Cairngorms NP and Monadhliath
Cairngorms National Park and Monadhliath. Also includes the Ben Alder area hills between Loch Ericht and Loch Laggan.
Friday'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.
Dry and sunny
Extensive sunshine. The mountains free of cloud once any early mist patches disperse.
Clear
Excellent or superb visibility, no navigation issues.
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.
Bright sunshine
Beware of sunburn from bright spring sunshine, despite feeling cool in any breeze on higher terrain.
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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.
Dry and sunny
Extensive sunshine. The mountains free of cloud once any early mist patches disperse.
Clear
Excellent or superb visibility, no navigation issues.
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.
Bright sunshine
Beware of sunburn from bright spring sunshine, despite feeling cool in any breeze on higher terrain.
Viewing Forecast For
Cairngorms NP and Monadhliath
Friday 20th March 2026
Last updated
Thu 19th Mar 26 at
3:00PM
Summary for all mountain areas
Southwesterly winds over the Highlands will be gusty in places, strongest toward far northwest where locally up to gale-force. Cloud banks near Scottish west coast, otherwise largely clear with strong early spring sunshine, beware sunburn. Early areas of fog clearing. Light winds England and Wales.
Headline for Cairngorms NP and Monadhliath
Gusty in places. Warm sunshine.
How windy? (On the Munros)
South to southwesterly 20mph, locally gustier afternoon.
Effect of the wind on you?
Fairly small, but locally feeling more noticeable in exposure.
How Wet?
Precipitation not expected
Cloud on the hills?
Rare patches, all clearing
Patchy fog in glens at first, lifting into patchy cloud on some slopes, mainly toward the southwest, but largely dispersing through middle of day.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
90% becoming practically certain.
Sunshine and air clarity?
Mostly sunny. Visibility excellent.
How Cold? (at 900m)
Around 7C, small change with added height; some cooler spots at first, then some slightly warmer spots by afternoon. Feeling near 0C if directly in wind.
Freezing Level
Above the summits, but frost in glens and some sheltered higher areas at dawn.
Viewing Forecast For
Cairngorms NP and Monadhliath
Saturday 21st March 2026
Last updated
Thu 19th Mar 26 at
3:00PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
West to southwesterly 15 to 20mph, gustier 25mph for periods higher Cairngorms. Increasing evening-night to 30-45mph.
Effect of the wind on you?
Fairly small during day, occasionally may feel more noticeably gusty higher areas.
How Wet?
Precipitation rare if any
Possible light spots in the wind mainly toward Monadhliath.
Cloud on the hills?
Mostly western tops, clearer east
Banks of cloud mostly 900m upward, mostly western Cairngorms and Monadhliath. Cloud higher and well broken eastwards, likely very little and largely clear toward Deeside & Lochnagar.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
60% west, to 90% eastern hills.
Sunshine and air clarity?
Sun and high cloud, may cloud over from west for a time. Visibility very good.
How Cold? (at 900m)
4 or 5C, may rise slightly higher in east.
Freezing Level
Above the summits, but patchy frost in glens and some sheltered higher areas around dawn.
Viewing Forecast For
Cairngorms NP and Monadhliath
Sunday 22nd March 2026
Last updated
Thu 19th Mar 26 at
3:00PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
Southwest becoming mostly westerly, 25 to 35mph, stronger gusts for a time around rain.
Effect of the wind on you?
Blustery, affecting comfortable walking and balance at times on exposed high terrain. Considerable wind chill.
How Wet?
A little rain west, then snow flurries
Patchy rain develops mostly toward west of Cairngorms near/west of the A9, briefly steadier rain with some showery moments mixed in, finishing as snow flurries on higher areas. Very little reaching Deeside.
Cloud on the hills?
Mostly higher areas, then breaking
Covering higher areas above 900-1000m for a few hours, locally 800m near Drumochter. Then likely to lift and break from northwest, clearing toward higher slopes, brief patches on tops.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
30% rising to 70% afternoon
Sunshine and air clarity?
Fairly cloudy for a few hours, brighter eastwards, then improving to sunny spells from north afternoon. Visibility mostly good, later very good.
How Cold? (at 900m)
+2 or 3C in morning, dropping during day from northwest, later to -1C. Feeling like -8 to -12C directly in wind.
Freezing Level
Above the summits at first, but lowering during morning, to 1000m before noon north & west, 800m widely later in day.
Planning Outlook
High pressure slowly retreats over the weekend to allow west-southwesterly winds to move into Scotland, bringing more cloud to the northwest and some drizzle on Saturday, though most places remain dry. By Sunday, stronger westerly winds and a front passing eastwards with a spell of rain followed by lowering temperatures and showers with snow and hail over the hills in Scotland. A chilly start to the new week, near or below freezing over higher mountains, particularly Scotland. Changeable westerlies during next week, windy for all at times, showery conditions most common in western Scotland. High pressure to the south rebuilds at times to settle things again.