Mountain weather

South Grampian and Southeast Highlands

South Grampian and Southeast Highlands Mountain weather forecast table

Confidence

High confidence in largely dry and settled conditions with high pressure dominating until Monday, but lower confidence in cloud amounts.

Sunrise:
Sunset:

This evening forecast

Extensive areas of low cloud down to 300-500m with visibilities poor in hill fog, though some higher summits will poke out above the cloud layer. Best of any limited chance of clearer summits over the northwest of the Southern Cairngorms. Light winds. Feeling cold so suitable clothing is advised.

Sunrise:
Sunset:
Mountain hazards

Mountain weather hazards

Hazards apply at or above 300m, reflecting the more severe conditions which can occur at altitude.

hazard 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.
hazard 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

Dull, cloudy morning. Brighter afternoon. Chilly. Light winds.

Time 00:00 03:00 06:00 09:00 12:00 15:00 18:00 21:00
Weather
(at 800m)
Fog Fog Fog Cloudy Sunny intervals Sunny intervals Clear night Clear night
Chance of precipitation
(at 800m)
<05% <05% <05% 00% 00% 00% 00% 00%

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 SE
11
SE
11
S
8
SE
6
W
6
E
7
N
8
N
9
900m SE
7
SE
6
S
6
SE
4
W
3
E
4
N
5
N
5
600m S
3
S
3
SW
3
S
2
W
3
SW
2
S
1
W
3
300m NW
1
W
2
W
3
W
2
W
3
W
3
W
2
W
3
Glen W
2
SW
2
W
2
W
3
W
2
W
2
W
3
W
3
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 13 13 9 7 7 8 9 11
900m 9 7 8 6 5 5 6 7
600m 5 5 5 3 4 3 2 4
300m 3 4 6 5 7 6 5 6
Glen 4 4 5 5 7 5 6 6

Altitude above mean sea level
Time 00:00 03:00 06:00 09:00 12:00 15:00 18:00 21:00
1100m
-1°
-2°
-2°
-1°
900m
-1°
-1°
600m
-1°
300m
-1°
-1°
-1°
Glen
Freezing Level
500m
500m
600m
600m
700m
800m
700m
700m

Altitude above mean sea level
Time 00:00 03:00 06:00 09:00 12:00 15:00 18:00 21:00
1100m
-5°
-6°
-6°
-5°
-3°
-4°
-4°
-4°
900m
-4°
-3°
-4°
-3°
-2°
-2°
-3°
-3°
600m
-2°
-2°
-2°
-2°
-1°
-2°
-2°
-2°
300m
-2°
-1°
-1°
-1°
-1°
-3°
-2°
Glen
-1°
-2°
-2°

Additional weather information

Met Office Aberdeen meteorologist's view

Feeling cold at height so suitable clothing required.

Weather

Widespread low cloud in the morning, though higher summits may poke out above the cloud layer. Cloud is likely to retreat through the day allowing good bright or sunny periods to develop. Feeling chilly at height. Light winds.

Chance of cloud-free hill tops

25% or less, rising to 80%.

Low cloud and visibility

Extensive areas of low cloud around 500m or lower in the morning and poor visibilities in hill fog, with higher summits rising above the cloud layer. Cloud gradually lifting and clearing through the day to leave largely clear summits and good visibilities by evening.

Sunrise:
Sunset:

Mountain weather information

Weather

Cloudy in the Aberdeenshire Hills first thing in the morning as a weak front pushes south, with the odd spot of light rain and freshening winds. This spreads south to all other ranges through the morning, then gradually clearing from the north through the afternoon, allowing clear spells and variable cloud to return.

Chance of cloud-free hill tops

30% as front goes through, 70% otherwise.

Maximum wind speed expected

East to Northeast 20-30mph, gusting 30-40mph.

Temperature

  • At 800m Minus 2C to plus 2C.
  • Glen Minus 3C rising to plus 6C.
  • Freezing level 1200m as front goes through. Falling to 600-800m by late evening.

Low cloud and visibility

Quite widespread low cloud down to 400m or lower as the front goes through with visibilities falling poor in hill fog. This cloud breaking up through the afternoon and evening with clear spells developing but still some patches of cloud around.

Mountain weather information

Sun 28 Dec

Sunrise:
Sunset:

Dry with variable cloud and clear or sunny spells. Cold with freezing level around 300-500m. Light and variable winds.

Mon 29 Dec

Sunrise:
Sunset:

Dry, bright spells in Perthshire Hills, Ochils and eastern Trossachs. Variable cloud and a few light showers in northeast, wintry above 800-1000m. Light to moderate northerly winds.

Tue 30 Dec

Sunrise:
Sunset:

Variable cloud and a few showers, wintry above 800-1000m. Staying mainly dry and bright in Perthshire Hills, Ochils and eastern Trossachs. Light to moderate northerly winds.

Updated at:

Summit specific forecast

Mountain summit forecast map

Loading map…

For snow and avalanche hazard forecasts please visit Scottish Avalanche Information Service