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
Moderate breeze, locally gusty
A noticeable breeze, feeling cool where exposed on tops. Locally may be gusty, but unlikely to affect walking progress. 15-25mph.
Patchy cloud and winter sun
Mostly dry with a mix of cloud and sun, patchy cloud occasionally covering some mountain slopes.
Whiteout
Fog and lying snow over the mountains, possibly with falling or blowing snow, very disorientating. Map and compass essential, beware of unseen hazards.
Cold
Air temperature below 0C all day on higher mountains. Significant chill factor if exposed to strong winds. Suitable protective clothing required.
Terrain widely frozen
All ground frozen from lower elevations upward, with hard frost or snow cover. Beware of icy surfaces on lower and higher terrain. Appropriate footwear needed, crampons may be necessary.
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Moderate breeze, locally gusty
A noticeable breeze, feeling cool where exposed on tops. Locally may be gusty, but unlikely to affect walking progress. 15-25mph.
Patchy cloud and winter sun
Mostly dry with a mix of cloud and sun, patchy cloud occasionally covering some mountain slopes.
Whiteout
Fog and lying snow over the mountains, possibly with falling or blowing snow, very disorientating. Map and compass essential, beware of unseen hazards.
Cold
Air temperature below 0C all day on higher mountains. Significant chill factor if exposed to strong winds. Suitable protective clothing required.
Terrain widely frozen
All ground frozen from lower elevations upward, with hard frost or snow cover. Beware of icy surfaces on lower and higher terrain. Appropriate footwear needed, crampons may be necessary.
Viewing Forecast For
Cairngorms NP and Monadhliath
Thursday 8th January 2026
Last updated
Wed 7th Jan 26 at
4:15PM
Summary for all mountain areas
Fairly benign conditions, breezier in northern Scotland. Local snow flurries, patchy cloud and some sun. A developing system to the southwest moves into Wales with heavy snow setting in increasingly widely later, extending into the Peak District by evening, accompanied by gales.
Headline for Cairngorms NP and Monadhliath
Light-moderate wind. Light flurries, patchy cloud banks.
How windy? (On the Munros)
South or southwesterly, 10 to 25mph, strongest northern Cairngorms and higher Monadhliath in the morning.
Effect of the wind on you?
Fairly small, but noticeable chill factor and blustery around some northern tops in the morning.
How Wet?
Rare light snow
Often dry, but possible snow flurries locally from time to time.
Cloud on the hills?
Varied cloud around hills
Patchy cloud around upper slopes and corries, in places to some mid-slopes. Better breaks northwards. Some mist lower down.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
40%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Varied cloud and sun, likely better east. Visibility very good in places, but beware risk of locally difficult navigation if in fog over snow cover on tops.
How Cold? (at 900m)
-4C. Where exposed to wind, feeling like -10C.
Freezing Level
Most terrain frozen and snow covered, many glens stay sub-zero. Some lower sunlit slopes rise just above freezing.
Viewing Forecast For
Cairngorms NP and Monadhliath
Friday 9th January 2026
Last updated
Wed 7th Jan 26 at
4:15PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
Variable direction, mostly below 15-20mph, in places often little wind.
Effect of the wind on you?
Likely small.
How Wet?
Local flurries
Snow flurries mostly over eastern hills, may fall as sleet some lower slopes; likely amounting to little.
Cloud on the hills?
Varied patches
Patchy cloud clinging to some upper slopes and corries, filling in locally if snow occurs, but expect clearer spells over mountains toward/west of A9.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
60%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Any sun weak due to a veil of high cloud. Visibility very good over many hills, some haze or mist in glens.
How Cold? (at 900m)
-2 or -3C.
Freezing Level
Terrain frozen into the glens, some slopes around 300-500m just above freezing point.
Viewing Forecast For
Cairngorms NP and Monadhliath
Saturday 10th January 2026
Last updated
Wed 7th Jan 26 at
4:15PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
Southerly or variable 15 to 30mph, risk gusty in places on some downslopes from northern corries and higher tops.
Effect of the wind on you?
Noticeably blustery in places, locally buffeting gusts not just on tops; considerable wind chill.
How Wet?
Rare flurries
Often dry, scattered snow flurries, falling to lower slopes, possibly sleety in places.
Cloud on the hills?
Varied patches
Patches or fragments of cloud around some slopes and tops, may linger around corries. Some mist possible into glens.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
60%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Occasional sun. Visibility mostly very good.
How Cold? (at 900m)
-2 or -3C. Feeling like -10 to -13C if in gusty wind.
Freezing Level
Terrain widely frozen from glens upward, some slopes around 400-500m just above freezing point.
Planning Outlook
Terrain remaining widely frozen into the weekend, extensive deep snow cover for Highlands, less nearer the central belt. A fresh good covering for Wales and south Pennines from Thursday night too. Quiet weather for Saturday daytime. Then into Sunday, southerly winds strengthen to gales - as a frontal system approaches, snow then freezing rain is likely. A rise of freezing level from the southwest - some thawing develops, rising just above freezing toward higher slopes; more pronounced thawing in England and Wales to the tops. Uncertain patterns next week, colder air may return across Scotland, whilst further south often generally milder. Some further hill snow mainly in Scotland.