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
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
Snowfall continuous or frequent over the mountains, beware of conditions becoming challenging on higher terrain. At lower elevations falling as rain.
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.
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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
Snowfall continuous or frequent over the mountains, beware of conditions becoming challenging on higher terrain. At lower elevations falling as rain.
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
Thursday 22nd January 2026
Last updated
Wed 21st Jan 26 at
4:18PM
Summary for all mountain areas
Gales in north England and Scotland, severe on the high Munros, gusting to storm force in the north; severe wind chills. Frequent or persistent rain across most mountains, falling as snow onto the high Munros from dawn, the snow level lowering with time; snow will be heavy with whiteout conditions in east Scotland.
Headline for Cairngorms NP and Monadhliath
Snow and severe gales; whiteout conditions
How windy? (On the Munros)
Southeasterly 55 to 65mph, in places 70mph+ over higher Cairngorms with powerful gusts downslope toward west.
Effect of the wind on you?
Difficult conditions, mobility challenging and gusts may knock you over not just on highest terrain. Severe wind chill.
How Wet?
Upland snowfall, nearly constant east
Rain, soon turns to hill snow, likely persistent over east and southeastern Cairngorms NP, frequenty heavier falls expected; rain or sleet on low-mid slopes. Patchier smaller amounts toward Strathspey and Monadhliath.
Cloud on the hills?
Extensive
Shrouding the mountains widely, lowest cloud base eastern areas, to mid-slopes. Some breaks to 700m on the northern Monadhliath, but Munro summits are unlikely to clear.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
Less than 10%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Overcast. Hazy at best, but whiteout conditions over the mountains in cloud and snow.
How Cold? (at 900m)
0C to start the day, gradually cooling to -1 or locally -2C. Wind chill feels as cold as -17 to -20C.
Freezing Level
800-1000m from dawn, soon dropping to 600 to 800m from the east, reaching as low as 500m by dusk.
Viewing Forecast For
Cairngorms NP and Monadhliath
Friday 23rd January 2026
Last updated
Wed 21st Jan 26 at
4:18PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
East-southeasterly 45 to 60mph; strongest wind early, gusts to 70mph high Cairngorms; strong gusts downslope too.
Effect of the wind on you?
Challenging to difficult conditions; mobility challenging in exposure where gusts may knock you over. Severe wind chill.
How Wet?
Snow, constant and heavy east
Snow likely persistent, constant heavier falls expected over east and southeastern Cairngorms NP; snow down to lower slopes. Smaller amounts toward Strathspey, patchy over Monadhliath.
Cloud on the hills?
Extensive
Shrouding the mountains widely, lowest cloud base eastern areas, to low slopes. Bases up to middle to upper slopes around and west of Strathspey, but any Munro summits will struggle to clear.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
10%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Overcast, hazy at best, but whiteout conditions over the mountains in cloud and snow.
How Cold? (at 900m)
-3C on easternmost hills, to -1C Monadhliath; some variability. Wind chill feels as cold as -17 to -20C.
Freezing Level
500-600m; may drop towards 400m towards the northeast.
Viewing Forecast For
Cairngorms NP and Monadhliath
Saturday 24th January 2026
Last updated
Wed 21st Jan 26 at
4:18PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
Easterly 40 to 60mph, powerful gusts downslope west of Cairngorms; may start to lessen with time - uncertain.
Effect of the wind on you?
Challenging conditions; walking and balance difficult in exposed areas, buffeting gusts lower down; severe wind chill.
How Wet?
Persistent upland snow east and south
Snow falling most or all day across much of the Cairngorms and areas around Deeside, sleet or rain some lower slopes. Smaller amounts northwestward, very little reaching Monadhliath.
Cloud on the hills?
Fairly extensive, lowest east
Shrouding the Cairngorms and eastern mountains throughout the day, from mid-slopes upward most south and eastern aspects, higher bases toward Strathspey, occasionally above Monadhliath tops.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
20%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Overcast, dull. Appalling visibility conditions over much higher terrain, better northwest; constant whiteout in cloud and falling or blowing snow.
How Cold? (at 900m)
-1 or -2C. Directly in the wind feeling like -15 to -18C.
Freezing Level
600 to 700m, but may be slightly lower in eastern areas in the morning; locally higher on some slopes near Strathspey.
Planning Outlook
Sustained gale force easterlies over most mountains into the weekend, powerful gusts downslope toward west; severe chill factor. Colder air and lowering freezing level moves into Scotland on Friday, much mountain terrain then frozen into the weekend and early next week. Substantial snowfalls over eastern Scottish hills later this week, drier to the west. Dropping just below freezing on high tops in England and Wales - a mix of rain and high level snow, turning colder further south over the weekend, with freezing level dropping to the southern Pennines summits next week. Circulating low pressure and cold air into next week, with further snowfalls likely. Lower wind speeds early in the new week, but then likely increasing E-SE'ly again.