Cairngorms NP and Monadhliath
Cairngorms National Park and Monadhliath. Also includes the Ben Alder area hills between Loch Ericht and Loch Laggan.
Today's Forecast
Light wind, negligible impact
Little wind or walking hardly affected by the wind, but feeling chilly if exposed on tops. 10-15mph or less.
Fine winter day, partly cloudy
Mostly dry with a mix of cloud and sun, patchy cloud occasionally covering some mountain slopes.
Whiteout
Fog and lying snow over the mountains, possibly with falling or blowing snow, very disorientating. Map and compass essential, beware of unseen hazards such as cornices.
Cold
Below freezing all day from many valleys upward. Severe chill factor if exposed to strong winds. Suitable protective clothing required.
Terrain widely frozen
All ground frozen from lower elevations upward, with hard frost or snow cover. Beware of icy surfaces on lower and higher terrain. Appropriate footwear needed, crampons may be necessary.
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Light wind, negligible impact
Little wind or walking hardly affected by the wind, but feeling chilly if exposed on tops. 10-15mph or less.
Fine winter day, partly cloudy
Mostly dry with a mix of cloud and sun, patchy cloud occasionally covering some mountain slopes.
Whiteout
Fog and lying snow over the mountains, possibly with falling or blowing snow, very disorientating. Map and compass essential, beware of unseen hazards such as cornices.
Cold
Below freezing all day from many valleys upward. Severe chill factor if exposed to strong winds. Suitable protective clothing required.
Terrain widely frozen
All ground frozen from lower elevations upward, with hard frost or snow cover. Beware of icy surfaces on lower and higher terrain. Appropriate footwear needed, crampons may be necessary.
Viewing Forecast For
Cairngorms NP and Monadhliath
Friday 10th January 2025
Last updated
Thu 9th Jan 25 at
3:53PM
Summary for all mountain areas
Bitterly cold widely in valleys from dawn, staying sub-zero all day at all elevations except nearest west coast. Sparkling sunshine widely, some patchy cloud around slopes and corries toward the east, plus local freezing fog in valleys. A veil of high cloud over Wales, chance of snow flurries toward southwest.
Headline for Cairngorms NP and Monadhliath
Cold, mostly light wind. Cloud banks north/east, brief flurries.
How windy? (On the Munros)
Variable north to easterly, 10 to 15mph or less, some locations with little wind, but local gusts on slopes just west of higher tops may be over 20mph.
Effect of the wind on you?
Mostly small; walking occasionally inconvenienced on some slopes.
How Wet?
Light flurries north
Isolated snow flurries occasionally toward northeast of Cairngorm plateau, mainly morning.
Cloud on the hills?
Patches north/east slopes may linger
Cloud banks as low as 800m linger on slopes and tops in the north and toward Deeside. Clearer toward Drumochter. Bases rise in the afternoon, some breaks. Mountain tops intermittently capped through dusk.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
30% north, rising to 70%. Elsewhere, 90%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Patchy sunshine north, plentiful southwestwards. Excellent visibility out of cloud, but navigation challenging if in fog over snow cover on Cairngorms tops.
How Cold? (at 900m)
-3C.
Freezing Level
All terrain frozen
Viewing Forecast For
Cairngorms NP and Monadhliath
Saturday 11th January 2025
Last updated
Thu 9th Jan 25 at
3:53PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
Southerly 15-25mph, up to 35mph over mountain tops. Shifting southwesterly though the day.
Effect of the wind on you?
Significant wind chill. Walking starting to be impeded. Balance challenged on exposed ridges.
How Wet?
Possible brief light snow
Mostly dry; occasional light snow may fall from elevated cloud, but amounting to very little.
Cloud on the hills?
Foggy patches south, some clearing
Some morning mist in the corries south of the Cairngorm plateau, some clearing. Local fog banks may linger toward southern Cairngorms. Clearest toward Glenmore.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
50% south, 90% north
Sunshine and air clarity?
Sunny in the north, hazy sun through fog elsewhere. Becomes patchy near sunset. Excellent visibility away from patchy fog.
How Cold? (at 900m)
-3C, rising near 0C widely through the afternoon. Northern hills up to +1C by dusk. Feeling around -10C with wind chill.
Freezing Level
All terrain frozen. Freezing level becoming poorly defined; variable rise late in day, gradually above freezing some slopes.
Viewing Forecast For
Cairngorms NP and Monadhliath
Sunday 12th January 2025
Last updated
Thu 9th Jan 25 at
3:53PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
Southwesterly 35mph, rising to near 55mph. Gusty through low valleys and over tops up to 60mph.
Effect of the wind on you?
Walking strenuous, forward progress becoming difficult. Gusts likely will blow you over. Severe wind chill.
How Wet?
A little rain possible
Mostly dry. Risk of a spell of rain, details uncertain.
Cloud on the hills?
Clinging to many hills, lowest south
Cloud fairly widespread down to lowest slopes south of Cairngorm plateau, tops likely shrouded as well. North of the Cairngorms, often clear.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
20% south, 70% north
Sunshine and air clarity?
Morning sun in the north soon becoming weak through high cloud. Occasionally shrouded by thicker cloud. Visibility good here, poor south.
How Cold? (at 900m)
1 to 3C. Some areas north of the Cairngorm plateau rising near 5C. Feeling as cold as -12C with wind chill.
Freezing Level
Temperature at or above freezing widely. Much terrain remains frozen but beginning to thaw. Sheltered corries stay frozen.
Planning Outlook
A gradual change of pattern this weekend as southwesterly winds strengthen - terrain still substantially frozen and snow covered, but by Sunday the air temperature lifting above freezing at all elevations - a thaw commencing, more rapid into Monday with some heavy rain in the west. A much milder week ahead, highest Scottish tops only rarely close to freezing point. Southwesterly winds frequently gale force over the Highlands, bringing low cloud particularly to western mountains and occasional rain. High pressure over England & Wales brings quieter conditions here much of the week, some low-level cloud and fog. Changeable west-southwesterlies likely prevail into second half of January.