Mountain weather
South Grampian and Southeast Highlands Mountain weather forecast table
Confidence
High confidence for a period of unsettled weather with showers or longer spells of snow at times. Low confidence for details on Friday.
Mountain weather hazards
Hazards apply at or above 300m, reflecting the more severe conditions which can occur at altitude.
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.
Blizzards
Blizzards and whiteouts present challenging and serious conditions due to a combination of falling or blowing snow, strong winds and cold temperatures. They can be highly disorientating, often resulting in near-zero visibility with limited or no visual references and no distinction between ground and sky. Cliff edges and cornices may not be apparent, even close up. These conditions require very good navigational skills.
Mountain weather forecast
Cloudy with some snow showers. Dry, clear evening. Cold.
| Time | 06:00 | 09:00 | 12:00 | 15:00 | 18:00 | 21:00 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Weather (at 800m) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Chance of precipitation (at 800m) |
50% | 60% | 90% | 40% | 20% | 20% |
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
13
|
SW
9
|
SW
19
|
W
27
|
W
33
|
W
36
|
| 900m |
SW
8
|
SW
8
|
SW
13
|
W
18
|
W
21
|
W
23
|
| 600m |
SW
7
|
SW
5
|
W
8
|
W
15
|
W
16
|
W
17
|
| 300m |
W
4
|
SW
3
|
SW
5
|
W
7
|
W
8
|
W
9
|
| Glen |
W
3
|
W
3
|
W
6
|
W
4
|
W
7
|
W
9
|
Wind gust (mph)
Altitude above mean sea level
| Time | 06:00 | 09:00 | 12:00 | 15:00 | 18:00 | 21:00 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1100m | 14 | 11 | 22 | 32 | 40 | 43 |
| 900m | 10 | 10 | 16 | 23 | 28 | 30 |
| 600m | 10 | 9 | 14 | 24 | 29 | 29 |
| 300m | 9 | 9 | 10 | 17 | 22 | 23 |
| Glen | 9 | 7 | 13 | 13 | 19 | 23 |
Altitude above mean sea level
| Time | 06:00 | 09:00 | 12:00 | 15:00 | 18:00 | 21:00 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1100m |
-2°
|
-1°
|
-2°
|
-4°
|
-5°
|
-6°
|
| 900m |
0°
|
0°
|
-1°
|
-2°
|
-3°
|
-4°
|
| 600m |
2°
|
2°
|
1°
|
0°
|
-1°
|
-2°
|
| 300m |
2°
|
2°
|
2°
|
2°
|
0°
|
0°
|
| Glen |
3°
|
2°
|
4°
|
2°
|
0°
|
0°
|
| Freezing Level |
800m
|
700m
|
700m
|
500m
|
200m
|
200m
|
Altitude above mean sea level
| Time | 06:00 | 09:00 | 12:00 | 15:00 | 18:00 | 21:00 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1100m |
-7°
|
-6°
|
-10°
|
-14°
|
-15°
|
-16°
|
| 900m |
-4°
|
-4°
|
-6°
|
-9°
|
-11°
|
-12°
|
| 600m |
-1°
|
0°
|
-3°
|
-6°
|
-7°
|
-8°
|
| 300m |
0°
|
0°
|
0°
|
-1°
|
-4°
|
-5°
|
| Glen |
2°
|
1°
|
1°
|
1°
|
-3°
|
-4°
|
Additional weather information
Met Office Aberdeen meteorologist's view
Note the increasingly windy conditions through the afternoon and evening, making for fairly arduous walking on exposed terrain with buffeting of clothing. Balance may be affected at times. Feeling bitterly cold. Frequent showers in the middle of the day may lead to blizzard conditions severely impacting visibility. Keep up to date with the latest avalanche forecast from the Scottish Avalanche Information Service (SAIS).
Weather
Cloudy with showery outbreaks of rain, through the early morning, falling as snow above 700-800m. Staying cloudy but drier for a time in mid-morning. A period of more frequent and heavier showers spreads east around mid-day or early afternoon. Becoming dry with good clear spells through the evening. Feeling bitterly cold. Light winds much of the day, freshening later.
Chance of cloud-free hill tops
30% much of the day, best chances in the northeast. Falling 20% or less for a time in the middle of the day. Rising 75% or higher in evening.
Low cloud and visibility
Quite extensive cloud down to 500-700m and visibilities falling poor in hill fog or outbreaks of snow through much of the day. Becoming largely clear with excellent visibilities through the evening.
Mountain weather information
Weather
Dry with bright or sunny spells for much of the day. A few snow showers into Ben Vorlich, Ben Lawers and the rest of the Perthshire Hills. Turning cloudy with outbreaks of snow spreading east to all parts through the evening. Feeling bitterly cold.
Chance of cloud-free hill tops
By day, 50% southwest, 80% or higher northeast. Falling 20% or less in evening.
Maximum wind speed expected
West 25-35mph in morning, backing South 35-50mph in afternoon.
Temperature
- At 800m Minus 5C to minus 1C.
- Glen Minus 3C rising to plus 4C.
- Freezing level 400m rising to 800m.
Low cloud and visibility
Often clear summits and good visibilities through much of the day, but in the southwest visibilities falling rapidly and temporarily poor and cloud bases falling to 500-700m as any snow showers pass by. Cloud becoming widespread down to 500-700m in the evening and visibilities falling poor in more widespread hill fog or snow.
Mountain weather information
Thu 15 Jan
Sunrise:
Sunset:
Likely mainly dry in east with some snow showers in west. Light to moderate southwest winds. Freezing level around 600m.
Fri 16 Jan
Sunrise:
Sunset:
Low confidence. Likely a period of prolonged rain and summit snow and occasionally strong winds.
Sat 17 Jan
Sunrise:
Sunset:
Likely variable cloud and bright spells. Chance of a few snow showers.
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