Cairngorms NP and Monadhliath
Cairngorms National Park and Monadhliath. Also includes the Ben Alder area hills between Loch Ericht and Loch Laggan.
Wednesday'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 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.
Cool to mild
Air temperature 5 to 10C on higher terrain. Comfortable temperatures on lower terrain, but feeling chilly if exposed to wind higher up, especially if stationary. Pack extra layers.
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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 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.
Cool to mild
Air temperature 5 to 10C on higher terrain. Comfortable temperatures on lower terrain, but feeling chilly if exposed to wind higher up, especially if stationary. Pack extra layers.
Viewing Forecast For
Cairngorms NP and Monadhliath
Wednesday 17th June 2026
Last updated
Tue 16th Jun 26 at
4:30PM
Summary for all mountain areas
Southwesterly winds will be fresh to strong over the mountains. Rain widely fairly persistent in the morning, more showery for Scotland into afternoon, fading for northern England and Wales, but patchy rain lingers in south Wales. Cloud shrouding most high terrain, lowest in west, some breaks afternoon.
Headline for Cairngorms NP and Monadhliath
Increasingly breezy. Rain then showers, cloud breaks north.
How windy? (On the Munros)
Southwesterly 20mph or less in the morning, rising in afternoon to 25-30mph; in places stronger gusts over higher Cairngorms afternoon.
Effect of the wind on you?
Fairly small in morning, but increasingly some blustery slopes, may make walking more strenuous on exposed high terrain during afternoon. Feeling cool in exposure.
How Wet?
Rain mostly south, then scattered showers.
Rain fairly widely persistent early morning, heaviest toward Drumochter for an hour or so, easing. Breaking up into middle of day, then a few showers, drier intervals afternoon, but odd heavier showers drifting northeastward through afternoon-evening.
Cloud on the hills?
Most widely morning, lowest south, breaks form north
Varying on higher slopes mostly above 900-1000m, most extensive in morning rain, and lower to 700-800m around Glen Garry to Ben Alder. Base tending to rise, afternoon breaks toward upper slopes best in areas north and east.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
30%, rising to 60% north & east.
Sunshine and air clarity?
Fairly cloudy, glimpses of sun, mainly north and eastern areas. Visibility poor in early rain and cloud, improving to become often very good away from showers.
How Cold? (at 900m)
8C rising to 11C out of cloud in afternoon. Feeling near to freezing directly in wind.
Freezing Level
Above the summits.
Viewing Forecast For
Cairngorms NP and Monadhliath
Thursday 18th June 2026
Last updated
Tue 16th Jun 26 at
4:30PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
South-southwesterly 20 to 30mph, occasional stronger gusts around tops.
Effect of the wind on you?
Starting to affect comfortable walking over higher exposed tops and ridges.
How Wet?
Patchy rain and drizzle
Periods of light rain and drizzle most common Ben Alder to Drumochter area. Occasional pulses of rain extending northwards, an odd burst of rain.
Cloud on the hills?
Capping tops, breaks north
Most persistent over southern hills, often capping areas near Drumochter above 800-1000m. Higher cloud base northward, some breaks above high tops.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
30%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Fairly cloudy, brighter northeastward with some sun breaking through. Visibility very good below cloud.
How Cold? (at 900m)
8 or 9C, rising to 11C out of cloud mainly north and eastern areas. Feeling near 0C in stronger wind.
Freezing Level
Above the summits.
Viewing Forecast For
Cairngorms NP and Monadhliath
Friday 19th June 2026
Last updated
Tue 16th Jun 26 at
4:30PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
South-southwesterly, rising soon from dawn to 40-60mph, gusts 70mph high Cairngorms; lessening only by evening.
Effect of the wind on you?
Difficult conditions on high terrain, gusts may knock you over, sudden buffeting on north downslopes. Considerable wind chill.
How Wet?
Frequent heavy or thundery rain
Bursts of rain extending northwards from overnight into morning, further pulses of rain likely into afternoon; some more constant heavy falls. Risk of thunder. May start to break up only late in day.
Cloud on the hills?
Varied, mostly south, widely around rain
Cloud banks most persistent southern areas, may cover hills much of day. Northern areas clear for a time, widely filling in and lowering over high terrain in rain, ragged patches to lower slopes.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
40%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Any sun weak through high cloud, largely overcast. Visibility good where dry, but a haze likely, murkier around rain.
How Cold? (at 900m)
Humid 12 to 14C, then toward/after dusk may drop rapidly to 6C. Feeling below freezing in wind all day.
Freezing Level
Above the summits.
Planning Outlook
Humid southwesterly winds persist late this week, reaching gale-force over hills - affecting northern England and Wales on Thursday, then Scotland by Friday. Periods of rain, some heavy falls with possible thundery bursts mixed in. Low cloud most persistent in the west. Less windy, but still breezy into Saturday in Scotland, feeling less humid for most, but western Scottish hills at least stay cloud capped and with showery rain. Sunday is more uncertain, but a risk of some further rain pushing in from the southwest - warmer again over England and Wales. A mixed west-southwesterly pattern into next week, rain and low cloud most common in western Scotland, drier with higher cloud eastwards and more often dry for England & Wales. Near average temperatures, may rise late week in south.