Mountain weather

South Grampian and Southeast Highlands

Yellow warning

Yellow weather warning in force for South Grampian and Southeast Highlands

South Grampian and Southeast Highlands Mountain weather forecast table

Confidence

High confidence in unsettled weather continuing with strong winds at times.

Sunrise:
Sunset:

This evening forecast

Overcast with widespread cloud down to 300-500m. Mostly dry to start but increasingly widespread outbreaks of rain, snow above 900-1000m. Strong southeasterly winds 35-45mph, gusting 50-60mph at times. Feeling bitterly cold.

Sunrise:
Sunset:
Mountain hazards

Mountain weather hazards

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

hazard 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.
hazard 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.
hazard 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.

hazard 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.
hazard Heavy Persistent Rain
Heavy and persistent rain can lead to drenched clothing and footwear with waterproofs often becoming soaked through, especially if accompanied by strong winds. This can lead to significant loss of body heat and an increased likelihood of hypothermia. Terrain may turn increasingly boggy underfoot while streams can flood and become impassable. There may also be a risk of flooding in valleys or glens. If there is snow cover, a heightened avalanche hazard is possible and avalanche reports should be consulted where available.

Mountain weather forecast

Cloudy, rainy morning. Brighter afternoon. More rain evening. Windy.

Time 00:00 03:00 06:00 09:00 12:00 15:00 18:00 21:00
Weather
(at 800m)
Heavy rain Heavy rain Heavy rain Sleet Cloudy Cloudy Heavy rain Heavy rain
Chance of precipitation
(at 800m)
70% 80% 90% 80% 30% 10% 70% 90%

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 SE
55
SE
55
SE
45
SE
36
SE
38
SE
43
SE
49
SE
53
900m SE
39
SE
38
SE
30
SE
24
SE
28
SE
31
SE
35
SE
35
600m SE
24
SE
25
SE
19
SE
15
SE
18
SE
19
SE
23
SE
23
300m SE
12
SE
15
SE
14
SE
8
SE
10
SE
11
SE
17
SE
17
Glen SE
15
SE
15
SE
14
SE
11
SE
10
SE
12
SE
17
SE
19
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 65 66 54 43 46 53 61 65
900m 48 48 39 31 36 41 46 48
600m 40 43 33 26 31 34 41 41
300m 28 33 31 20 23 25 36 37
Glen 31 33 30 24 22 26 36 40

Altitude above mean sea level
Time 00:00 03:00 06:00 09:00 12:00 15:00 18:00 21:00
1100m
-1°
-1°
-1°
-2°
-2°
-3°
-1°
900m
-1°
600m
300m
Glen
Freezing Level
1,000m
1,000m
1,000m
900m
800m
800m
1,000m
1,200m

Altitude above mean sea level
Time 00:00 03:00 06:00 09:00 12:00 15:00 18:00 21:00
1100m
-11°
-11°
-11°
-11°
-11°
-13°
-11°
-10°
900m
-7°
-8°
-7°
-7°
-8°
-9°
-7°
-6°
600m
-4°
-4°
-4°
-4°
-4°
-4°
-4°
-3°
300m
Glen

Additional weather information

Met Office Aberdeen meteorologist's view

Gusts of 60-70mph will give very difficult walking conditions with progress highly impeded and a significant risk of being blown over, with a chance of gusts over 80mph over the very highest summits. Feeling bitterly cold so suitable clothing is advised. There will still be icy surfaces and lying snow at height so keep up to date with the latest avalanche forecast from Scottish Avalanche Information Service (SAIS). Feeling bitterly cold at height so suitable clothing is advised.

Weather

Widespread cloud with outbreaks of rain in the morning, heavy at times and falling as snow above 900m. Becoming largely dry with a few bright spells in the afternoon, though remaining quite overcast for many parts. Clouding over again through the evening with further outbreaks of rain, becoming quite heavy and persistent.

Chance of cloud-free hill tops

20% or less in morning, rising to 60% in afternoon. No chance in evening.

Low cloud and visibility

Widespread cloud down to 300-500m in the morning with visibilities falling moderate or poor in light rain and hill fog. Cloud becoming reasonably broken through the afternoon with good visibilities, before becoming widespread again in the evening.

Sunrise:
Sunset:

Mountain weather information

Weather

Another dull day with widespread cloud and persistent heavy rain, increasingly falling as snow later through the day. Cold and very windy.

Chance of cloud-free hill tops

No chance.

Maximum wind speed expected

East to southeast 45-55mph, gusting 70-80mph, perhaps over 90mph over the highest summits.

Temperature

  • At 800m Plus 2C falling to Minus 2C.
  • Glen Plus 6C to plus 2C.
  • Freezing level 1200m falling to 500m.

Low cloud and visibility

Widespread cloud down to 300-500m and visibilities falling poor in hill fog and persistent heavy rain, later snow.

Mountain weather information

Fri 23 Jan

Sunrise:
Sunset:

Staying cloudy with widespread rain or summit snow. Strong east to southeast winds. Freezing level 500-700m.

Sat 24 Jan

Sunrise:
Sunset:

Staying cloudy frequent showery outbreaks of rain or summit snow. Strong east to southeast winds. Freezing level 500-700m.

Sun 25 Jan

Sunrise:
Sunset:

Similar to Saturday. Staying cloudy with showery outbreaks of rain or summit snow. Strong east to southeast winds. Freezing level 300-500m.

Updated at:

Summit specific forecast

Mountain summit forecast map

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For snow and avalanche hazard forecasts please visit Scottish Avalanche Information Service