Mountain weather

South Grampian and Southeast Highlands

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South Grampian and Southeast Highlands Mountain weather forecast table

Confidence

High confidence for overall setup and for an unsettled couple of days before high pressure builds from Tuesday.

Sunrise:
Sunset:

This evening forecast

A dry evening with patchy cloud and clear spells. Strong southeasterly winds with risk of gales on highest routes and risk of severe wind chill.

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.

hazard 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.
Mountain hazards explained
Avalanche information for Scotland. Scottish Avalanche Information Service.

Mountain weather forecast

A cloudy, windy and damp day. Feeling cold.

Time 00:00 03:00 06:00 09:00 12:00 15:00 18:00 21:00
Weather
(at 800m)
 Fog Fog Fog Fog Light rain Light rain Drizzle Drizzle
Chance of precipitation
(at 800m)
 10% 10% 10% 10% 30% 30% 40% 40%

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
38
 SE
35
 SE
32
 SE
30
 SE
26
 E
25
 E
25
 E
25
900m SE
26
 SE
24
 SE
22
 SE
21
 SE
17
 E
15
 E
15
 E
16
600m SE
15
 SE
13
 SE
12
 SE
12
 SE
11
 E
7
 E
7
 E
8
300m SE
3
 SE
6
 SE
7
 SE
7
 E
7
 E
6
 E
6
 E
7
Glen SE
5
 E
6
 E
7
 E
7
 E
7
 E
6
 E
7
 E
7
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 45 41 39 37 31 30 29 29
900m 32 30 29 28 23 20 19 20
600m 27 24 23 23 19 13 14 15
300m 13 17 19 20 16 13 15 15
Glen 17 16 19 18 15 14 15 15

Altitude above mean sea level
Time 00:00 03:00 06:00 09:00 12:00 15:00 18:00 21:00
1100m
-1°
-1°
0°
0°
0°
0°
1°
1°
900m
0°
1°
1°
1°
2°
2°
3°
3°
600m
2°
3°
3°
3°
4°
4°
4°
4°
300m
4°
5°
5°
5°
6°
6°
6°
6°
Glen
4°
5°
6°
6°
6°
6°
7°
7°
Freezing Level
900m
1,000m
1,100m
1,100m
1,100m
1,300m
1,400m
1,500m

Altitude above mean sea level
Time 00:00 03:00 06:00 09:00 12:00 15:00 18:00 21:00
1100m
-11°
-10°
-9°
-8°
-7°
-7°
-6°
-5°
900m
-7°
-6°
-5°
-5°
-4°
-3°
-2°
-2°
600m
-3°
-2°
-1°
-1°
0°
1°
1°
1°
300m
3°
2°
2°
2°
3°
4°
4°
4°
Glen
3°
3°
3°
3°
4°
4°
5°
5°

Additional weather information

Met Office Aberdeen meteorologist's view

Strong winds will make for strenuous walking conditions. Feeling cold and damp with low cloud and drizzle giving a risk of severe wind chill. Warm and waterproof clothing recommended.

Weather

Mostly dry and cloudy with some clear spells before dawn. Thereafter, a mostly cloudy day with outbreaks of light rain and drizzle. Rain falling as snow to 800m in the morning before freezing levels rise above summits. Strong southeasterly winds with a risk of gales on highest tops in the morning.

Chance of cloud-free hill tops

Nil.

Low cloud and visibility

Widespread low cloud bases 600-800m through the morning and afternoon, falling to valley level at times. Cloud thickening and lowering further in the evening with widespread bases down to valley level. Outside of cloud, visibility mostly good but poor at times in rain.

Sunrise:
Sunset:

Mountain weather information

Weather

A cloudy start with light rain. Heavy rain soon moving northwards over the area. Heavy rain clears to the north by late morning leaving the rest of the day cloudy with light rain and drizzle. Snow falling only on the highest tops at first. Strong southeasterly winds with gales on highest routes. Marked wind chill.

Chance of cloud-free hill tops

Nil, rising to 10% later.

Maximum wind speed expected

Southeasterly 35-40mph gusting 45-50mph.

Temperature

  • At 800m Plus 2-3 Celsius.
  • Glen Plus 9 Celsius.
  • Freezing level Above summits.

Low cloud and visibility

Widespread low cloud with base 400-600m for much of the day, falling to valley level at times. Some fleeting breaks possible in the evening. Outside of cloud, visibility mostly good poor at times in rain.

Mountain weather information

Tue 23 Dec

Sunrise:
Sunset:

High pressure building. Cloudy with outbreaks of rain. Fresh to strong southeasterly winds. Freezing level above summits.

Wed 24 Dec

Sunrise:
Sunset:

Mostly dry and cloudy. Moderate southeasterly winds. Freezing level 800m.

Thu 25 Dec

Sunrise:
Sunset:

Mostly cloudy and dry, some bright intervals. Moderate southeasterly winds. Freezing level 500m.

Updated at:
Mountain weather explained

Summit specific forecast

Mountain summit forecast map

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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

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