Cairngorms NP and Monadhliath
Cairngorms National Park and Monadhliath. Also includes the Ben Alder area hills between Loch Ericht and Loch Laggan.
Monday's Forecast
Severe gale or storm, mobility very difficult
Severe conditions on the mountains, any movement very challenging, you may be blown over. 55-70mph+
Snow flurries
Occasional light snow flurries, sleet or rain lower elevations. Amounts little more than nuisance value, but locally more persistent and reducing visibility for periods.
Cold
Air temperature below 0C all day on higher mountains. Significant chill factor if exposed to strong winds. Suitable protective clothing required.
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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Severe gale or storm, mobility very difficult
Severe conditions on the mountains, any movement very challenging, you may be blown over. 55-70mph+
Snow flurries
Occasional light snow flurries, sleet or rain lower elevations. Amounts little more than nuisance value, but locally more persistent and reducing visibility for periods.
Cold
Air temperature below 0C all day on higher mountains. Significant chill factor if exposed to strong winds. Suitable protective clothing required.
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
Monday 30th March 2026
Last updated
Sun 29th Mar 26 at
4:00PM
Summary for all mountain areas
Gale-force west-northwesterlies, severe over higher Scottish mountains toward the north, squally gusts around showers of snow, also hail toward north early in the day. Light showers of rain or upland snow tending to fade with time, some breaks in cloud forming, best eastwards.
Headline for Cairngorms NP and Monadhliath
Gales, severe on high tops. Snow showers, fading.
How windy? (On the Munros)
West to northwesterly, 45 to 60mph, strongest toward north and in the morning, gusts over 70mph higher Cairngorms.
Effect of the wind on you?
Challenging conditions, very difficult mobility especially morning, gusts could knock you over. Significant wind chill.
How Wet?
Snow showers mostly morning
Occasional showers of snow mostly areas near and west of the A9 in the morning. Becoming fewer well-scattered and lighter showers into afternoon, mostly rain below 600-700m.
Cloud on the hills?
Mostly high tops, clearer east
Patchy cloud over higher terrain above 900-1000m, most frequent on tops toward west in morning, tending to rise. Breaks to tops in east and more widely with time. Will then lower from southwest into night.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
60% west, to 80% east
Sunshine and air clarity?
Occasional sun, best toward east in morning. Visibility mostly good, briefly poor in snow.
How Cold? (at 900m)
-2C rising to +1 or 2C afternoon, then higher after dark. Wind chill feeling like -15 to -18C.
Freezing Level
700m from dawn, slight frost in sheltered glens; rising to 1000m afternoon, slightly higher eastern areas, then lifting above the summits into night.
Viewing Forecast For
Cairngorms NP and Monadhliath
Tuesday 31st March 2026
Last updated
Sun 29th Mar 26 at
4:00PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
West to southwesterly, 25 to 35mph up to 40mph high Cairngorms, gusty in places around exposed high tops and ridges.
Effect of the wind on you?
Blustery over high terrain, affecting comfortable walking and balance on some exposed ridges. Considerable wind chill.
How Wet?
Patchy drizzle
A little drizzle in the air at times, most common toward and west of the A9, amounting to little in total. Often dry eastern Cairngorms NP.
Cloud on the hills?
Extensive higher areas, breaks east
Shrouding most hills in the morning above 800-1000m, lowest toward west, some lower banks for a time. Tending to rise and break with time, best toward east. Banks likely linger above 900m near Ben Alder.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
20% rising to 50% easternmost tops.
Sunshine and air clarity?
Glimpses of sun mostly eastern areas. Poor visibility on much higher terrain at least in morning, becoming good where cloud lifts and breaks.
How Cold? (at 900m)
4 or 5C. Feeling like -5 to -8C directly in the wind.
Freezing Level
Close to freezing only on higher Cairngorm plateau, but generally above the tops.
Viewing Forecast For
Cairngorms NP and Monadhliath
Wednesday 1st April 2026
Last updated
Sun 29th Mar 26 at
4:00PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
Southwesterly 35 to 50mph, stronger gusts for a time - may last much of day, but later possible switch northerly 20-30mph.
Effect of the wind on you?
Arduous walking conditions with buffeting gusts high tops, locally downslope to east, may lessen later. Significant wind chill.
How Wet?
Rain developing, increasingly snow
Patchy rain or drizzly showers, developing with time into more persistent rain western areas, then more widely, risk turning heavier, later turning to snow on higher terrain, possibly to lowering elevations.
Cloud on the hills?
Fairly extensive higher areas
Covering higher slopes particularly from Cairngorm plateau westwards most or all day above 800-1000m, lowest in constant precipitation. Higher breaks eastward.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
20%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Largely cloudy, local brighter moments toward Deeside. Poor visibility in rain, very poor if in snow and cloud on tops; locally better in east.
How Cold? (at 900m)
4C in morning, tending to drop, to 0C during day, later -2C northern areas. Feeling like -10C in exposure to wind.
Freezing Level
Above all summits for several hours at least, then dropping onto high tops, later possibly more rapidly to 600m in north.
Planning Outlook
A drop of temperature is expected again across Scotland during Wednesday as a band of rain then upland snow drifts slowly southwards. Atlantic weather patterns and west-southwesterly winds likely continue into the start of the Easter period at least, a risk of further gales over the mountains. Temperature may remain variable, possibly often cold over the mountains with snow and hail showers at times to lower elevations at least in Scotland, sometimes more widely, mixed with some spells of rain - precipitation generally most frequent west and northwest. Some windows of drier and brighter conditions, but day-to-day detail is uncertain.