Cairngorms NP and Monadhliath
Cairngorms National Park and Monadhliath. Also includes the Ben Alder area hills between Loch Ericht and Loch Laggan.
Tuesday'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.
Frequent or persistent rain
Steady rain fairly persistent, occasionally heavy, rather wet underfoot.
Poor visibility
Murky conditions with areas of fog shrouding the hills, making navigation challenging. Map and compass essential.
Cool to mild
Air temperature 5 to 10C on higher terrain. Comfortable temperatures on lower terrain, but feeling chilly if exposed to wind higher up, especially if stationary. Pack extra layers.
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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.
Frequent or persistent rain
Steady rain fairly persistent, occasionally heavy, rather wet underfoot.
Poor visibility
Murky conditions with areas of fog shrouding the hills, making navigation challenging. Map and compass essential.
Cool to mild
Air temperature 5 to 10C on higher terrain. Comfortable temperatures on lower terrain, but feeling chilly if exposed to wind higher up, especially if stationary. Pack extra layers.
Viewing Forecast For
Cairngorms NP and Monadhliath
Tuesday 19th May 2026
Last updated
Mon 18th May 26 at
3:55PM
Summary for all mountain areas
Frequent rain nearly everywhere all day, the rain most persistent west where hill-cloud fills in to low slopes with little improvement. A risk of localised hail and thunder in afternoon showery rain, increasingly wet underfoot, and with slippery rock surfaces. Very windy, gusty gales early including downslope.
Headline for Cairngorms NP and Monadhliath
Frequent showery rain; windy, early gusty gales
How windy? (On the Munros)
Southeasterly 40-55mph through morning; gusty early, downslope gusts up to 60mph briefly. Slowly easing afternoon, and later shifting southerly, to around 25-30mph evening.
Effect of the wind on you?
Arduous walking with considerable buffeting and wind chill through morning; strongest gusts will significantly challenge balance. Effects easing afternoon, but walking remains impeded in exposure all day.
How Wet?
Rain sets in, then afternoon showers
Persistent rain from the southwest as sunrise approaches; east Cairngorms dry briefly. Rain spreads widely through morning, heaviest south and west, breaking to showers afternoon, most south and west. Drier windows on north slopes, but wind-blown rain here too. Slippery rock surfaces and becoming wet underfoot.
Cloud on the hills?
Fairly extensive
Cloud shrouds the hills to low slopes in the morning with patches into southern glens; may be more broken northwest of Ben Macdui. A lifting trend from midday, patchy breaks to the north, perhaps above 900m north and west of Ben Macdui, but high tops unlikely to clear.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
20%
Sunshine and air clarity?
A few afternoon glimpses of sun north but otherwise overcast. Largely poor visibility, some better moments out of rain in the north.
How Cold? (at 900m)
3 to 5C early, minimal change with added height. Rising to 8C, or warmer northern Cairngorms and towards the Moray Firth. Feeling like -5C, to as cold as -10C in early wind.
Freezing Level
May be near freezing just on the high tops at dawn, but soon lifting well above the summits.
Viewing Forecast For
Cairngorms NP and Monadhliath
Wednesday 20th May 2026
Last updated
Mon 18th May 26 at
3:55PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
West-southwesterly 15-20mph through morning, a rising trend, reaching 30-35mph afternoon for several hours.
Effect of the wind on you?
Fairly small in the morning, but deteriorating to strenuous walking in exposure with wind chill.
How Wet?
Patchy rain, later heavy
Areas of patchy rain drift from the southwest from before dawn, at times setting in for a few hours, but a few dry spells too (though fine drizzle lingering on tops in cloud). Through afternoon, a rising risk of extended heavy falls, then possibly drier into dusk.
Cloud on the hills?
Lifting to upper terrain, chance of breaks
Extensive to at least the middle slopes from dawn, bases soon lift after sunrise, mostly above 900m by afternoon with some higher breaks, perhaps fleeting breaks off summits, but then returning during rain. Later, may see a greater chance of clear hills.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
30%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Few glimpses of weak sunshine, greater chance late in the day. Variable visibility, often poor due to rain but some very good windows.
How Cold? (at 900m)
7 to 9C; may reach 10C northeast Cairngorms. Feeling just above freezing in direct wind.
Freezing Level
Above the summits.
Viewing Forecast For
Cairngorms NP and Monadhliath
Thursday 21st May 2026
Last updated
Mon 18th May 26 at
3:55PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
Southwesterly 30-35mph. Strong gusts over tops and elevated passes, also downslope to the north early, to 45mph.
Effect of the wind on you?
Strenuous walking with buffeting gusts often challenging stability, including downslope early. Feeling cool.
How Wet?
Morning patchy rain, then some drizzle
Patchy rain arrives around dawn, affecting most hills for several hours. Rain easing around midday, leaving behind some fine drizzle in cloud clinging to the high Cairngorm plateau, some lower drizzle towards Drumochter.
Cloud on the hills?
Fairly extensive early, some afternoon breaks
Cloud banks shroud high terrain through morning, variable banks lower, some ragged patches to glen level. Bases lift as rain eases, towards 800-900m, approaching higher terrain north Cairngorms. Some summit breaks north Monadhliath.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
Rising to 40%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Glimpses of sun north of high Cairngorms where visibility improves, but otherwise overcast with poor visibility.
How Cold? (at 900m)
7 or 8C early, little change with added height. Rising to 11 to 13C, mildest north. Feeling near freezing in strongest wind.
Freezing Level
Above the summits.
Planning Outlook
Damp southwesterlies establish by mid-week; regular periods of rain with only glimpses of sunshine. Wettest on western hills where drizzle may persist between rain and low cloud clings to the hills. Expect slippery exposed rock surfaces and rare (if any) exposed tops in Scotland before the weekend. Indications of rising pressure later in the week, bringing milder and drier conditions to England and Wales. However, some drizzle and low cloud may continue to affect western hills, outbreaks of rain as well, but rising chances of clear hills. Pressure may continue to rise into the weekend, allowing for warmer and sunnier conditions, but some fronts and lingering humidity will continue to bring cloud and rain here and there.