Cairngorms NP and Monadhliath
Cairngorms National Park and Monadhliath. Also includes the Ben Alder area hills between Loch Ericht and Loch Laggan.
Thursday's Forecast
Windy, walking impeded
Blustery conditions enough to give buffeting on higher terrain or affect balance on exposed ridges. 25 to 40mph.
Sunshine and showers
A good amount of dry and bright weather, but scattered bursts of rain, some may be locally heavy.
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.
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.
Sunshine and showers
A good amount of dry and bright weather, but scattered bursts of rain, some may be locally heavy.
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
Thursday 16th April 2026
Last updated
Wed 15th Apr 26 at
4:06PM
Summary for all mountain areas
Dawn gales over summits of south Scotland and north England, strongest wind moving north, but staying breezy in northern parts of England and Wales. Showers for many in the morning, soon easing with sun breaks, but remaining frequent with heavy bursts in west Scotland; some rain approaches Wales later afternoon.
Headline for Cairngorms NP and Monadhliath
Heavy showers soon become scattered; often very windy
How windy? (On the Munros)
Southwesterly 30-35mph just at dawn, soon approaching 40mph over the tops for several hours. Through afternoon, an easing trend towards 20-25mph.
Effect of the wind on you?
Walking arduous in exposure most of the day with notable wind chill; always blustery and gusty even during lighter speeds.
How Wet?
Frequent showers, easing through afternoon
Drizzle on high terrain and showers from before dawn, widespread and for a time persistent with heavy falls near Drumochter early in the day. Beginning to ease to scattered showers later morning, often dry later with most showers isolated to western hills.
Cloud on the hills?
Fairly extensive early, improving, summit breaks later
Extensive to middle slopes south of the Cairngorm plateau at dawn, locally lower slopes near Drumochter; northern slopes east of Ben Macdui always clearest, including early. A lifting trend through morning, breaks forming as showers ease, mostly above 1200m later with summit breaks, perhaps clear well into afternoon.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
10% early, rising to 60%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Glimpses of sun soon breaking out, more frequent afternoon; the most sun on lower northern slopes. Visibility becoming excellent where out of showers.
How Cold? (at 900m)
2C rising to 5 or 6C, mildest northeast Cairngorms. Feeling like -5 to -8C in direct wind.
Freezing Level
About 1200m at dawn, gradually lifting to clear all summits.
Viewing Forecast For
Cairngorms NP and Monadhliath
Friday 17th April 2026
Last updated
Wed 15th Apr 26 at
4:06PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
Southerly 40-45mph, some variability and may strengthen, to 55mph over high Cairngorm plateau.
Effect of the wind on you?
Walking arduous in exposure likely all day, considerable wind chill and maintaining stability requiring notable effort later.
How Wet?
Morning rain breaks to afternoon showers
Patchy rain from dawn, extended dry moments northern slopes. With time, setting in more persistently with heavy falls for several hours, breaking into showers afternoon, most frequent across southern slopes.
Cloud on the hills?
Variable, lowest south, afternoon breaks
Terrain above 900m in cloud through morning, often lower on southern slopes, filling into middle slopes as least as rain sets in. More variable to the north, some high breaks in the morning, then a better chance of high breaks between afternoon showers.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
20%, rising to 40%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Overcast and often dull with poor visibility on southern slopes through morning. At times better visibility north, with increasing chance of sun glimpses.
How Cold? (at 900m)
4 or 5C, may rise to 6C northern Cairngorm slopes. Feeling as cold as -8C in strongest wind.
Freezing Level
Above the summits.
Viewing Forecast For
Cairngorms NP and Monadhliath
Saturday 18th April 2026
Last updated
Wed 15th Apr 26 at
4:06PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
West to southwesterly 25 to 40mph, likely strongest in morning, tending to drop a little, but gusty in showers.
Effect of the wind on you?
Blustery conditions affecting comfortable walking in exposure, some improvement. Considerable wind chill.
How Wet?
Increasingly showery, hail, snow tops
Scattered showers in the morning mostly toward and west of the A9, but developing increasingly widely, into the afternoon; some heavy with hail, also snow falling on higher Munros, later toward 800-900m.
Cloud on the hills?
Mostly high tops with breaks
Patchy cloud drifting over higher slopes in the morning, but some areas particularly in east clearer. Cloud varying over tops mostly above 1000m during showers.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
50%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Occasional sun best toward east in the morning, then brief bursts of sun later. Visibility varying, often very good, but poor during showers.
How Cold? (at 900m)
3C, slight drop toward evening. Feeling like -10 to -13C directly in the wind.
Freezing Level
1200m or above, then by later in daytime may drop closer to 1000m.
Planning Outlook
Friday stays windy with a band of rain passing east across the British Isles. A settling trend begins on Saturday, showers lingering in western areas, then the most settled conditions of the weekend on Sunday. Light or even negligible wind by Sunday with cool-to-mild temperatures, though perhaps on the chillier side in Scotland. The stronger sunshine will feel mild despite chiller temperatures. More certainty regarding a dominance of high pressure next week: a mix of cloud and sun, often dry, and cool temperatures. Greatest chance of scattered showers in eastern areas, more cloud here, and some low fog in the mornings as well. Easterly wind at times quite blustery and gusty in England and Wales, generally lighter Scotland.