Mountain weather

Mountain weather

South Grampian and Southeast Highlands

Confidence

High confidence in unsettled conditions over the next 5 days but lower confidence in extent of thunderstorms Saturday/ Sunday and for rain detail from Monday onwards.

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.

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

A dry start but low cloud and heavy rain spreading eastwards in the afternoon. Risk of thunderstorms later. Strong southwesterly winds.

Time
Time
06:00
09:00
12:00
15:00
18:00
21:00
Weather
(at 800m)
Weather symbols Cloudy Cloudy Light rain Heavy Rain Heavy Rain Heavy rain showers (night)
Chance of
precipitation
(at 800m)
Chance of precipitation
30%
50%
70%
80%
80%
50%

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 SW 12mph knots
SW
12mph
SW 13mph knots
SW
13mph
SW 20mph knots
SW
20mph
SW 26mph knots
SW
26mph
SW 26mph knots
SW
26mph
S 19mph knots
S
19mph
900m
900m SW 9mph knots
SW
9mph
SW 10mph knots
SW
10mph
SW 15mph knots
SW
15mph
SW 19mph knots
SW
19mph
SW 17mph knots
SW
17mph
S 15mph knots
S
15mph
600m
600m W 4mph knots
W
4mph
W 7mph knots
W
7mph
SW 7mph knots
SW
7mph
SW 12mph knots
SW
12mph
SW 7mph knots
SW
7mph
SW 5mph knots
SW
5mph
300m
300m W 4mph knots
W
4mph
SW 6mph knots
SW
6mph
SW 7mph knots
SW
7mph
SW 8mph knots
SW
8mph
SW 5mph knots
SW
5mph
W 3mph knots
W
3mph
Glen
Glen SW 2mph knots
SW
2mph
SW 5mph knots
SW
5mph
SW 6mph knots
SW
6mph
SW 8mph knots
SW
8mph
SW 6mph knots
SW
6mph
SW 5mph knots
SW
5mph

Wind gust

Altitude above mean sea level
Time
Time
06:00
09:00
12:00
15:00
18:00
21:00
1100m
1100m 14mph 16mph 25mph 33mph 32mph 25mph
900m
900m 12mph 12mph 20mph 26mph 23mph 21mph
600m
600m 10mph 10mph 13mph 22mph 16mph 12mph
300m
300m 11mph 11mph 13mph 17mph 12mph 7mph
Glen
Glen 7mph 9mph 11mph 16mph 15mph 13mph

Altitude above mean sea level
Time
Time
06:00
09:00
12:00
15:00
18:00
21:00
1100m
1100m 6 degrees Celsius 4 degrees Celsius 3 degrees Celsius 3 degrees Celsius 2 degrees Celsius 3 degrees Celsius
900m
900m 8 degrees Celsius 7 degrees Celsius 7 degrees Celsius 6 degrees Celsius 6 degrees Celsius 6 degrees Celsius
600m
600m 11 degrees Celsius 11 degrees Celsius 12 degrees Celsius 11 degrees Celsius 11 degrees Celsius 10 degrees Celsius
300m
300m 11 degrees Celsius 14 degrees Celsius 15 degrees Celsius 14 degrees Celsius 14 degrees Celsius 13 degrees Celsius
Glen
Glen 12 degrees Celsius 16 degrees Celsius 16 degrees Celsius 16 degrees Celsius 14 degrees Celsius 13 degrees Celsius
Freezing Level Freezing Level
2300m
2800m
2800m
2700m
2600m
2500m

Additional weather information

Meteorologist's view

Heavy downpours bring a risk of waterproofs becoming drenched. Navigation may be tricky in low cloud and it will feel cool at times on higher slopes with a brisk wind and rain.

Weather

A largely cloudy start with some brighter spells and the odd spot of rain. In the afternoon low cloud and rain, heavy at times, will spread eastwards. Drier and brighter spells in the late afternoon and into the evening before heavy and perhaps thundery showers develop later. Strong winds on higher routes.

Chance of cloud-free hill tops

70% much of the morning, from late morning dropping to <10%. Best chance in east.

Low cloud and visibility

Occasional low cloud for much of the morning, base around 700m, but still a chance of cloud free tops, especially in the east. In the afternoon low cloud becomes more widespread with bases falling to lower slopes in heavier rain, the east seeing higher bases and more breaks. Visibility good outside of cloud in the morning, falling to poor in cloud and rain later.

Ground conditions

No recent ground conditions report available.

Summit specific forecast