Mountain weather

Mountain weather

South Grampian and Southeast Highlands

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Confidence

Reasonably high confidence in the overall evolution and for often unsettled and predominantly cool conditions

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.
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.
Updated: 
Mountain hazards explained

Mountain weather forecast

Dry, bright, chilly morning. Cloud, rain afternoon.

Time
 Time
06:00
09:00
12:00
15:00
18:00
21:00
Weather
(at 800m)
 Weather symbols Cloudy Cloudy Dull Sleet Sleet Partly cloudy (night)
Chance of
precipitation
(at 800m)
 Chance of precipitation
10%
10%
10%
40%
90%
30%

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 W 10mph knots
W
10mph
 W 10mph knots
W
10mph
 W 15mph knots
W
15mph
 W 26mph knots
W
26mph
 W 32mph knots
W
32mph
 NW 28mph knots
NW
28mph
900m
 900m W 8mph knots
W
8mph
 W 9mph knots
W
9mph
 W 13mph knots
W
13mph
 W 21mph knots
W
21mph
 W 24mph knots
W
24mph
 NW 19mph knots
NW
19mph
600m
 600m W 6mph knots
W
6mph
 NW 7mph knots
NW
7mph
 W 10mph knots
W
10mph
 W 16mph knots
W
16mph
 W 17mph knots
W
17mph
 NW 11mph knots
NW
11mph
300m
 300m W 2mph knots
W
2mph
 NW 5mph knots
NW
5mph
 W 7mph knots
W
7mph
 W 12mph knots
W
12mph
 W 11mph knots
W
11mph
 NW 9mph knots
NW
9mph
Glen
 Glen W 2mph knots
W
2mph
 NW 5mph knots
NW
5mph
 W 6mph knots
W
6mph
 W 11mph knots
W
11mph
 W 11mph knots
W
11mph
 NW 8mph knots
NW
8mph

Wind gust

Altitude above mean sea level
Time
 Time
06:00
09:00
12:00
15:00
18:00
21:00
1100m
 1100m 12mph 13mph 19mph 33mph 40mph 35mph
900m
 900m 10mph 12mph 17mph 28mph 31mph 26mph
600m
 600m 8mph 11mph 16mph 27mph 29mph 20mph
300m
 300m 6mph 8mph 12mph 23mph 24mph 22mph
Glen
 Glen 6mph 9mph 12mph 22mph 22mph 21mph

Altitude above mean sea level
Time
 Time
06:00
09:00
12:00
15:00
18:00
21:00
1100m
 1100m -9 degrees Celsius -7 degrees Celsius -5 degrees Celsius -6 degrees Celsius -8 degrees Celsius -11 degrees Celsius
900m
 900m -6 degrees Celsius -4 degrees Celsius -1 degrees Celsius -2 degrees Celsius -4 degrees Celsius -7 degrees Celsius
600m
 600m -1 degrees Celsius 1 degrees Celsius 4 degrees Celsius 3 degrees Celsius 0 degrees Celsius -2 degrees Celsius
300m
 300m 2 degrees Celsius 6 degrees Celsius 9 degrees Celsius 8 degrees Celsius 5 degrees Celsius 1 degrees Celsius
Glen
 Glen 3 degrees Celsius 7 degrees Celsius 10 degrees Celsius 9 degrees Celsius 6 degrees Celsius 3 degrees Celsius
Freezing Level Freezing Level
500m
500m
800m
1100m
1200m
800m

Additional weather information

Meteorologist's view

Windy conditions developing in the afternoon will make for fairly arduous walking on exposed terrain with buffeting of clothing. Balance may be affected at times. Strong sunlight in the morning before the rain arrives so suitable protection may be required. Feeling cold and likely pretty uncomfortable in persistent rain and low cloud.

Weather

Mostly dry in the early hours with any showers gradually fading out, allowing clear spells and some frost. Dry with good sunny spells in the morning. Cloud and outbreaks of rain, preceded by snow above 700m, will spread southeast later in the afternoon and becoming quite windy for a time, best chance of drier weather remaining in the more sheltered east. Heavier rain, turning to snow, will push south to all areas in the early evening, with some clearer spells developing from the north later.

Chance of cloud-free hill tops

90% morning, falling 20% or less by early evening.

Low cloud and visibility

Summits largely clear and good visibilities in the morning, though there may be the odd patch around summit height with any showers in the early hours. Cloud down to 300-500m spreading southeast through the afternoon, bringing poor visibility in hill fog and rain or summit snow, best chance of clearer conditions in the more sheltered east.

Ground conditions

No recent ground conditions report available.

Summit specific forecast

Including South and East Cairngorms National Park, Aberdeenshire and Angus Hills, Ben Vrackie, Ben Lawers, Loch Tay and Ochils

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