Cairngorms NP and Monadhliath
Cairngorms National Park and Monadhliath. Also includes the Ben Alder area hills between Loch Ericht and Loch Laggan.
Sunday's Forecast
Gale force, walking arduous
Considerable buffeting, walking into the wind will be strenuous on exposed terrain, stronger gusts may knock you off your feet. 40 to 55mph.
Snow and rain mix
Precipitation falling mostly as snow on higher terrain, rain on low-to-middle elevations, may turn to sleet or rain higher up.
Hazy, some fog banks
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Visibility reduced around cloud banks, hazier on some lower slopes. Locally some improvements possible out of cloud.
Chilly
Air temperature typically 0 to 5C on higher summits. Feeling distinctly chilly on tops when stationary or where exposed to wind. Take appropriate layers.
Winter kit required on higher terrain
Snow cover over higher mountains. Safe progress over some terrain will require suitable footwear - possibly crampons and ice-axe where necessary.
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Gale force, walking arduous
Considerable buffeting, walking into the wind will be strenuous on exposed terrain, stronger gusts may knock you off your feet. 40 to 55mph.
Snow and rain mix
Precipitation falling mostly as snow on higher terrain, rain on low-to-middle elevations, may turn to sleet or rain higher up.
Hazy, some fog banks
Visibility reduced around cloud banks, hazier on some lower slopes. Locally some improvements possible out of cloud.
Chilly
Air temperature typically 0 to 5C on higher summits. Feeling distinctly chilly on tops when stationary or where exposed to wind. Take appropriate layers.
Winter kit required on higher terrain
Snow cover over higher mountains. Safe progress over some terrain will require suitable footwear - possibly crampons and ice-axe where necessary.
Viewing Forecast For
Cairngorms NP and Monadhliath
Sunday 1st March 2026
Last updated
Sat 28th Feb 26 at
4:00PM
Summary for all mountain areas
South-southwesterly upland gales, strengthening further for Wales during the day, later extending northward. Early snow on hills in the Highlands, patchier northwards, turning increasingly to rain as temperature rises, heavier rain for West Highlands. Generally wet for western England & Wales with blanket low cloud.
Headline for Cairngorms NP and Monadhliath
Gales on tops. Hill snow becoming rain, most toward south.
How windy? (On the Munros)
Southerly 35 to 45mph, strong downslope gusts to the north, over 50mph in places around higher Cairngorm tops for a time. A brief lessening of speed early afternoon followed by rapidly increasing further later, 60-70mph later evening-night.
Effect of the wind on you?
Strenuous walking with chaotic gusts all day, in places difficult at times. Significant wind chill. Deteriorating further onward into the evening.
How Wet?
Patchy rain/snow, snowfall level lifting
Patchy rain/snow in the morning, mostly south and west; snow falling to 700m or briefly lower at first, though this level rising. Easing off for a time, but rain on and off southern areas, becoming more persistent from southwest again later.
Cloud on the hills?
Most extensive south and west
Variable banks of cloud affect Drumochter and nearby slopes, as well as eastward to Deeside, fairly consistently to 800m, sometimes lower, though odd higher breaks possible too. Best breaks higher up toward north & northeastern Cairngorms.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
20%, to 50% north.
Sunshine and air clarity?
Largely cloudy, some occasional sun breaking through north of Cairngorms. Very good visibility away from fog/rain, but more often poorer southern hills.
How Cold? (at 900m)
-2C early morning, lifting to +4C afternoon onward. Feeling as cold as -10C in direct wind.
Freezing Level
500-700m from dawn, local variability at first, also some frost in northern glens. Lifting with time to above the summits afternoon.
Viewing Forecast For
Cairngorms NP and Monadhliath
Monday 2nd March 2026
Last updated
Sat 28th Feb 26 at
4:00PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
South turning southwest later westerly; speed likely to vary during day, mostly in range 20 to 35mph, risk stronger at first.
Effect of the wind on you?
Risk of blustery conditions affecting ease of walking on exposed higher areas, possibly more difficult around dawn.
How Wet?
Early rain fading, possible showers later
A band of rain early in day, patchy in north, likely breaking up, some uncertainty of timing, to leave increasingly dry conditions. By late in day, risk another area of showery rain arriving from west, snow above 800m.
Cloud on the hills?
Lifting and breaking, best north
Covering many higher areas for several hours, lowest southern Cairngorms NP. Lifting with time, best breaks forming toward tops near Glenmore and over Monadhliath, perhaps more widely.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
40%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Cloudy start, some sun breaking through, soonest in north. Visibility becoming very good or excellent.
How Cold? (at 900m)
2 or 3C, dropping later toward 0C. If exposed to stronger wind, risk feeling like -10C.
Freezing Level
Above summits from overnight into morning, likely to lower during day, toward 1000m afternoon, 800m after dark.
Viewing Forecast For
Cairngorms NP and Monadhliath
Tuesday 3rd March 2026
Last updated
Sat 28th Feb 26 at
4:00PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
Variable direction 10-15mph or less.
Effect of the wind on you?
Small.
How Wet?
Precipitation unlikely
Cloud on the hills?
Little if any
Rare if any fragments of cloud, or mist lower down at first, all clearing.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
90%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Generally sunny. Visibility excellent.
How Cold? (at 900m)
-1C rising to +2C.
Freezing Level
800m plus frost in most glens and sheltered lower slopes from dawn, rising to 1100-1200m afternoon.
Planning Outlook
A drop of freezing level onto higher mountains develops during Monday into Monday night; weakening fronts bringing some precipitation, but fading. Higher pressure expands across the British Isles into Tuesday and stays nearby with commonly drier conditions and periods of light winds during early March, though mixed with pushes of strengthening south-southwesterlies bringing some occasional rain in from the west. Often milder air during the next couple of weeks, possibly briefly colder again by the end of the coming week.