Cairngorms NP and Monadhliath
Cairngorms National Park and Monadhliath. Also includes the Ben Alder area hills between Loch Ericht and Loch Laggan.
Today'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.
Snow flurries
Occasional light snow flurries, sleet or rain lower elevations. Amounts little more than nuisance value, but locally more persistent and reducing visibility for periods.
Whiteout
Fog and lying snow over the mountains, possibly with falling or blowing snow, very disorientating. Map and compass essential, beware of unseen hazards.
Chilly
Air temperature typically 0 to 5C on higher summits. Feeling distinctly chilly on tops when stationary or where exposed to wind. Take appropriate layers.
Snowdrifts
Considerable lying snow over the mountains, with substantial drifting in places.
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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.
Snow flurries
Occasional light snow flurries, sleet or rain lower elevations. Amounts little more than nuisance value, but locally more persistent and reducing visibility for periods.
Whiteout
Fog and lying snow over the mountains, possibly with falling or blowing snow, very disorientating. Map and compass essential, beware of unseen hazards.
Chilly
Air temperature typically 0 to 5C on higher summits. Feeling distinctly chilly on tops when stationary or where exposed to wind. Take appropriate layers.
Snowdrifts
Considerable lying snow over the mountains, with substantial drifting in places.
Viewing Forecast For
Cairngorms NP and Monadhliath
Wednesday 28th January 2026
Last updated
Tue 27th Jan 26 at
4:30PM
Summary for all mountain areas
A fairly quiet day with plenty of dry weather and some good cloud breaks toward the west and northwest of major hill groups. Some snow flurries and low cloud lingers over the Cairngorms to SE Highlands. Moderate S-SE wind, locally gusty.
Headline for Cairngorms NP and Monadhliath
Substantial drifts. Snow flurries, lowest cloud south.
How windy? (On the Munros)
South to southeasterly, overnight gales ease up to dawn, soon 20-25mph or in places less, local gusty spots around higher tops and around some northern corries.
Effect of the wind on you?
Fairly small effect on walking many areas, some occasional gusty spots not necessarily on highest terrain may be noticeable and feeling chillier.
How Wet?
A little snow / rain mainly morning
Snow flurries mostly east in morning, amounts small and tending to fizzle out with time, rain or sleet up to 700m; patchier or very little toward Strathspey.
Cloud on the hills?
Extensive, lowest south
Shrouding much high terrain all day, to some mid-slopes Deeside to Glen Garry. Cloud higher and more broken to the north and west of the Cairngorm plateau, breaks to some tops Monadhliath.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
20%, up to 60% Monadhliath.
Sunshine and air clarity?
Largely cloudy, moments where sun breaks through with time, mostly in north. Whiteout if in cloud over snow cover; visibility good below cloud in north.
How Cold? (at 900m)
0C. Feeling locally like -7C if exposed to a gustier breeze.
Freezing Level
800 to 900m, locally just above freezing on some higher slopes toward Strathspey.
Viewing Forecast For
Cairngorms NP and Monadhliath
Thursday 29th January 2026
Last updated
Tue 27th Jan 26 at
4:30PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
Southeasterly 30 to 40mph, strongest on higher Cairngorms, gusty in places west of higher tops.
Effect of the wind on you?
Strenuous walking on exposed higher terrain, buffeting gusts locally lower down. Significant wind chill.
How Wet?
Snow flurries
Snow on and off, mostly light, most frequent south and eastern areas, sleet lower slopes. Rare flurries Monadhliath.
Cloud on the hills?
Fairly extensive
Shrouding higher slopes widely, but often from mid-heights up in east. Higher bases and some breaks westwards near A9.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
20%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Rare if any weak sun, mainly Strathspey. Hazy, poor visibility in snow and difficult navigation on hills if in fog over snow cover.
How Cold? (at 900m)
-2C. Wind chill feeling like -12 to -15C over higher terrain.
Freezing Level
600 to 700m.
Viewing Forecast For
Cairngorms NP and Monadhliath
Friday 30th January 2026
Last updated
Tue 27th Jan 26 at
4:30PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
Southeasterly 30 to 45mph, strongest over higher Cairngorms, very gusty in places downslope around northern corries.
Effect of the wind on you?
Strenuous walking, arduous on exposed high terrain local frequent buffeting not just on tops. Significant wind chill.
How Wet?
Snow mostly southeast
Snow flurries most common over south and eastern Cairngorms NP. Very little reaching north and west of Strathspey.
Cloud on the hills?
Fairly extensive
Shrouding most of the Cairngorms, to some mid slopes near Deeside. Higher bases to 800-900m north of Drumochter.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
30%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Some sun mostly Monadhliath, visibility good out of cloud. Cloudy, mistier further south/east; whiteout if in fog over snow.
How Cold? (at 900m)
-3C. Wind chill feeling like -13 to -17C.
Freezing Level
500 to 600m, slight rise during daytime, particularly west of Cairngorms.
Planning Outlook
Slow-moving weather patterns and a broadly similar regime to recent times over the next week or so. Scottish mountains generally below freezing point, with snow cover and drifts most substantial from the Cairngorms to central and southern Highlands, some additional falls in the week ahead, much less northwestward. Hills in England and Wales will see varying freezing levels, sub-zero for periods to 600m or lower, but intermittently lifting just above the tops - a mix of rain and upland snowfall. Wind speed will vary, some periods of lower speeds than recently, though gusty SE'ly winds remain common in the Highlands. Scope for widely colder conditions toward mid February.