Cairngorms NP and Monadhliath
Cairngorms National Park and Monadhliath. Also includes the Ben Alder area hills between Loch Ericht and Loch Laggan.
Saturday's Forecast
Windy, walking impeded
Blustery conditions enough to give buffeting on higher terrain or affect balance on exposed ridges. 25 to 40mph.
Snow and hail showers
Periods of bright or sunny conditions mixed with showers or flurries of snow and hail. Visibility may change rapidly from excellent to very poor.
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.
Click an icon for more information or click here for a key to all icons.
Windy, walking impeded
Blustery conditions enough to give buffeting on higher terrain or affect balance on exposed ridges. 25 to 40mph.
Snow and hail showers
Periods of bright or sunny conditions mixed with showers or flurries of snow and hail. Visibility may change rapidly from excellent to very poor.
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.
Viewing Forecast For
Cairngorms NP and Monadhliath
Saturday 18th April 2026
Last updated
Fri 17th Apr 26 at
4:10PM
Summary for all mountain areas
Brisk westerly winds will give considerable chill factor over high terrain - air temperature near freezing on higher Scottish tops. Showery conditions - the most frequent precipitation in northwest Scotland in morning, falling as snow on Munros, also hail to lower levels. Showers become more scattered during afternoon.
Headline for Cairngorms NP and Monadhliath
Windy, up to gale force high tops; showery, hail, snow tops.
How windy? (On the Munros)
West to southwesterly 35 to 40mph, strongest gusts morning to middle of day, to 50mph high tops. Shifting northwesterly, easing a little through afternoon to 25mph.
Effect of the wind on you?
Blustery conditions affecting comfortable walking in exposure, some buffeting, more challenging higher Cairngorms; gradually improving. Considerable wind chill.
How Wet?
Showery, more frequent precipitation for a time; hail, snow tops
Showers most frequent toward western Cairngorms in the morning, some heavy. Becoming showery fairly widely, more frequent further eastward for a few hours middle of day and afternoon. Some hail, also snow falling on Munros.
Cloud on the hills?
Mostly high tops with breaks
Patchy cloud drifting over higher slopes in the morning, though soon widespread for several hours. More broken afternoon, cloud varying over tops, mostly above 1000m during showers.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
50%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Several cloudy hours in the morning, then brief bursts of sun the rest of the day. Visibility varying, often very good, but poor during showers.
How Cold? (at 900m)
3C, starting nearer 2C west, and a slight drop toward evening. Feeling like -10C directly in the wind.
Freezing Level
1200m or above, then by later in daytime closer to 1000m.
Viewing Forecast For
Cairngorms NP and Monadhliath
Sunday 19th April 2026
Last updated
Fri 17th Apr 26 at
4:10PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
Northwesterly 20-25mph, local 30mph at times N & E Cairngorms. Turning northerly, tending to ease a little in west afternoon.
Effect of the wind on you?
Blustery with considerable wind chill over exposed higher terrain, particularly more north and eastern tops.
How Wet?
Mostly dry, local showers later
An occasional snow flurry will drift in from the north, mainly afternoon onward, eastern Munros most vulnerable, but a largely dry day on most hills.
Cloud on the hills?
Summits soon clear, local banks later
Patchy cloud forming around some higher slopes in the morning, plus local mist in some glens at first. Most cloud lifting above the summits during morning. Later in day, cloud may return to higher N/E Cairngorms.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
90%, reducing to 70% later N/E.
Sunshine and air clarity?
A patchwork of cloud and sun. Excellent visibility, occasionally reduced briefly in flurries.
How Cold? (at 900m)
0C rising to 2 or 3C afternoon, staying coolest north and later eastern areas too. Feeling like -7 to -10C directly in the wind.
Freezing Level
900m in the morning, plus frost in glens at dawn, mainly toward south. Lifting to 1200m or higher.
Viewing Forecast For
Cairngorms NP and Monadhliath
Monday 20th April 2026
Last updated
Fri 17th Apr 26 at
4:10PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
East or northeasterly, 20 to 25mph, gusty 30mph in places.
Effect of the wind on you?
Rather blustery with considerable wind chill on exposed higher terrain. Gusts may start to feel more noticeable at times.
How Wet?
Scattered showers
Showers with soft hail, also snow falling to 400-500m in morning, initially toward the north and east, but risk showery fairly widely for a few hours during day, though locally may escape drier more often.
Cloud on the hills?
Fairly extensive, lifting higher
Cloud banks fairly widely above 700-900m in the morning, lowest toward northeast. Base tending to rise, but may linger over the higher Cairngorms above 1000m into the afternoon, gradually breaking higher.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
20% rising to 50%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Largely cloudy, though some shafts of sunshine breaking through. Visibility often very good, but briefly reduced to poor in showers.
How Cold? (at 900m)
0C rising to 3C afternoon. Where exposed to wind, feeling like -5C, to possibly nearer -10C early in day.
Freezing Level
800-900m from dawn, plus frost in some glens. Rising to 1200-1300m or just above highest tops during afternoon.
Planning Outlook
High pressure expands over the British Isles on Sunday to bring a quieter day with lighter winds and only isolated showers. A scattering of showers on Monday as a cool east-northeasterly wind develops, but plenty of dry weather too. High pressure stays nearby to the north of Britain through the week ahead giving a run of dry days with sunshine typically best in the west, but many mountains often free of low cloud. A cool easterly wind is likely to prevail for England and Wales, strongest toward the south, whilst Scotland has often lighter winds. Some overnight frosts. Daytime temperatures near average, typically a few degrees above freezing on high tops through midweek.