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.
Patchwork of cloud and sun
Dry most or all day. A mix of cloud and sunshine. Occasional cloud banks drifting over higher slopes, lifting above the tops.
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.
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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.
Patchwork of cloud and sun
Dry most or all day. A mix of cloud and sunshine. Occasional cloud banks drifting over higher slopes, lifting above the tops.
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.
Viewing Forecast For
Cairngorms NP and Monadhliath
Thursday 24th September 2026
Last updated
Wed 23rd Sep 26 at
4:27PM
Summary for all mountain areas
Southerly gales develop widely over Scottish mountains, becoming severe northwest coastal tops. A little rain moves northeast, then more persistent rain sets in for western mountains, turning heavier. Wind strengthens too for England & Wales, generally dry and hills clear, sun giving way to a veil of upper cloud.
Headline for Cairngorms NP and Monadhliath
Gales develop; cloud forms on some tops, rain mostly later.
How windy? (On the Munros)
Southerly 20-30mph from dawn but strengthening, to sustained 40-50mph by middle of day, reaching 60mph over high Cairngorms, powerful gusts over tops and downslope around northern corries.
Effect of the wind on you?
Walking increasingly challenging, becoming difficult around high summits, gusts necessitate great effort to remain upright. Feeling chilly despite mild temperature.
How Wet?
Little until late; rain into evening
A little patchy rain around the midday hours, but otherwise dry. Later, patchy rain approaches Drumochter and Monadhliath, spreading widely from dusk onward, some steadier falls for a time, though small amounts north/east.
Cloud on the hills?
Little until later
Occasional cloud banks on high southern slopes, rolling over tops, but more often clear well into the day. Cloud will begin to more extensively shroud tops through afternoon, progressively lowering on southern slopes; north Cairngorms stay clear until later in day.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
70%, lowering to 30% later
Sunshine and air clarity?
Patchy sun through high cloud, tending to cloud over as afternoon goes. Very good visibility.
How Cold? (at 900m)
6C rising to 9C, or 10C north Cairngorms afternoon, tending to lower into night. Feeling like -1 to -3C in direct wind.
Freezing Level
Above the summits.
Viewing Forecast For
Cairngorms NP and Monadhliath
Friday 25th September 2026
Last updated
Wed 23rd Sep 26 at
4:27PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
Southwesterly 25 to 40mph, in places gusts 50mph over higher Cairngorms plateau; lowest speeds afternoon.
Effect of the wind on you?
Strenuous walking, more frequent buffeting for periods on highest tops, moderating a little; considerable wind chill.
How Wet?
A little rain now and again
Occasional showery rain coming in from the southwest, but often dry much of the region, particularly further north and east.
Cloud on the hills?
Sometimes capping tops
Some cloud likely to come and go above 1000-1100m, occasionally 900m toward Drumochter, but good breaks above many tops for periods.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
70%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Occasional sun, best toward Glenmore and Deeside. Visibility very good, reduced briefly in rain.
How Cold? (at 900m)
6 or 7C, little change all day. Feeling like -2 to -5C in the wind.
Freezing Level
Above the summits.
Viewing Forecast For
Cairngorms NP and Monadhliath
Saturday 26th September 2026
Last updated
Wed 23rd Sep 26 at
4:27PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
Southwesterly 30 to 50mph, sustained speeds tending to rise, strongest over higher Cairngorm plateau.
Effect of the wind on you?
Strenuous-to-arduous walking conditions, buffeting gusts knocking you off balance on exposed terrain; considerable wind chill.
How Wet?
A little rain mostly southwest
Occasional light showers mainly areas toward Ben Alder. Brief light showers possible elsewhere, but more often dry, especially toward Deeside.
Cloud on the hills?
Local patches, mostly little
Patchy cloud may come and go above 900-1000m around Drumochter, but often above 1000-1100m many areas and clearing above all tops for periods.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
70%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Occasional sun, most often north and eastern areas. Visibility very good.
How Cold? (at 900m)
6C rising to 9 or 10C. Feeling like -3 to -6C in the wind.
Freezing Level
Above the summits.
Planning Outlook
South to southwesterly winds prevail onward into the weekend and next week. Some rain drifting in from the Atlantic, a mix of drizzle, some showery falls, and locally steadier rain at times over western mountains. Cloud often shrouding hills, best of breaks toward east and north. Generally mild air, but prepare for marked chill factor on tops due to often strong winds, gales for periods over high terrain, most sustained in Scotland. Into mid-next week, risk of a more widespread gale, or severe gale over higher mountains. Higher pressure then tends to expand further over the country into the start of October for drier and quite warm weather.