespread cloud down to 400-600m and visibilities poor in rain or hill fog. Chance of clear summits at times in the more sheltered northeast with good visibilities between outbreaks of rain.
Mountain weather information
Thu 26 Feb
Sunrise:
Sunset:
Showers in the southwest, heavy at times, wintry on the tops. Drier and brighter in the northeast. Freezing level around 1000-1200m or so. Strong southwest winds.
Fri 27 Feb
Sunrise:
Sunset:
Low confidence. Chance of persistent rain in the morning. Otherwise showers, heavy at times. Freezing level falling to 600m or so later. Strong southwest veering northwest winds.
Sat 28 Feb
Sunrise:
Sunset:
Bright spells and wintry showers to start. Rain spreading east later. Strong south or 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