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.
Patchwork of cloud and sun
Dry most or all day. A mix of cloud and sunshine. Occasional cloud banks drifting over higher slopes, lifting above the tops.
Chilly
Air temperature typically 0 to 5C on higher summits. Feeling distinctly chilly on tops when stationary or where exposed to wind. Take appropriate 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.
Patchwork of cloud and sun
Dry most or all day. A mix of cloud and sunshine. Occasional cloud banks drifting over higher slopes, lifting above the tops.
Chilly
Air temperature typically 0 to 5C on higher summits. Feeling distinctly chilly on tops when stationary or where exposed to wind. Take appropriate layers.
Viewing Forecast For
Cairngorms NP and Monadhliath
Wednesday 22nd April 2026
Last updated
Tue 21st Apr 26 at
4:00PM
Summary for all mountain areas
Easterly winds, very gusty around higher tops and downslope to the west, strongest over England and particularly Wales, where gale-force in places. Dry overall, sunshine all day in western areas, whilst patchy cloud around eastern hills will tend to thin and retreat away to the coast.
Headline for Cairngorms NP and Monadhliath
Gusty wind. Cloud breaking to give increasing sun.
How windy? (On the Munros)
Easterly 15-20mph, but local gusty spots 25mph, typically strongest south and west of Cairngorm plateau.
Effect of the wind on you?
Fairly small, but locally uncomfortable gusts, not just on higher slopes. Feeling chilly in exposure.
How Wet?
No precipitation expected
Cloud on the hills?
Patches some mid-upper slopes
Some cloud banks early in the day, mostly toward the north and east, patchier westwards; base around 600-700m, whilst tops above 1100m likely poke above the cloud. Tending to disperse.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
80% rising above 90%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Sunshine and broken cloud around some hills for a time; lower eastern areas may be under cloudier skies for a few hours. Visibility excellent out of cloud.
How Cold? (at 900m)
0 or 1C rising to 4C afternoon, locally warmer toward Ben Alder. Feeling sub-zero directly in the wind.
Freezing Level
Around freezing on higher slopes in the morning, also frost in glens at dawn. Rising above freezing to tops.
Viewing Forecast For
Cairngorms NP and Monadhliath
Thursday 23rd April 2026
Last updated
Tue 21st Apr 26 at
4:00PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
South-southeasterly 10-15mph or less.
Effect of the wind on you?
Small.
How Wet?
No precipitation expected
Cloud on the hills?
None expected
Patchy fog some glens early morning, perhaps local patchy low cloud on lowest eastern hill slopes, fragments may drift briefly upslope, but all dispersing.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
Practically certain
Sunshine and air clarity?
Mostly sunny, possibly thin high cloud. Visibility excellent.
How Cold? (at 900m)
5C rising to 9C, locally warmer during afternoon. (Glens start cooler, then locally approach 20C near Glenmore afternoon).
Freezing Level
Frost in glens and some sheltered higher areas at dawn. Otherwise above freezing to the summits.
Viewing Forecast For
Cairngorms NP and Monadhliath
Friday 24th April 2026
Last updated
Tue 21st Apr 26 at
4:00PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
Variable or northerly, 10mph or less.
Effect of the wind on you?
Negligible.
How Wet?
No rain expected
Cloud on the hills?
Some early low mist, otherwise clear
Mist in some glens at dawn, briefly lifts upslope after sunrise, but soon largely dissipates for cloud-free hills.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
Practically certain
Sunshine and air clarity?
Mostly sunny, some thin high cloud around. Very good visibility.
How Cold? (at 900m)
8C rising to 10 to 12C. (Glens start much cooler, then approach 20C afternoon).
Freezing Level
Above the summits. At dawn, slight frost in some glens and possibly sheltered elevated hollows.
Planning Outlook
A settled spell of weather onward through late week into the weekend, with increasingly warmer temperatures on the hills, reaching 10C+ on many tops. Valleys and some sheltered higher areas will start with a risk of frost but increasingly by the afternoons many valleys will warm up toward 20C, particularly in the west. Briefly cooler air may extend back into northeastern areas over the weekend. Strong April sunshine widely across the mountains, beware risk of sunburn. Misty starts in some valleys. After a gusty easterly during midweek, the wind will drop light for most places by late this week. A settled springtime outlook is likely for next week.