Mountain weather
South Grampian and Southeast Highlands Mountain weather forecast table
Confidence
High for most aspects of the forecast. A couple of hours uncertainty on timing of rain on Sunday, and low confidence in exact wind speeds and rain amounts on Tuesday and Wednesday.
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.
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.
Mountain weather forecast
Dry mostly cloudy morning. Heavy rain and summit snow afternoon and evening.
| Time | 06:00 | 09:00 | 12:00 | 15:00 | 18:00 | 21:00 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Weather (at 800m) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Chance of precipitation (at 800m) |
<05% | 10% | 20% | 80% | 80% | 60% |
Wind direction and speed (mph)
Altitude above mean sea level
| Time | 06:00 | 09:00 | 12:00 | 15:00 | 18:00 | 21:00 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1100m |
SW
14
|
S
14
|
S
19
|
SE
28
|
SE
31
|
W
18
|
| 900m |
SW
12
|
S
12
|
S
11
|
SE
17
|
SE
22
|
W
13
|
| 600m |
SW
6
|
SW
2
|
S
3
|
SE
8
|
SE
13
|
SW
8
|
| 300m |
W
3
|
SW
2
|
S
1
|
E
5
|
E
7
|
SE
5
|
| Glen |
W
4
|
W
3
|
NW
1
|
E
4
|
E
7
|
E
5
|
Wind gust (mph)
Altitude above mean sea level
| Time | 06:00 | 09:00 | 12:00 | 15:00 | 18:00 | 21:00 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1100m | 17 | 18 | 24 | 35 | 38 | 23 |
| 900m | 14 | 16 | 16 | 24 | 28 | 17 |
| 600m | 11 | 4 | 7 | 17 | 23 | 15 |
| 300m | 10 | 5 | 4 | 11 | 16 | 11 |
| Glen | 10 | 7 | 6 | 10 | 18 | 12 |
Altitude above mean sea level
| Time | 06:00 | 09:00 | 12:00 | 15:00 | 18:00 | 21:00 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1100m |
3°
|
3°
|
2°
|
2°
|
1°
|
1°
|
| 900m |
4°
|
4°
|
3°
|
3°
|
2°
|
2°
|
| 600m |
5°
|
3°
|
5°
|
4°
|
4°
|
4°
|
| 300m |
4°
|
3°
|
5°
|
6°
|
6°
|
6°
|
| Glen |
4°
|
4°
|
6°
|
6°
|
7°
|
7°
|
| Freezing Level |
1,500m
|
1,500m
|
1,400m
|
1,400m
|
1,400m
|
1,300m
|
Altitude above mean sea level
| Time | 06:00 | 09:00 | 12:00 | 15:00 | 18:00 | 21:00 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1100m |
-2°
|
-1°
|
-4°
|
-6°
|
-7°
|
-5°
|
| 900m |
0°
|
0°
|
-1°
|
-2°
|
-4°
|
-2°
|
| 600m |
2°
|
2°
|
4°
|
2°
|
0°
|
1°
|
| 300m |
2°
|
2°
|
4°
|
4°
|
4°
|
4°
|
| Glen |
2°
|
3°
|
6°
|
5°
|
4°
|
5°
|
Additional weather information
Met Office Aberdeen meteorologist's view
Deteriorating conditions in the afternoon. Note very wet conditions will enhance the wind-chill effect.
Weather
Dry through the morning, some patchy low cloud across the Perthshire hills, but clear then sunny spells further north. Cloud thickening around midday with persistent often heavy rain spreading north through the afternoon, turning to sleet or wet snow on the highest summits late afternoon. Rain and summit snow easing late evening, hills largely dry by midnight.
Chance of cloud-free hill tops
60% early morning, falling to 10% or less by the afternoon
Low cloud and visibility
Often good visibility to start across the Aberdeenshire hills with patchy cloud around 900m, but poor visibility in the south where cloud more persistent down to 400m, occasionally lower. Visibility falling very poor across all hills in the afternoon in heavy rain with cloud to lower slopes.
Mountain weather information
Weather
Mostly dry with some clear spells in the early hours, but cloud increasing towards dawn. Outbreaks of rain from dawn, persisting through the morning, falling as sleet or wet snow above 1100m. Rain and summit snow breaking up to scattered showers through the afternoon, turning dry in the evening.
Chance of cloud-free hill tops
20% in the morning, 60% in the afternoon.
Maximum wind speed expected
Southwest 30 gusting 40-45 mph.
Temperature
- At 800m Plus 3 Celsius.
- Glen Plus 2 Celsius rising to 6 Celsius.
- Freezing level 1200-1300m.
Low cloud and visibility
Often poor visibility in rain and low cloud during the morning, with bases 600-700m, occasionally lower in the south, best chance of breaks in the north. Cloud increasingly patchy and rising to 900m in the afternoon and evening.
Mountain weather information
Tue 9 Dec
Sunrise:
Sunset:
A very windy day with a high chance of severe gale to storm force winds across the tops, gales to lower levels. Outbreaks of rain, most persistent in the west. Freezing levels above the summits.
Wed 10 Dec
Sunrise:
Sunset:
Storm force southwesterly summit winds and patchy rain, slowly easing through the day as winds turn northwesterly, dry later. Freezing level above the summits, lowering to summits late evening.
Thu 11 Dec
Sunrise:
Sunset:
A dry bright start, but southerly winds increasing through the day with rain later. Freezing level 1000m, rising above the summits.
Updated at:
Summit specific forecast
Mountain summit forecast map
Loading map…
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