Cairngorms NP and Monadhliath
Cairngorms National Park and Monadhliath. Also includes the Ben Alder area hills between Loch Ericht and Loch Laggan.
Sunday's Forecast
Severe gale or storm, mobility very difficult
Severe conditions on the mountains, any movement very challenging, you may be blown over. 55-70mph+
Heavy snow and hail showers, isolated lightning
Showery precipitation, often heavy, may merge to become constant for periods. A mix of snow and hail often falling to lower slopes. Risk of very localised thunder and lightning.
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.
Click an icon for more information or click here for a key to all icons.
Severe gale or storm, mobility very difficult
Severe conditions on the mountains, any movement very challenging, you may be blown over. 55-70mph+
Heavy snow and hail showers, isolated lightning
Showery precipitation, often heavy, may merge to become constant for periods. A mix of snow and hail often falling to lower slopes. Risk of very localised thunder and lightning.
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
Sunday 29th March 2026
Last updated
Sat 28th Mar 26 at
4:00PM
Summary for all mountain areas
Widely difficult conditions - extensive gales across the hills, often severe on higher terrain; a few hours of storm-force winds moving southward accompanied by a swathe of heavy rain, some snow on high tops. Colder air follows across Scotland, with frequent showery hail and snow, periods of whiteout on mountains.
Headline for Cairngorms NP and Monadhliath
Gales, severe tops; early rain/snow, then squally hail & snow.
How windy? (On the Munros)
Southwesterly at first, soon westerly, 70-80mph dawn into morning, gusts over 90mph higher Cairngorms for a time. Then staying near 50mph for rest of the day, sudden squally gusts over 60mph.
Effect of the wind on you?
Severe conditions for a time, remaining difficult over the mountains all day, mobility often challenging, powerful gusts could knock you off your feet. Severe wind chill.
How Wet?
Rain, snow, then showery hail
Rain and hill snow arriving from the west before dawn, setting in for a few hours, briefly becoming rain to 1000m or above, heavy bursts for a time. Then showery with hail and increasingly snow to 600m or lower into afternoon. Chance of isolated thunder & lightning.
Cloud on the hills?
Fairly extensive, then varied on tops
Covering higher terrain fairly widely above 800-1000m early in day, locally lower toward west. Then rising and more variable above 900m with brief breaks to higher tops, best in eastern areas.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
40%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Bursts of sun develop, best in east. Visibility changing quickly, very poor in rain, appalling at least temporarily in snow, intermittently very good.
How Cold? (at 900m)
+1 or 2C for a time, dropping to -2C afternoon (-5C on highest summits). Wind chill feeling like -15C, nearer -20C on highest terrain.
Freezing Level
Briefly may rise just above freezing to upper slopes in morning, then soon lowering again, to 700-800m afternoon, 600m up to dusk.
Viewing Forecast For
Cairngorms NP and Monadhliath
Monday 30th March 2026
Last updated
Sat 28th Mar 26 at
4:00PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
West to northwesterly, 45 to 60mph, strongest toward north and in the morning, gusts over 70mph higher Cairngorms.
Effect of the wind on you?
Challenging conditions, very difficult mobility especially morning, gusts could knock you over. Significant wind chill.
How Wet?
Snow showers mostly morning
Occasional showers of snow mostly areas near and west of the A9 in the morning. Becoming fewer well-scattered and lighter showers into afternoon, mostly rain below 600-700m.
Cloud on the hills?
Mostly high tops, clearer east
Patchy cloud over higher terrain above 900-1000m, most frequent on tops toward west in morning, tending to rise. Breaks to tops in east and more widely with time.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
60% west, to 80% east
Sunshine and air clarity?
Occasional sun, best toward east in morning. Visibility mostly good, briefly poor in snow.
How Cold? (at 900m)
-2C rising to +1C afternoon, then higher after dark. Wind chill feeling like -15 to -18C.
Freezing Level
700m from dawn, slight frost in sheltered glens; rising to 1000m afternoon, then lifting above the summits into night.
Viewing Forecast For
Cairngorms NP and Monadhliath
Tuesday 31st March 2026
Last updated
Sat 28th Mar 26 at
4:00PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
West to southwesterly, 25 to 35mph up to 40mph high Cairngorms, gusty in places around exposed high tops and ridges.
Effect of the wind on you?
Blustery over high terrain, affecting comfortable walking and balance on some exposed ridges. Considerable wind chill.
How Wet?
Patchy drizzle
A little drizzle in the air at times, most common toward and west of the A9, amounting to little in total. Often dry eastern Cairngorms NP.
Cloud on the hills?
Extensive higher areas, breaks east
Shrouding most hills in the morning above 800-1000m, lowest toward west, some lower banks for a time. Tending to rise and break with time, best toward east. Banks likely linger above 900m near Ben Alder.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
20% rising to 50% easternmost tops.
Sunshine and air clarity?
Glimpses of sun mostly eastern areas. Poor visibility on much higher terrain at least in morning, becoming good where cloud lifts and breaks.
How Cold? (at 900m)
4 or 5C. Feeling like -5 to -8C directly in the wind.
Freezing Level
Close to freezing only on higher Cairngorm plateau, but generally above the tops.
Planning Outlook
Milder air across all areas by Tuesday, with drizzly rain and low cloud particularly in the west. A drop of temperature returns to Scotland at least during Wednesday, with a belt of rain expected to move slowly southwards, followed by showers turning to snow again on higher areas, possible hail. Uncertain southward extent of rain and colder air beyond midweek - lower confidence in forecast detail toward Easter - high pressure toward the east and south brings some drier weather, but Atlantic weather systems may continue to move near to the northwest of Britain bringing further spells of strong wind and rain, plus fluctuating temperatures in Scotland, whilst further south likely stays milder.