Mountain weather
South Grampian and Southeast Highlands Mountain weather forecast table
Confidence
High for an unsettled and often very windy few days. Low for exact wind strength on Tuesday. More broadly low confidence for Thursday and Friday.
This evening forecast
Heavy persistent rain this evening, but turning dry towards midnight. Strong southeast winds across the summits, falling light and variable for a time late evening, but a strong to gale force westerly developing towards midnight. Freezing level above the summits.
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.
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.
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.
Mountain weather forecast
Outbreaks of rain turning to showers in the afternoon. Strong winds with a risk of summit gales.
| 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) |
10% | 10% | 20% | 70% | 60% | 40% | 10% | <05% |
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 |
W
42
|
SW
42
|
SW
35
|
SW
29
|
SW
38
|
SW
41
|
SW
37
|
SW
30
|
| 900m |
W
27
|
SW
29
|
SW
23
|
SW
21
|
SW
27
|
SW
29
|
SW
27
|
SW
20
|
| 600m |
W
20
|
SW
21
|
SW
16
|
SW
14
|
SW
19
|
SW
21
|
SW
19
|
SW
14
|
| 300m |
W
8
|
W
9
|
SW
6
|
NW
4
|
SW
11
|
W
11
|
W
9
|
W
4
|
| Glen |
W
7
|
SW
9
|
W
5
|
W
4
|
SW
7
|
SW
10
|
SW
9
|
W
5
|
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 | 49 | 51 | 42 | 35 | 47 | 51 | 46 | 38 |
| 900m | 35 | 37 | 30 | 27 | 36 | 39 | 36 | 28 |
| 600m | 34 | 37 | 29 | 25 | 32 | 37 | 33 | 26 |
| 300m | 22 | 24 | 18 | 11 | 25 | 25 | 22 | 13 |
| Glen | 20 | 23 | 15 | 10 | 19 | 24 | 20 | 11 |
Altitude above mean sea level
| Time | 00:00 | 03:00 | 06:00 | 09:00 | 12:00 | 15:00 | 18:00 | 21:00 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1100m |
0°
|
1°
|
0°
|
0°
|
0°
|
0°
|
0°
|
0°
|
| 900m |
2°
|
2°
|
2°
|
2°
|
2°
|
2°
|
2°
|
2°
|
| 600m |
4°
|
4°
|
4°
|
4°
|
4°
|
4°
|
4°
|
4°
|
| 300m |
5°
|
5°
|
4°
|
5°
|
6°
|
6°
|
5°
|
4°
|
| Glen |
6°
|
5°
|
5°
|
5°
|
6°
|
6°
|
6°
|
5°
|
| Freezing Level |
1,100m
|
1,200m
|
1,100m
|
1,200m
|
1,100m
|
1,100m
|
1,200m
|
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 |
-9°
|
-8°
|
-8°
|
-7°
|
-9°
|
-9°
|
-8°
|
-7°
|
| 900m |
-5°
|
-5°
|
-5°
|
-4°
|
-5°
|
-6°
|
-5°
|
-4°
|
| 600m |
-1°
|
-1°
|
-1°
|
-1°
|
-1°
|
-2°
|
-1°
|
0°
|
| 300m |
3°
|
2°
|
2°
|
3°
|
3°
|
2°
|
2°
|
3°
|
| Glen |
3°
|
2°
|
3°
|
4°
|
4°
|
3°
|
3°
|
3°
|
Additional weather information
Met Office Aberdeen meteorologist's view
Wet weather will notably enhance the already significant wind chill. Expect very wet conditions underfoot, with high water courses making river crossings hazardous.
Weather
Dry but mostly cloudy through the early hours, clear spells across eastern hills. Showery outbreaks of rain spread northeast around dawn, continuing through the morning, occasionally heavy with some sleet or wet snow on the highest summits. Some drier spells in the afternoon with showers dying out at the end of the day. A mostly cloudy evening, but some clear spells across the Aberdeenshire hills.
Chance of cloud-free hill tops
20-30%, best chance in the north.
Low cloud and visibility
Often very poor visibility in low cloud, rain and summit snow. Persistent cloud bases around 600-700m, lifting to 800m in the afternoon, with a few breaks developing, mainly across northern Aberdeenshire hills.
Mountain weather information
Weather
Dry but cloudy in the early hours, but rain spreads north before dawn, soon turning heavy. Strong winds and persistent heavy rain for much of the morning. Rain turning lighter and more showery in the afternoon and evening, but winds increasing to storm force.
Chance of cloud-free hill tops
Nil in the morning, 30% late afternoon.
Maximum wind speed expected
Southeast 35 gusting 45 mph in the morning, southwest 60 gusting 70-75 mph afternoon and evening.
Temperature
- At 800m Plus 4 Celsius rising to 9 Celsius. Falling to plus 3 Celsius in the evening.
- Glen Plus 4 Celsius rising to 12 Celsius.
- Freezing level Well above the summits, dropping to 1200m in the evening.
Low cloud and visibility
Very poor visibility through the morning in persistent heavy rain and cloud down to 500-600m. Cloud gradually lifting through the afternoon, around 800m by dusk, occasionally above the summits in the evening.
Mountain weather information
Wed 10 Dec
Sunrise:
Sunset:
Southwest severe gale to storm force winds. Cloudy with frequent, occasionally heavy showers, falling as snow at munro level. Drier brighter conditions across eastern hills. Freezing level around 1200m.
Thu 11 Dec
Sunrise:
Sunset:
A lot of uncertainty, especially around win strength. Winds likely to ease slightly, but may strengthen again later in the day. Most likely cloudy with rain at times. Freezing level above the summits, but may drop to 1000m by evening.
Fri 12 Dec
Sunrise:
Sunset:
Most likely a wet day with outbreaks of rain, preceded by summit snow and fresh to strong southerly winds, but large uncertainty.
Updated at:
Summit specific forecast
Mountain summit forecast map
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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