Cairngorms NP and Monadhliath
Cairngorms National Park and Monadhliath. Also includes the Ben Alder area hills between Loch Ericht and Loch Laggan.
Friday's Forecast
Windy, walking impeded
Blustery conditions enough to give buffeting on higher terrain or affect balance on exposed ridges. 25 to 40mph.
Snow
Snowfall continuous or frequent over the mountains, beware of conditions becoming challenging on higher terrain. At lower elevations falling as rain.
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.
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.
Snow
Snowfall continuous or frequent over the mountains, beware of conditions becoming challenging on higher terrain. At lower elevations falling as rain.
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.
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
Friday 6th February 2026
Last updated
Thu 5th Feb 26 at
12:25PM
Summary for all mountain areas
Widely very poor conditions on the hills: upland gales, and persistent fog and rain, or on higher areas (widely Scottish Highlands) snow. But western Scotland, mainly westernmost slopes, often dry with higher cloud base (sometimes clearing). Wales: some improvement from south during day.
Headline for Cairngorms NP and Monadhliath
Upland gales; snow (whiteout). Persistent fog.
How windy? (On the Munros)
Easterly 40 to locally 55mph, powerful gusts around higher mountains and particularly downslope (west) of major ridges and summits.
Effect of the wind on you?
Difficult mobility, particularly on high terrain, buffeting gusts knocking you off balance or over even on some lower slopes. Severe wind chill.
How Wet?
Snow mostly east of A9/. Whiteout.
East of A9: Almost constant snow (and blowing snow); whiteout, particularly Deeside. West of A9: Snow on and off, rarely heavy - although some blowing of previously fallen snow.
Cloud on the hills?
Blanket of fog most or all mountains
Persistent cloud base 350 to 500m most of region. West of A9, cloud base as high as 700m locally.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
Almost nil
Sunshine and air clarity?
Largely dull and particularly on eastern hills hazy (appalling visibility in snow).
How Cold? (at 900m)
-4C. Will feel as cold as -15 to -20C directly in the wind.
Freezing Level
400m, tending to rise marginally through daylight.
Viewing Forecast For
Cairngorms NP and Monadhliath
Saturday 7th February 2026
Last updated
Thu 5th Feb 26 at
12:25PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
Easterly 25 to 40mph at first, tending to lower to 15 to 25mph and veer into south-east.
Effect of the wind on you?
Walking fairly arduous at first with significant wind chill and buffeting, but tending to ease down from the south.
How Wet?
Patchy snow, may fizzle out later.
Patches of snow, rain below 500m, fairly persistent hills from Deeside to Drumochter, but may fizzle out later in the day, leaving isolated spots or flurries.
Cloud on the hills?
Extensive, lowest bases in east.
Persistent fog nearly everywhere from lower slopes up, although near and west of A9, most cloud above 450 to 600m.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
Almost nil
Sunshine and air clarity?
Dull and misty and murky, with very poor visibility in snow.
How Cold? (at 900m)
Around -1C.
Freezing Level
Poorly defined: 500 to 900m: generally only slow temperature drop with height.
Viewing Forecast For
Cairngorms NP and Monadhliath
Sunday 8th February 2026
Last updated
Thu 5th Feb 26 at
12:25PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
Between east and south typically 15 to 25mph.
Effect of the wind on you?
Mostly small
How Wet?
Little or no precipitation
Rain, or above 600 to 900m snow here and there, mostly amounting to very little, although possibly widespread precipitation at dawn clearing only slowly north during day.
Cloud on the hills?
All or nearly all mountains persistently covered.
Persistent fog most of region, but by afternoon perhaps breaks to 600m and here and there a few higher slopes briefly clearing or between cloud layers.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
Almost nil
Sunshine and air clarity?
Widely dull, misty or murky.
How Cold? (at 900m)
0 or 1C
Freezing Level
800 to 1050m. although nearly all terrain frozen.
Planning Outlook
Overall little change in conditions over the coming week: the mountains extensively foggy, precipitation from time to time (although lower total rainfall in eastern Scotland and Wales than recently) and often strong southeast or easterly wind. However, a slight rise in temperature will result in thawing of lying snow from southern Scotland southwards and some thawing up to around 900, sometimes 1050m Scottish Highlands - although the chance of the return of low freezing level toward the middle of next week.