Mountain weather
South Grampian and Southeast Highlands Mountain weather forecast table
Confidence
High for changeable weather pattern during the week and for milder conditions and often windy. Some windows of drier, brighter weather but lower confidence on day to day details.
This evening forecast
Mainly dry this evening but rain extending to many places by midnight. Strong southwest winds and feeling bitterly cold.
Mountain weather hazards
Hazards apply at or above 300m, reflecting the more severe conditions which can occur at altitude.
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.
Mountain weather forecast
Mostly cloudy. Rain at first, soon dying out, returning early evening. Bright spells developing in north. Windy.
| 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) |
30% | 40% | 50% | 40% | 20% | 10% | 40% | 30% |
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 |
S
38
|
S
37
|
S
36
|
SW
42
|
SW
43
|
SW
47
|
SW
49
|
SW
43
|
| 900m |
S
28
|
S
26
|
S
25
|
SW
30
|
SW
31
|
SW
34
|
SW
36
|
SW
31
|
| 600m |
S
20
|
S
17
|
S
17
|
SW
21
|
SW
21
|
SW
24
|
SW
25
|
SW
20
|
| 300m |
SW
7
|
SW
3
|
W
3
|
SW
11
|
SW
13
|
SW
15
|
SW
18
|
SW
14
|
| Glen |
SW
10
|
SW
7
|
SW
9
|
SW
9
|
SW
11
|
SW
10
|
SW
16
|
SW
15
|
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 | 48 | 47 | 45 | 53 | 56 | 60 | 64 | 57 |
| 900m | 38 | 35 | 34 | 41 | 44 | 48 | 51 | 45 |
| 600m | 36 | 32 | 32 | 37 | 38 | 44 | 46 | 39 |
| 300m | 19 | 9 | 9 | 25 | 28 | 32 | 39 | 32 |
| Glen | 22 | 19 | 21 | 21 | 24 | 22 | 34 | 32 |
Altitude above mean sea level
| Time | 00:00 | 03:00 | 06:00 | 09:00 | 12:00 | 15:00 | 18:00 | 21:00 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1100m |
2°
|
3°
|
5°
|
5°
|
6°
|
6°
|
6°
|
6°
|
| 900m |
3°
|
4°
|
6°
|
7°
|
8°
|
8°
|
8°
|
8°
|
| 600m |
5°
|
6°
|
8°
|
9°
|
10°
|
10°
|
10°
|
10°
|
| 300m |
7°
|
7°
|
8°
|
11°
|
13°
|
13°
|
12°
|
12°
|
| Glen |
7°
|
8°
|
9°
|
11°
|
13°
|
14°
|
13°
|
13°
|
| Freezing Level |
1,700m
|
1,900m
|
2,200m
|
2,200m
|
2,200m
|
2,200m
|
2,400m
|
2,000m
|
Altitude above mean sea level
| Time | 00:00 | 03:00 | 06:00 | 09:00 | 12:00 | 15:00 | 18:00 | 21:00 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1100m |
-6°
|
-4°
|
-2°
|
-2°
|
-1°
|
-1°
|
0°
|
-1°
|
| 900m |
-3°
|
-1°
|
1°
|
2°
|
3°
|
3°
|
3°
|
2°
|
| 600m |
0°
|
1°
|
4°
|
5°
|
6°
|
6°
|
6°
|
6°
|
| 300m |
5°
|
6°
|
7°
|
8°
|
10°
|
10°
|
9°
|
9°
|
| Glen |
4°
|
6°
|
7°
|
9°
|
12°
|
12°
|
10°
|
10°
|
Additional weather information
Met Office Aberdeen meteorologist's view
Difficult walking conditions with strong, gusty winds and wet underfoot conditions. Noticeably milder on lower slopes but still feeling cold over higher ridges and summits.
Weather
Cloudy overnight and at first on Monday with outbreaks of rain. Rain mostly dying out in the morning but some rain lingering over Perthshire hills. Bright spells developing with some afternoon sunshine over eastern Cairngorms and Aberdeenshire hills.
Chance of cloud-free hill tops
40% improving 70% by midday, best in north.
Low cloud and visibility
Poor visibility in rain and also clouds which will be fairly extensive at first down around 700 to 800m in southwest of area, lifting and breaking a little later in morning. Generally good visibility from Angus hills northwards with clouds lifting well up the hills during the morning. A brief return to poorer visibility and lower cloud as a band of rain moves through early in evening.
Mountain weather information
Weather
It will be drier, brighter for a time on Tuesday, but still some bands of showers coming along, especially in the afternoon. Once again, the eastern Cairngorms and Aberdeenshire hills will have the best of the conditions.
Chance of cloud-free hill tops
70%, best north of area.
Maximum wind speed expected
Another windy day, strong southwest winds with gales at height, average speeds 25 to 30mph with gusts 50 to 60mph on the tops.
Temperature
- At 800m 8 Celsius.
- Glen 8 Celsius rising to 13 Celsius.
- Freezing level Well above the summits.
Low cloud and visibility
Occasional cloud cover in south of area above about 700 to 800m with some patches lower down. Clouds more broken, higher up the hills further north. Visibility generally good but poorer as showers come along, especially in south.
Mountain weather information
Wed 5 Nov
Sunrise:
Sunset:
Some showers at first then drier and becoming brighter. Lighter winds at all levels. Freezing level staying well above the tops.
Thu 6 Nov
Sunrise:
Sunset:
Some sunshine and scattered showers, mainly in southwest of area. Strong southerly winds, gales on the tops.
Fri 7 Nov
Sunrise:
Sunset:
Rather cloudy with further showers, possibly a longer spell of rain at first. Windy with gales, possibly severe on the tops.
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