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
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.
Heavy snow and hail showers, isolated lightning
Showery precipitation, often heavy, may merge to become constant for periods. A mix of snow and hail often falling to lower slopes. Risk of very localised thunder and lightning.
Whiteout
Fog and lying snow over the mountains, possibly with falling or blowing snow, very disorientating. Map and compass essential, beware of unseen hazards.
Very cold
Significant wintry conditions - below freezing from lower elevations up all day, -7 or -8C highest summits, feeling like -20C or below on high tops due to wind chill. Frostbite and hypothermia risk. Substantial protective clothing is required.
Snowdrifts
Considerable lying snow over the mountains, with substantial drifting in places.
Click an icon for more information or click here for a key to all icons.
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.
Heavy snow and hail showers, isolated lightning
Showery precipitation, often heavy, may merge to become constant for periods. A mix of snow and hail often falling to lower slopes. Risk of very localised thunder and lightning.
Whiteout
Fog and lying snow over the mountains, possibly with falling or blowing snow, very disorientating. Map and compass essential, beware of unseen hazards.
Very cold
Significant wintry conditions - below freezing from lower elevations up all day, -7 or -8C highest summits, feeling like -20C or below on high tops due to wind chill. Frostbite and hypothermia risk. Substantial protective clothing is required.
Snowdrifts
Considerable lying snow over the mountains, with substantial drifting in places.
Viewing Forecast For
Cairngorms NP and Monadhliath
Saturday 3rd January 2026
Last updated
Fri 2nd Jan 26 at
3:16PM
Summary for all mountain areas
Widespread sub-zero temperatures and wind, gales in northern England and Scotland; wind chill approaching -20C or lower on high summits. Near-constant snow showers in northern Scotland with snowdrifts building; snow showers into central/west Scotland and west Wales too. Mostly sunny southern Scotland and England.
Headline for Cairngorms NP and Monadhliath
Near-constant snow and gales; snowdrifts with whiteouts
How windy? (On the Munros)
North to northwesterly 45 to 55mph, strongest sustained speeds on Cairngorm high tops up to 60mph for periods; squally gusts in showers.
Effect of the wind on you?
Severe wind chill over the mountains, becoming extreme over the high Cairngorm plateau summits during strongest sustained wind. Challenging conditions, walking difficult on exposed high terrain.
How Wet?
Near-constant snow and hail
Ongoing heavy snow/hail showers from the north, merging into more persistent snow for periods, snow and hail falling and accumulating into the glens. Frequent whiteout over the mountains with risk of isolated thunder.
Cloud on the hills?
Fairly extensive higher areas
Often covering the mountains above 800m, bases as low as 600m in northern Cairngorms during heavy snowfalls. Higher and more varied bases southward, some breaks above 1000m more often.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
20% north, to 40% south.
Sunshine and air clarity?
Brief bursts of sun, mostly on lower slopes south of the Cairngorm plateau. Visibility often appalling due to snow falling or blowing and where also in cloud; but intermittently very good during clear moments.
How Cold? (at 900m)
-6C, though as cold as -9 or -10C on the highest Cairngorm plateau summits. Feeling like -23C in the wind on most slopes, though wind chill approaching -30C on very highest summits.
Freezing Level
Terrain widely frozen, staying sub-zero from glens upward.
Viewing Forecast For
Cairngorms NP and Monadhliath
Sunday 4th January 2026
Last updated
Fri 2nd Jan 26 at
3:16PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
North-northwesterly 35 to 45mph, strongest sustained speeds eastern tops, locally 50mph; squally gusts in showers.
Effect of the wind on you?
Continued severe wind chill over the mountains. Challenging conditions, arduous walking on snow cover.
How Wet?
Near-constant snow and hail
Ongoing heavy showers merging into more persistent snow coming in from the north, snow and hail falling and accumulating into the glens. Frequent whiteout over the mountains. Risk of isolated thunder.
Cloud on the hills?
Fairly extensive higher areas
Often covering the mountains above 800m, at times 600m in northern Cairngorms. Higher and more varied bases southward, some breaks above 1000m more often; high Cairngorms unlikely to clear.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
20% north, to 40% south.
Sunshine and air clarity?
Brief bursts of sun, best chance south. Visibility often appalling due to snow falling or blowing and where also in cloud; but intermittently very good.
How Cold? (at 900m)
-6C (to -8C above 1200m). Wind chill feeling like -22C, nearer -25C or colder on the high Cairngorm plateau.
Freezing Level
Terrain widely frozen, staying sub-zero from glens upward.
Viewing Forecast For
Cairngorms NP and Monadhliath
Monday 5th January 2026
Last updated
Fri 2nd Jan 26 at
3:16PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
Northerly 30-35mph, risk speeds to 40mph in exposure at times. Shifting northwesterly afternoon.
Effect of the wind on you?
Continued severe wind chill over the mountains. Arduous walking with buffeting gusts in exposure.
How Wet?
Near-constant snow showers
Ongoing heavy snow/hail showers from the north, merging into more constant snow northeast Cairngorms; extensive snow cover with frequent whiteout conditions on high ground.
Cloud on the hills?
Fairly extensive higher areas
Often covering the mountains above 800m, at times 600m in northern Cairngorms, lowest and most persistent east. Higher and more varied bases south of the Cairngorm plateau, some breaks above 1000m more often.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
20% north, to 40% south.
Sunshine and air clarity?
Brief bursts of sun, more frequent south. Visibility often appalling due to snow falling or blowing and where also in cloud; but intermittently very good.
How Cold? (at 900m)
-6C (to -9C above 1200m and at dawn in glens). Wind chill feeling as cold as -25C in exposure on Cairngorm plateau.
Freezing Level
Terrain widely frozen, staying sub-zero from glens upward.
Planning Outlook
Terrain extensively frozen into early next week; sub-zero temperatures from the glens upward in Scotland and increasingly into valleys in England and Wales. Heavy showers streaming into northern and coastal Scotland, some containing hail, most terrain covered in snow with substantial snowdrifts in the Northwest Highlands and Cairngorms. Largely dry and sunny in southern Scotland and England. Hail and snow showers will run into north and west Wales from the sea. Bitter northerly winds, up to gale force higher tops at times. More variable next week: some fluctuation of freezing level during next week, though most high terrain stays sub-zero, and as fronts come in from the west, upland snowfalls are possible more widely.