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.
Patchy rain or drizzle
Rain on and off, or generally drizzly - total amounts small, but may be persistently damp, especially where hills are shrouded in cloud.
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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Windy, walking impeded
Blustery conditions enough to give buffeting on higher terrain or affect balance on exposed ridges. 25 to 40mph.
Patchy rain or drizzle
Rain on and off, or generally drizzly - total amounts small, but may be persistently damp, especially where hills are shrouded in cloud.
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
Thursday 5th March 2026
Last updated
Wed 4th Mar 26 at
4:13PM
Summary for all mountain areas
A slow-moving front from the west brings rain and low cloud to western Scotland, turning to snow on tops as colder air arrives; freezing level later below 800m. Patchy rain encroaching further into Cumbria with time. Some heavier thundery bursts possible in Wales. Strong southerlies ease and turn W-NW'ly.
Headline for Cairngorms NP and Monadhliath
Windy early, easing somewhat with arrival of rain and colder air
How windy? (On the Munros)
Gusty south-southwesterly 35-45mph. Easing later morning with a westerly shift, 20-25mph, perhaps lower for a time, orienting northwesterly later.
Effect of the wind on you?
Walking arduous in exposure with buffeting gusts and significant wind chill. An easing trend, may be fairly small for a period, though probably remains a nuisance on high terrain.
How Wet?
Drizzle early, more rain with time
Fine drizzle in cloud on high terrain from before dawn (starting damp on exposed rocks); rain arriving from the west, often light though a heavier band passes east afternoon. Turning to snow on tops with time.
Cloud on the hills?
Fairly extensive, particularly south
Cloud shrouds most terrain above 900m all day, lower on the southern slopes, often down to at least 600m. Slopes north of Cairngorm plateau will see the highest breaks, but through afternoon, cloud reaching middle slopes here too.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
20%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Some glimpses of sun on lower northern slopes of the Cairngorms, trending widely cloudy with time. Variable visibility though often poor due to fog, rain, and haze to the east.
How Cold? (at 900m)
4C from dawn, locally 5C northern slopes. Gradually lowering afternoon, 0C into evening, lowering further overnight. Feeling like -8 to -12C in the wind.
Freezing Level
Above the summits. Lowering with time to touch high summits, first in the west, then settling near 700m overnight, with frosts forming to lower sheltered terrain too.
Viewing Forecast For
Cairngorms NP and Monadhliath
Friday 6th March 2026
Last updated
Wed 4th Mar 26 at
4:13PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
Variable 10mph or less. Trending southwesterly, rising with time to 15mph by evening, strengthening overnight.
Effect of the wind on you?
Negligible during daylight.
How Wet?
Precipitation not expected
Cloud on the hills?
Little or none
Some ragged cloud at various elevations lingering from before dawn, including mist in sheltered glens and corries. Cloud lifts and dissipates after daybreak for clear hills.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
90%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Some early high cloud, this clearing for extensive sunshine. Excellent visibility.
How Cold? (at 900m)
-1C, rising to 0 or +1C most hills during daylight, up to 1C on northern Cairngorm slopes, rising further overnight.
Freezing Level
Around 800m, though frosts to lower slopes and glens at dawn; slightly rising during daylight, above summits overnight.
Viewing Forecast For
Cairngorms NP and Monadhliath
Saturday 7th March 2026
Last updated
Wed 4th Mar 26 at
4:13PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
Southerly 15 to 25mph, locally gusty in places, especially to north of Cairngorms.
Effect of the wind on you?
Fairly small, but locally gusty spots may be more uncomfortable.
How Wet?
Precipitation not expected
Cloud on the hills?
Hardly any
Possible fragments around some south-facing slopes for a time, but most mountains likely clear.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
90%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Mostly sunny Visibility excellent.
How Cold? (at 900m)
4C, but some lower slopes colder in the morning; small change with added height.
Freezing Level
Slight frost some glens and sheltered higher areas after dawn, but lifting above freezing to the tops.
Planning Outlook
Higher pressure extends back across the country to bring dry conditions on Saturday, feeling mild in sunshine by day after a chilly start. More cloud by Sunday as weak fronts encroach in from the west, some drizzly rain moving into western Scotland. Patchy rain likely in the west at least early in the new week, likely dropping back just below freezing on the Munros for a time with some snowfall on higher areas. Winds fairly light early week, then a risk of strengthening southwesterlies later in the week; changeable weather conditions with spells of rain coming in from the Atlantic. Remaining old snow cover on Scottish mountains stays largely consolidated with little change, only very patchy snow remains around highest tops in England and Wales.