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
Severe gale or storm, mobility very difficult
Severe conditions on the mountains, any movement very challenging, you may be blown over. 55-70mph+
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.
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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Severe gale or storm, mobility very difficult
Severe conditions on the mountains, any movement very challenging, you may be blown over. 55-70mph+
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.
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 1st January 2026
Last updated
Wed 31st Dec 25 at
3:55PM
Summary for all mountain areas
Cold north-northwesterly winds, widely gale force over the mountains, difficult conditions with severe chill factor on Scottish high tops. Showery snow and hail frequent in northern Scotland. Rare showers central Scotland and northern England. Early rain and hill snow followed by showers in Wales.
Headline for Cairngorms NP and Monadhliath
Gales, severe on high tops; snow and hail to lower slopes.
How windy? (On the Munros)
Northwesterly 45 to 60mph, sustained speeds tending to widely increase, strongest higher Cairngorms, in places 70mph higher up, mainly eastern high tops, powerful squally gusts in showers.
Effect of the wind on you?
Arduous walking conditions in exposure, difficult with constant buffeting high tops, gusts could knock you over. Significant wind chill, severe higher up.
How Wet?
Snow and hail, most often north
Showers or sometimes more persistent falls of snow moving across the northern Cairngorms and Monadhliath, also hail, falling to lower slopes. Periods of whiteout on hills. Less precipitation toward Glen Garry.
Cloud on the hills?
Often covering tops
Cloud base varying, but often capping higher slopes above 700-900m, most persistent northern areas. Some breaks above 900-1000m Drumochter to Deeside.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
30%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Largely cloudy north, glimpses of sun more often south. Visibility very poor for periods in snow and cloud, but intermittently very good.
How Cold? (at 900m)
-3C (-5C high tops), falling to -5 to -7C into night. Wind chill feeling like -15C, to -20C higher Cairngorms.
Freezing Level
Near or below freezing from the glens upward; most terrain frozen.
Viewing Forecast For
Cairngorms NP and Monadhliath
Friday 2nd January 2026
Last updated
Wed 31st Dec 25 at
3:55PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
Northerly 35 to 45mph, often 50mph higher Cairngorms.
Effect of the wind on you?
Severe wind chill over the mountains. Frequent buffeting in exposure, often arduous walking on higher terrain.
How Wet?
Near-constant snow and hail
Heavy showers merging into more persistent snow coming in from the north, snow and hail falling and accumulating to lowest slopes. Frequent whiteout over the mountains. Risk of isolated thunder.
Cloud on the hills?
Fairly extensive higher areas
Often covering the mountains above 800m, at times 600m in northern Cairngorms. Higher and more varied bases southward, some breaks above 1000m more often.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
20% north, to 40% south.
Sunshine and air clarity?
Brief bursts of sun, most often south. Visibility often appalling due to snow falling or blowing and where also in cloud; but intermittently very good.
How Cold? (at 900m)
-6C (to -8 or -9C at 1200-1300m). Wind chill feeling like -17 to -22C on tops.
Freezing Level
Terrain widely frozen, sub-zero all day glens upward.
Viewing Forecast For
Cairngorms NP and Monadhliath
Saturday 3rd January 2026
Last updated
Wed 31st Dec 25 at
3:55PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
North to northwesterly 35 to 50mph, strongest sustained speeds on Cairngorm high tops; squally gusts in showers.
Effect of the wind on you?
Continued severe wind chill over the mountains. Challenging conditions, walking arduous on exposed high terrain.
How Wet?
Near-constant snow and hail
Ongoing heavy showers merging into more persistent snow coming in from the north, snow and hail falling and accumulating into the glens. Frequent whiteout over the mountains. Risk of isolated thunder.
Cloud on the hills?
Fairly extensive higher areas
Often covering the mountains above 800m, at times 600m in northern Cairngorms. Higher and more varied bases southward, some breaks above 1000m more often.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
20% north, to 40% south.
Sunshine and air clarity?
Brief bursts of sun, more frequent south. Visibility often appalling due to snow falling or blowing and where also in cloud; but intermittently very good.
How Cold? (at 900m)
-6C (to -9C above 1200m). Wind chill feeling like -20C, nearer -25C higher Cairngorm plateau in exposure.
Freezing Level
Terrain widely frozen, staying sub-zero from glens upward.
Planning Outlook
Terrain extensively frozen onward into the weekend and early next week at least; sub-zero temperatures from the glens upward in Scotland and some valleys inland in northern England. Substantial fresh snow accumulations in the North West Highlands and Cairngorms, heavy showers streaming in from the north also containing hail. Largely dry and sunny from central Scotland to northern England. Hail and snow showers will run into north and west Wales from the sea. Bitter northerly winds, up to gale force higher tops, tending to lessen into Sunday. Some fluctuation of freezing level during next week, but some fronts moving in from northwest likely bring snowfall to hills at times more widely.