Mountain weather
South Grampian and Southeast Highlands Mountain weather forecast table
Confidence
High confidence in remaining cold. High confidence for generally more settled conditions than recent weeks, but low confidence for exact details on Monday and Thursday.
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.
Blizzards
Blizzards and whiteouts present challenging and serious conditions due to a combination of falling or blowing snow, strong winds and cold temperatures. They can be highly disorientating, often resulting in near-zero visibility with limited or no visual references and no distinction between ground and sky. Cliff edges and cornices may not be apparent, even close up. These conditions require very good navigational skills.
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
Mostly dry, bright morning, a few showers west. Some snow in afternoon. Strengthening northerly winds. Cold.
| Time | 06:00 | 09:00 | 12:00 | 15:00 | 18:00 | 21:00 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Weather (at 800m) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Chance of precipitation (at 800m) |
30% | 20% | 70% | 70% | 40% | 50% |
Wind direction and speed (mph)
Altitude above mean sea level
| Time | 06:00 | 09:00 | 12:00 | 15:00 | 18:00 | 21:00 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1100m |
W
24
|
W
18
|
NW
21
|
NW
26
|
NW
28
|
NW
31
|
| 900m |
W
14
|
W
13
|
NW
13
|
NW
17
|
NW
20
|
NW
21
|
| 600m |
W
11
|
W
9
|
NW
8
|
NW
11
|
NW
13
|
W
14
|
| 300m |
W
4
|
W
3
|
NW
7
|
NW
10
|
W
8
|
W
10
|
| Glen |
W
2
|
SW
2
|
NW
8
|
NW
8
|
W
8
|
W
9
|
Wind gust (mph)
Altitude above mean sea level
| Time | 06:00 | 09:00 | 12:00 | 15:00 | 18:00 | 21:00 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1100m | 28 | 21 | 26 | 33 | 35 | 38 |
| 900m | 18 | 16 | 18 | 24 | 27 | 29 |
| 600m | 19 | 15 | 15 | 20 | 22 | 24 |
| 300m | 12 | 9 | 17 | 23 | 19 | 23 |
| Glen | 7 | 7 | 17 | 20 | 18 | 22 |
Altitude above mean sea level
| Time | 06:00 | 09:00 | 12:00 | 15:00 | 18:00 | 21:00 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1100m |
-3°
|
-4°
|
-4°
|
-6°
|
-7°
|
-8°
|
| 900m |
-2°
|
-2°
|
-2°
|
-4°
|
-5°
|
-6°
|
| 600m |
0°
|
0°
|
0°
|
-1°
|
-3°
|
-3°
|
| 300m |
0°
|
1°
|
3°
|
1°
|
0°
|
-1°
|
| Glen |
1°
|
2°
|
4°
|
3°
|
0°
|
0°
|
| Freezing Level |
400m
|
500m
|
500m
|
300m
|
100m
|
0m
|
Altitude above mean sea level
| Time | 06:00 | 09:00 | 12:00 | 15:00 | 18:00 | 21:00 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1100m |
-12°
|
-11°
|
-12°
|
-15°
|
-17°
|
-18°
|
| 900m |
-8°
|
-8°
|
-8°
|
-11°
|
-13°
|
-14°
|
| 600m |
-5°
|
-4°
|
-4°
|
-6°
|
-9°
|
-10°
|
| 300m |
-2°
|
0°
|
0°
|
-3°
|
-4°
|
-6°
|
| Glen |
-1°
|
0°
|
1°
|
-1°
|
-3°
|
-5°
|
Additional weather information
Met Office Aberdeen meteorologist's view
Windy conditions later in the day will make for fairly arduous walking on exposed terrain with buffeting of clothing. Balance may be affected at times. Navigation will be tricky in low cloud and chance of occasional and temporary blizzard conditions. Feeling bitterly cold and lying snow so suitable clothing is advised. Keep up to date with the latest forecast from the Scottish Avalanche Information Service (SAIS).
Weather
A largely dry start with clear spells and just a few light snow showers possible in the west, these falling as rain below about 600m. A more organised band of snow sinks south through late morning, increasingly wintry to low elevations and with freshening winds. This clearing through late afternoon, allowing some drier spells and some blustery snow showers for a time before a more organised band of snow pushes south through late evening and winds strengthen further.
Chance of cloud-free hill tops
Generally 70%, falling to 30% during the middle of the day. Best chances early evening.
Low cloud and visibility
Areas of cloud down to 600-800m with good breaks and good visibilities between showers. Cloud becomes extensive down to 400-500m or so and visibilities fall rapidly poor as showers or longer spells of snow pass through with strong winds giving blizzard conditions at times.
Mountain weather information
Weather
Plenty of dry and bright or sunny weather, though feeling cold with a widespread overnight frost. A few snow showers clearing southeast in the early hours. Strong, perhaps gale-force, winds at first will become lighter through the day.
Chance of cloud-free hill tops
90% or higher
Maximum wind speed expected
North or northwest 25-35mph in early hours, small chance of 50mph, easing through the day.
Temperature
- At 800m Minus 6C to minus 2C.
- Glen Minus 3C rising to plus 4C.
- Freezing level Around 100-200m.
Low cloud and visibility
Often clear summits and good visibilities. Only as showers clear through in the early hours do we see cloud rapidly but temporarily falling down to around summit height and visibilities dropping moderate or poor.
Mountain weather information
Wed 18 Feb
Sunrise:
Sunset:
Dry with bright or sunny spells. Mostly light winds at first, freshening southeasterlies later. Freezing level around 100-200m.
Thu 19 Feb
Sunrise:
Sunset:
Again dry with bright spells and freezing level around 100-200m. Cloudier in evening with a few rain or summit snow showers from the west. Light winds at first, freshening southwesterlies later.
Fri 20 Feb
Sunrise:
Sunset:
Cloudy with outbreaks of rain or summit snow spreading east. 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