Cairngorms NP and Monadhliath
Cairngorms National Park and Monadhliath. Also includes the Ben Alder area hills between Loch Ericht and Loch Laggan.
Thursday's Forecast
Windy, walking impeded
Blustery conditions enough to give buffeting on higher terrain or affect balance on exposed ridges. 25 to 40mph.
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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Windy, walking impeded
Blustery conditions enough to give buffeting on higher terrain or affect balance on exposed ridges. 25 to 40mph.
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
Cairngorms NP and Monadhliath
Thursday 15th January 2026
Last updated
Wed 14th Jan 26 at
4:46PM
Summary for all mountain areas
Blustery and chilly south-westerly winds bringing occasional snow and hail showers, most prevalent across the west Highlands. Rain falling below 500m. Drier for England and Wales, but risk of marked deterioration later for southern and eastern Wales as rain and summit snow edges in from the south.
Headline for Cairngorms NP and Monadhliath
Blustery south-west winds bring a few snow showers to the west.
How windy? (On the Munros)
Southwesterly 25 to perhaps 35mph. Will ease further later and back southerly.
Effect of the wind on you?
Strong enough to make walking arduous where exposed and balance at times difficult. Considerable wind chill.
How Wet?
Occasional hail and snow showers
Hail and snow showers mainly west of A9; few if any reaching Ochils and Angus.
Cloud on the hills?
Persistently covering higher tops
Higher areas almost always cloud covered. Cloud base typically 600 to 1000m lowest southern Cairngorms NP west to Ben Alder. Highest cloud base near Cairngorm ski centre and Deeside where breaks to 1100m.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
10%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Glimpses of sunshine - most sun Deeside. Visibility excellent.
How Cold? (at 900m)
-1C, but feeling more like -10C in direct exposure to the strongest winds.
Freezing Level
750m.
Viewing Forecast For
Cairngorms NP and Monadhliath
Friday 16th January 2026
Last updated
Wed 14th Jan 26 at
4:46PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
Low confidence in detail: Northerly 20-30mph eastern hills at first, little wind in west. Then turning southwesterly 20mph.
Effect of the wind on you?
Risk very blustery start eastern hills with considerable wind chill. Otherwise, mostly small impact from the wind through day.
How Wet?
Mostly dry
Cloud on the hills?
Hills may be fairly clear above valley fog.
Hills may well be fairly clear, although some caps of cloud across the tops at times. Likely ribbons of fog through some of the glens, mainly in the west.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
60%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Patchwork of sunshine. Once any upper cloud clears to the east. Visibility very good, away from any fog in the glens.
How Cold? (at 900m)
-1C
Freezing Level
700-800m, but frost into the western glens at first light.
Viewing Forecast For
Cairngorms NP and Monadhliath
Saturday 17th January 2026
Last updated
Wed 14th Jan 26 at
4:46PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
South-easterly 10 to 20mph, perhaps 25mph through some cols, passes and summits.
Effect of the wind on you?
Mostly small, but wind chill still significant where exposed to the strongest breeze.
How Wet?
Mostly dry
Local fine spots of drizzle or snow grains possible across southern and eastern hills. Otherwise dry.
Cloud on the hills?
Varying banks, fog patches some glens.
Banks or patches of cloud at varying heights from mid to upper slopes, with ribbons of fog some glens. Best breaks across the north Cairngorms.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
30%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Mainly dull, little or no sun. Visibility suppressed in low cloud but mainly very good in north.
How Cold? (at 900m)
-1 to plus 0C, but feeling closer to -8C in the strongest breeze.
Freezing Level
Varied across the area, 600-900m, highest in the north. Also sub-zero with frost into glens at dawn.
Planning Outlook
A small scale low will pull away early on Friday morning to the North Sea to leave drier and chilly conditions into the weekend with a south to south-easterly airflow developing. Looking further ahead, a colder continental influence may be drawn in on south to east winds, but the extent of this is uncertain. The snow pack across the Scottish Highlands will be enhanced by further spells of snowfall where where fronts edge in from the west, whilst for England and Wales snow accumulating on the hills at times, perhaps in the form of showers from the east.