Cairngorms NP and Monadhliath
Cairngorms National Park and Monadhliath. Also includes the Ben Alder area hills between Loch Ericht and Loch Laggan.
Today'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.
Chilly
Air temperature near or just above freezing on higher summits. Feeling distinctly chilly on tops when stationary or where exposed to wind. Take appropriate layers.
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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.
Chilly
Air temperature near or just above freezing 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
Monday 24th March 2025
Last updated
Sun 23rd Mar 25 at
4:08PM
Summary for all mountain areas
Westerly winds strengthening, reaching gale force over tops in the Highlands. Rain moves into northwest Scotland, setting in heavier during afternoon; patchy rain extending southeastwards later. Dry all daylight for England, Wales and southern Scotland, with good amounts of sunshine.
Headline for Cairngorms NP and Monadhliath
Increasingly windy, later gales tops. Patchy rain later.
How windy? (On the Munros)
West to southwesterly, a lull of around 20mph morning, then strengthening toward 35mph, later 45mph on higher tops.
Effect of the wind on you?
Fairly small, then walking becoming increasingly arduous and wind chill significant where exposed.
How Wet?
A little rain later in day
Morning: Rain not expected. Afternoon: A little rain spreading from west, mostly hills near/west of A9, only spots in the wind further south/east.
Cloud on the hills?
Many summits clearing; lowering later west
Cloud coming and going above 900m until mid morning, then for several hours patchy cloud will be confined above 1100 to 1300m. Lowering over tops near & west of A9 later in the daytime.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
70%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Patches of sun will gradually give way as cloud thickens from west. Excellent visibility.
How Cold? (at 900m)
3C, rising slowly through the day to 5C. Wind chill feeling as cold as -8C as speeds increase.
Freezing Level
Above the summits.
Viewing Forecast For
Cairngorms NP and Monadhliath
Tuesday 25th March 2025
Last updated
Sun 23rd Mar 25 at
4:08PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
Westerly 25 to 35mph, at times 40mph higher Cairngorms.
Effect of the wind on you?
Affecting comfortable walking over higher terrain and balance on exposed ridges. Considerable wind chill.
How Wet?
Dry all day
Remnants of overnight rain clearing before dawn to leave a dry day.
Cloud on the hills?
Very little
Brief patches over higher slopes in the morning, lifting to be mostly above higher summits.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
70%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Patchwork of sun, best toward Deeside. Visibility excellent.
How Cold? (at 900m)
3 to 5C. Wind chill feeling like -5 to -8C.
Freezing Level
Close to highest summits in the morning, rising further above the tops.
Viewing Forecast For
Cairngorms NP and Monadhliath
Wednesday 26th March 2025
Last updated
Sun 23rd Mar 25 at
4:08PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
Southwesterly, strengthening 35 to 45mph, risk 60mph higher Cairngorms toward evening.
Effect of the wind on you?
Deteriorating to make walking increasingly arduous, later difficult on higher terrain, wind chill becoming significant.
How Wet?
Rain unlikely until evening
Risk of rain developing from the west by dusk onward into night.
Cloud on the hills?
Mostly clear, local patches
Patchy mist lower slopes from dawn. Some cloud banks drifting over upper slopes, but many hills often clear. Toward evening, risk lowering cloud starting to fill in from west.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
80%
Sunshine and air clarity?
A veil of high cloud with a little weak sun; cloud tending to thicken from west. Visibility very good.
How Cold? (at 900m)
1 to 4C. Wind chill feeling like -10C, nearer -15C as speeds increase.
Freezing Level
Close to freezing some sheltered higher and lower slopes at dawn; otherwise above the summits.
Planning Outlook
A mixed westerly regime for the next week to ten days - fronts coming in from the west bringing spells of rain, interspersed with better days under ridges of high pressure. Rain most frequent in western Scotland. Frequently windy, periods of gale force wind over the mountains. Temperature varied, sometimes just below freezing on higher Scottish summits, with some showers of snow at times on the Munros - chillier more widely by Friday into Saturday as wind turns northwesterly for a time.