Southeastern Highlands
The southern Highlands as far west as the Callander area and north to Loch Ericht, Drumochter and summits near Glenshee ski-centre (summits within the historic county of Perthshire). Also Ochils and Angus hills.
Thursday's Forecast
Gale force, walking arduous
Considerable buffeting, walking into the wind will be strenuous on exposed terrain, stronger gusts may knock you off your feet. 40 to 55mph.
Snow and hail showers
Periods of bright or sunny conditions mixed with showers or flurries of snow and hail. Visibility may change rapidly from excellent to very poor.
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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Gale force, walking arduous
Considerable buffeting, walking into the wind will be strenuous on exposed terrain, stronger gusts may knock you off your feet. 40 to 55mph.
Snow and hail showers
Periods of bright or sunny conditions mixed with showers or flurries of snow and hail. Visibility may change rapidly from excellent to very poor.
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
Southeastern Highlands
Thursday 1st January 2026
Last updated
Wed 31st Dec 25 at
3:55PM
Summary for all mountain areas
Cold north-northwesterly winds, widely gale force over the mountains, difficult conditions with severe chill factor on Scottish high tops. Showery snow and hail frequent in northern Scotland. Rare showers central Scotland and northern England. Early rain and hill snow followed by showers in Wales.
Headline for Southeastern Highlands
Gales on mountains, snow and hail showers.
How windy? (On the Munros)
Northwesterly 40 to 55mph, strongest eastern tops in the morning, but strengthening widely into middle of day, over 60mph at times on high tops; squally gusts in showers.
Effect of the wind on you?
Arduous walking conditions in exposure, difficult with constant buffeting high tops, often knocking you off balance. Significant wind chill, severe higher up.
How Wet?
Brief snow showers
Often dry much of southern Highlands, but well scattered showers coming in from the northwest, falling as snow flurries to lower slopes, chance of brief hail.
Cloud on the hills?
Mostly high tops with breaks
Patches moving over higher slopes mostly above 900-1000m, breaking for periods above most tops.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
60%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Occasional sunshine, some high cloud. Visibility often very good, but reduced briefly in snow and cloud.
How Cold? (at 900m)
-3C, falling to -5C into night. Wind chill feeling like -15C, to -20C higher Cairngorms.
Freezing Level
400 to 600m; staying near to freezing all day in some glens, soon sub-zero from dusk all elevations.
Viewing Forecast For
Southeastern Highlands
Friday 2nd January 2026
Last updated
Wed 31st Dec 25 at
3:55PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
Northerly 30 to 40mph, up to 50mph early morning eastern tops, and again into night.
Effect of the wind on you?
Severe wind chill over the mountains. Frequent buffeting in exposure on higher terrain.
How Wet?
Local snow and hail showers
Scattered showers coming in from the north, most frequent near and east of Glenshee, falling as snow or hail to lowest slopes. More often dry central highlands.
Cloud on the hills?
Varied patches on tops
Cloud likely to come and go above 900 to 1000m, sometimes 700m if in showers locally. Some breaks to highest tops.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
60%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Bursts of sunshine. Visibility excellent away from showers, but very poor where snow falls or blows around and also if in cloud.
How Cold? (at 900m)
-6C. Wind chill feeling like -17 to -20C on tops.
Freezing Level
Terrain widely frozen, sub-zero all day glens upward.
Viewing Forecast For
Southeastern Highlands
Saturday 3rd January 2026
Last updated
Wed 31st Dec 25 at
3:55PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
North to northwesterly 35 to 50mph, strongest on eastern tops, squally gusts in showers.
Effect of the wind on you?
Continued severe wind chill over the mountains. Frequent buffeting on exposed terrain, challenging on eastern tops.
How Wet?
Locally frequent snow and hail
A stream of showers coming in from the north, mainly affecting areas near/east of Glenshee, snow and hail falling and accumulating into the glens. Scattered showers elsewhere, few toward Ochils.
Cloud on the hills?
Mostly tops toward north/east
Most frequent on tops north of Pitlochry and to east of Glenshee, mostly above 800-900m. Occasional patches grazing tops elsewhere, but often clear southward.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
50% N/E, to 70% furthest south.
Sunshine and air clarity?
Bursts of sunshine, more often sunny toward the central lowlands. Visibility excellent, but reduced to locally very poor if in snow and cloud.
How Cold? (at 900m)
-5 or -6C (to -8C at 1200m). Wind chill feeling like -20C in exposure on tops.
Freezing Level
Terrain widely frozen, staying sub-zero from glens upward.
Planning Outlook
Terrain extensively frozen onward into the weekend and early next week at least; sub-zero temperatures from the glens upward in Scotland and some valleys inland in northern England. Substantial fresh snow accumulations in the North West Highlands and Cairngorms, heavy showers streaming in from the north also containing hail. Largely dry and sunny from central Scotland to northern England. Hail and snow showers will run into north and west Wales from the sea. Bitter northerly winds, up to gale force higher tops, tending to lessen into Sunday. Some fluctuation of freezing level during next week, but some fronts moving in from northwest likely bring snowfall to hills at times more widely.