Mountain weather
South Grampian and Southeast Highlands Mountain weather forecast table
Confidence
High confidence for cold and unsettled weather over the weekend, and for less hazardous weather on Monday and Tuesday. Low confidence for exact wind detail with Storm Dave later on Saturday.
This evening forecast
Scattered snow showers feed in from the west through the evening, these heavy at times. Visibilities falling poor and cloud down to around summit height as showers pass through, though with clear spells and good visibilities in-between. Feeling bitterly cold with freezing level down to 300-400m or so. Westerly winds gusting 40-50mph at times.
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.
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.
Heavy Persistent Snow
Heavy snow can lead to rapid changes in underfoot conditions and paths may become treacherous or hidden. It also brings very poor visibility and often makes navigation much more challenging. When deep snow accumulates progress is often time consuming and strenuous, significantly affecting the distance one can travel on foot. Deep drifts can develop if snow is combined with strong winds. A heightened avalanche risk is possible and avalanche reports should be consulted where available.
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.
Storm Force Winds
Storm force winds (gusts over 70mph) make walking very strenuous with any mobility virtually impossible over exposed ground. Where these conditions occur there is a high risk of being blown over and even standing may be impossible at times with a risk of being blown off one’s feet. Basic tasks such as using a map, eating, putting on extra clothing or communication become extremely difficult away from any shelter.
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
Bright spells, snow showers first thing. Cloud, snow, gales spreading north.
| 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% | 30% | 20% | 10% | 70% | 90% | 80% | 60% |
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 |
W
39
|
W
33
|
SW
29
|
SW
22
|
S
19
|
SE
30
|
SE
47
|
S
45
|
| 900m |
W
25
|
W
21
|
SW
19
|
SW
18
|
S
15
|
SE
22
|
SE
30
|
S
29
|
| 600m |
W
17
|
W
14
|
SW
13
|
SW
13
|
S
10
|
SE
15
|
SE
15
|
S
16
|
| 300m |
W
10
|
W
7
|
W
6
|
SW
10
|
S
9
|
SE
10
|
E
10
|
S
10
|
| Glen |
W
9
|
W
7
|
W
6
|
SW
10
|
S
10
|
SE
10
|
E
12
|
S
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 | 47 | 41 | 35 | 29 | 25 | 39 | 58 | 57 |
| 900m | 33 | 28 | 26 | 25 | 22 | 31 | 41 | 41 |
| 600m | 31 | 26 | 24 | 23 | 18 | 27 | 31 | 32 |
| 300m | 24 | 21 | 18 | 19 | 17 | 21 | 22 | 26 |
| Glen | 22 | 21 | 18 | 18 | 18 | 20 | 26 | 32 |
Altitude above mean sea level
| Time | 00:00 | 03:00 | 06:00 | 09:00 | 12:00 | 15:00 | 18:00 | 21:00 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1100m |
-6°
|
-6°
|
-6°
|
-5°
|
-4°
|
-5°
|
-2°
|
-1°
|
| 900m |
-4°
|
-4°
|
-4°
|
-3°
|
-2°
|
-3°
|
-1°
|
1°
|
| 600m |
-1°
|
-2°
|
-2°
|
0°
|
1°
|
0°
|
1°
|
3°
|
| 300m |
1°
|
0°
|
-1°
|
4°
|
5°
|
3°
|
3°
|
5°
|
| Glen |
2°
|
0°
|
0°
|
5°
|
6°
|
4°
|
4°
|
7°
|
| Freezing Level |
200m
|
100m
|
100m
|
300m
|
400m
|
500m
|
700m
|
1,100m
|
Altitude above mean sea level
| Time | 00:00 | 03:00 | 06:00 | 09:00 | 12:00 | 15:00 | 18:00 | 21:00 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1100m |
-17°
|
-16°
|
-16°
|
-14°
|
-12°
|
-14°
|
-12°
|
-10°
|
| 900m |
-12°
|
-12°
|
-12°
|
-10°
|
-8°
|
-10°
|
-9°
|
-6°
|
| 600m |
-8°
|
-8°
|
-8°
|
-5°
|
-3°
|
-6°
|
-5°
|
-2°
|
| 300m |
-4°
|
-4°
|
-4°
|
0°
|
2°
|
-1°
|
-1°
|
2°
|
| Glen |
-2°
|
-3°
|
-3°
|
1°
|
3°
|
0°
|
0°
|
3°
|
Additional weather information
Met Office Aberdeen meteorologist's view
Gusts of 50mph in the afternoon and evening will give very difficult walking conditions with progress highly impeded and a significant risk of being blown over. Storm force winds possible later will mean any mobility will be almost impossible on exposed ground with a risk of being blown off your feet. Increasingly hazardous conditions through the afternoon with widespread blizzards to modest elevations making navigation extremely difficult. Feeling bitterly cold so suitable clothing is advised. Keep up to date with the latest avalanche forecast from the Scottish Avalanche Information Service.
Weather
Clear and then bright spells and a few snow showers in the early morning. Cloud and snow will spread north from late morning, turning to rain below 700m or so as freezing level rises in the evening. Strengthening winds, increasing to gales later, even down to moderate elevations, with storm force gusts possible in the evening. Rain turning back to snow in the late evening, becoming more showery.
Chance of cloud-free hill tops
70% around dawn, falling to no chance by mid-afternoon.
Low cloud and visibility
Clear spells and good visibilities between showers in the early morning. Cloud will become widespread down to 300-400m and visibilities falling poor in blizzard conditions even to relatively modest elevations through the afternoon and evening.
Mountain weather information
Weather
Low cloud, blizzards and gale, severe gale or storm force winds in the early hours before Storm Dave pulls away east. From dawn bright spells and scattered snow showers through the rest of the day, these heavy and becoming quite frequent at times with a small risk of hail. Blustery winds gusting to gale at times. Feeling bitterly cold.
Chance of cloud-free hill tops
No chance early hours. 60% by day.
Maximum wind speed expected
West to northwest 60-70mph early morning, perhaps 80-90mph. Westerly 30-40mph gusting 40-50mph during daylight.
Temperature
- At 800m Minus 3C to minus 1C.
- Glen Plus 2C rising to plus 6C by day.
- Freezing level 400-600m
Low cloud and visibility
Widespread low cloud and poor visibilities in blizzard conditions in the early morning. During daylight hours some spells of clear summits and good visibilities between showers, but conditions falling rapidly poor as showers pass through.
Mountain weather information
Mon 6 Apr
Sunrise:
Sunset:
Dry with variable cloud. Freezing level 200m rising to 1000m later. Light winds becoming fresh southerly later.
Tue 7 Apr
Sunrise:
Sunset:
Dry, bright spells and variable cloud. Small chance of some rain later. Freezing level above summits. Fresh to strong winds.
Wed 8 Apr
Sunrise:
Sunset:
Cloudy, spells of rain. Fresh to strong winds.
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