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.
Whiteout
Fog and lying snow over the mountains, possibly with falling or blowing snow, very disorientating. Map and compass essential, beware of unseen hazards.
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.
Whiteout
Fog and lying snow over the mountains, possibly with falling or blowing snow, very disorientating. Map and compass essential, beware of unseen hazards.
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 4th December 2025
Last updated
Wed 3rd Dec 25 at
4:25PM
Summary for all mountain areas
A complex weather situation with areas of frequent or persistent rain and hill snow, focused from the southern Highlands to northern England; often strong SE'ly winds. Further north in the Highlands, generally drier with higher cloud breaks. In Wales, becoming showery westerlies with risk of hail.
Headline for Cairngorms NP and Monadhliath
Windy, gusty. Patchy rain, hill snow, low cloud south.
How windy? (On the Munros)
Southeasterly 30-35mph, to 40mph higher areas, risk gusts 50mph Cairngorm plateau, also gusty locally downslope to north. During afternoon, starting to ease a little in areas near Drumochter.
Effect of the wind on you?
Strenuous walking in exposure, frequent buffeting higher Cairngorms and gusts affecting balance on some slopes; an easing trend west. Considerable wind chill.
How Wet?
Patchy rain and upland snow, mostly south
Periods of rain, snow flurries above 800-900m, mostly southern Cairngorms from Ben Alder to Deeside, frequent or persistent for periods. Smaller amounts and more often dry northern slopes of Cairngorms and into Monadhliath.
Cloud on the hills?
Mostly tops and south aspects, lowest east
High Cairngorms largely shrouded with banks down southern slopes, lowest Deeside where bases will reach 600-700m, lower in precipitation; some variability. Patchy but broken cloud will drift around northern slopes, best clear periods northern Monadhliath.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
30%; 60% north Monadhliath.
Sunshine and air clarity?
Glimpses of sun mostly northernmost slopes, cloudier south. Very good visibility north, but mistier southern hills, difficult navigation if in cloud over snow cover.
How Cold? (at 900m)
0 or 1C with some variability, typically coolest central highlands. Feeling like -10C or cooler in direct wind.
Freezing Level
900-1100m, lowest near Ben Alder; may vary, locally higher some north slopes.
Viewing Forecast For
Cairngorms NP and Monadhliath
Friday 5th December 2025
Last updated
Wed 3rd Dec 25 at
4:25PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
Southerly, shifting southeasterly, 30-35mph. Rising to 45-55mph afternoon, further deteriorating into night.
Effect of the wind on you?
Comfortable walking affected from dawn, deteriorating to difficult conditions into and overnight. Significant wind chill.
How Wet?
Patchy sleet/snow south and east
A few patches of sleet/snow, mostly south Cairngorm slopes and Deeside. Rain (snow on high terrain) sets in widely after dark.
Cloud on the hills?
South and east slopes often shrouded
Fairly persistent banks of cloud from Deeside to Drumochter and south Monadhliath, bases between 500-700m. Northern slopes often clear though a few patches will drift onto eastern areas.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
20% high tops and south, 60% northern hills
Sunshine and air clarity?
Some morning sun in the north, becoming widely overcast. Very good visibility out of cloud, particularly north.
How Cold? (at 900m)
0C; will rise a few degrees in the late overnight hours. Feeling like -15C in wind.
Freezing Level
Poorly defined, 600-800m though frost at lower elevations, including in glens. Rising overnight.
Viewing Forecast For
Cairngorms NP and Monadhliath
Saturday 6th December 2025
Last updated
Wed 3rd Dec 25 at
4:25PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
Southeasterly 15 to 25mph, gusty in places mainly around higher Cairngorms and northern corries, risk local 30-35mph.
Effect of the wind on you?
May be fairly small most areas, but possibly more blustery in places and suddenly gusty not just on the tops.
How Wet?
Patchy rain
Rain on and off, most frequent toward south and east Cairngorms NP, may be often damp all day; sleet highest tops. Patchier toward Strathspey, may be often dry toward Monadhliath.
Cloud on the hills?
Fairly extensive, highest north
Covering the mountains most likely all day, to mid-elevations southern areas from Drumochter around to Deeside, banks on some lower slopes. Higher cloud base northwest of Cairngorms, breaks to 900m.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
20%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Rare glimpses of sun mainly Strathspey. Misty south and eastern areas, better visibility toward Monadhliath, good below cloud.
How Cold? (at 900m)
3C. Wind chill feeling like -5C risk near -10C locally if exposed to stronger speeds.
Freezing Level
1300m.
Planning Outlook
Generally unsettled through the weekend and into next week with areas of low pressure circulating near to the British Isles. Temperatures often near to freezing point on higher Scottish mountains, at times on tops elsewhere, though some thawing will occur periodically even to high tops in the Highlands. A complex series of frontal systems bringing spells of rain and some upland snow, mixed with showers with hail mostly near western coasts. Wind speeds will also vary, often south to southwesterlies, at times reaching gale force on tops, but intermittent lulls.