Mountain weather

Mountain weather

South Grampian and Southeast Highlands

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Confidence

High confidence for generally unsettled weather to continue. Lower confidence for rainfall and wind details over the weekend.

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

Bright spells. Scattered afternoon showers, mainly west. Chilly.

Time
 Time
06:00
09:00
12:00
15:00
18:00
21:00
Weather
(at 800m)
 Weather symbols Sunny intervals Sunny intervals Heavy rain showers Light rain showers Sunny intervals Cloudy
Chance of
precipitation
(at 800m)
 Chance of precipitation
30%
40%
50%
40%
30%
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 31mph knots
W
31mph
 W 24mph knots
W
24mph
 SW 22mph knots
SW
22mph
 SW 20mph knots
SW
20mph
 SW 16mph knots
SW
16mph
 S 21mph knots
S
21mph
900m
 900m W 23mph knots
W
23mph
 W 20mph knots
W
20mph
 SW 18mph knots
SW
18mph
 SW 17mph knots
SW
17mph
 SW 14mph knots
SW
14mph
 S 13mph knots
S
13mph
600m
 600m W 18mph knots
W
18mph
 W 15mph knots
W
15mph
 W 14mph knots
W
14mph
 SW 13mph knots
SW
13mph
 SW 9mph knots
SW
9mph
 S 7mph knots
S
7mph
300m
 300m W 12mph knots
W
12mph
 W 11mph knots
W
11mph
 SW 11mph knots
SW
11mph
 SW 10mph knots
SW
10mph
 SW 6mph knots
SW
6mph
 S 3mph knots
S
3mph
Glen
 Glen W 10mph knots
W
10mph
 W 12mph knots
W
12mph
 SW 10mph knots
SW
10mph
 SW 10mph knots
SW
10mph
 SW 6mph knots
SW
6mph
 S 5mph knots
S
5mph

Wind gust

Altitude above mean sea level
Time
 Time
06:00
09:00
12:00
15:00
18:00
21:00
1100m
 1100m 36mph 30mph 28mph 26mph 21mph 27mph
900m
 900m 28mph 26mph 24mph 23mph 19mph 19mph
600m
 600m 29mph 24mph 23mph 21mph 16mph 16mph
300m
 300m 24mph 22mph 22mph 20mph 12mph 9mph
Glen
 Glen 20mph 23mph 19mph 19mph 11mph 12mph

Altitude above mean sea level
Time
 Time
06:00
09:00
12:00
15:00
18:00
21:00
1100m
 1100m -7 degrees Celsius -5 degrees Celsius -2 degrees Celsius -2 degrees Celsius -1 degrees Celsius -3 degrees Celsius
900m
 900m -3 degrees Celsius -1 degrees Celsius 2 degrees Celsius 2 degrees Celsius 2 degrees Celsius 1 degrees Celsius
600m
 600m 2 degrees Celsius 4 degrees Celsius 6 degrees Celsius 7 degrees Celsius 7 degrees Celsius 5 degrees Celsius
300m
 300m 7 degrees Celsius 9 degrees Celsius 10 degrees Celsius 11 degrees Celsius 11 degrees Celsius 9 degrees Celsius
Glen
 Glen 8 degrees Celsius 10 degrees Celsius 12 degrees Celsius 12 degrees Celsius 12 degrees Celsius 10 degrees Celsius
Freezing Level Freezing Level
1300m
1300m
1500m
1500m
1500m
1500m

Additional weather information

Meteorologist's view

Gusts of 40-50mph or so for a time in the early morning will give difficult walking conditions with a risk of being blown off balance, winds less strong later in the day. Navigation could be challenging with energy output significantly increased when walking into the wind. Feeling cold at height.

Weather

Cloudy in the early hours but becoming largely clear by dawn. Dry with sunny spells in the east through the morning, bright spells and scattered showers towards Perthshire and other southern and western ranges, these heavy at times and may be wintry over the very highest peaks above 1000-1200m or so at first. Bright spells and scattered showers for all through the afternoon. Showers ease towards evening with some patchy cloud and light rain pushing north.

Chance of cloud-free hill tops

60%, best chances in east in morning.

Low cloud and visibility

Quite widespread cloud in the early hours, clearing around dawn to leave largely clear summits in the east, patches of cloud associated with showers in the west. Between showers cloud will be largely above the summits with good visibilities. As showers pass through cloud drops to around 600-800m and visibilities fall poor.

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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