Mountain weather

Mountain weather

South Grampian and Southeast Highlands

Confidence

High confidence for often unsettled weather, but low confidence for details on Friday and Saturday.

Mountain hazards

Mountain weather hazards

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

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.

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.
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.
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.
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.

Mountain weather forecast

Cloud, rain, wind in morning. Bright spells and showers afternoon.

Time
Time
06:00
09:00
12:00
15:00
18:00
21:00
Weather
(at 800m)
Weather symbols Heavy Rain Heavy Rain Heavy rain showers Heavy rain showers Heavy rain showers Heavy Rain
Chance of
precipitation
(at 800m)
Chance of precipitation
90%
90%
50%
50%
70%
40%

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 S 42mph knots
S
42mph
SE 40mph knots
SE
40mph
S 34mph knots
S
34mph
S 32mph knots
S
32mph
S 28mph knots
S
28mph
S 25mph knots
S
25mph
900m
900m S 25mph knots
S
25mph
SE 27mph knots
SE
27mph
S 23mph knots
S
23mph
S 24mph knots
S
24mph
S 17mph knots
S
17mph
S 16mph knots
S
16mph
600m
600m SE 15mph knots
SE
15mph
SE 17mph knots
SE
17mph
S 12mph knots
S
12mph
S 17mph knots
S
17mph
SE 11mph knots
SE
11mph
S 8mph knots
S
8mph
300m
300m SE 7mph knots
SE
7mph
SE 9mph knots
SE
9mph
SE 8mph knots
SE
8mph
SE 10mph knots
SE
10mph
SE 7mph knots
SE
7mph
SE 4mph knots
SE
4mph
Glen
Glen SE 6mph knots
SE
6mph
SE 10mph knots
SE
10mph
SE 9mph knots
SE
9mph
SE 11mph knots
SE
11mph
SE 7mph knots
SE
7mph
SE 4mph knots
SE
4mph

Wind gust

Altitude above mean sea level
Time
Time
06:00
09:00
12:00
15:00
18:00
21:00
1100m
1100m 50mph 49mph 41mph 38mph 34mph 32mph
900m
900m 33mph 35mph 30mph 30mph 24mph 23mph
600m
600m 28mph 31mph 24mph 28mph 21mph 18mph
300m
300m 18mph 20mph 18mph 21mph 16mph 12mph
Glen
Glen 16mph 22mph 18mph 22mph 14mph 11mph

Altitude above mean sea level
Time
Time
06:00
09:00
12:00
15:00
18:00
21:00
1100m
1100m -6 degrees Celsius -5 degrees Celsius -2 degrees Celsius -1 degrees Celsius 0 degrees Celsius -1 degrees Celsius
900m
900m -2 degrees Celsius -1 degrees Celsius 1 degrees Celsius 3 degrees Celsius 3 degrees Celsius 2 degrees Celsius
600m
600m 2 degrees Celsius 2 degrees Celsius 5 degrees Celsius 6 degrees Celsius 7 degrees Celsius 6 degrees Celsius
300m
300m 6 degrees Celsius 7 degrees Celsius 10 degrees Celsius 11 degrees Celsius 11 degrees Celsius 10 degrees Celsius
Glen
Glen 7 degrees Celsius 7 degrees Celsius 10 degrees Celsius 11 degrees Celsius 11 degrees Celsius 10 degrees Celsius
Freezing Level Freezing Level
1500m
1900m
1800m
2000m
2000m
1900m

Additional weather information

Meteorologist's view

Gusts over 40mph in the morning will give difficult walking conditions with a risk of being blown off balance, gusts reaching gale-force over the very highest summits. Feeling cold at height, particularly under persistent cloud and with strong winds, so suitable clothing is recommended. Persistent and at times heavy rain will mean waterproofs are required and some conditions underfoot will become slippery or heavy-going.

Weather

Cloud and rain spread north through the morning. This clearing through the afternoon with some heavy showers developing for a time, these showers carry a small chance of lightning. Some bright spells possible between showers over western ranges, staying cloudy over Aberdeen and Angus hills. Remaining cloudy through the evening with further outbreaks of rain. Quite windy for a time in the morning.

Chance of cloud-free hill tops

Little chance in east. Little chance at first in west, rising to 60% for a time in the afternoon, back to 30% in evening.

Low cloud and visibility

Widespread cloud down to 300-500m spreading north through the morning with visibilities falling poor in associated rain and hill fog. Clearer summits developing over Perthshire hills and other western ranges in the afternoon, though visibilities will fall rapidly and temporarily poor as any showers pass through. Clouding over here again in the evening. Low cloud persisting in Aberdeenshire and Angus hills throughout the day.

Ground conditions

No recent ground conditions report available.

Summit specific forecast