Cairngorms NP and Monadhliath
Cairngorms National Park and Monadhliath. Also includes the Ben Alder area hills between Loch Ericht and Loch Laggan.
Tuesday's Forecast
Windy, walking impeded
Blustery conditions enough to give buffeting on higher terrain or affect balance on exposed ridges. 25 to 40mph.
Patchy cloud and winter sun
Mostly dry with a mix of cloud and sun, patchy cloud occasionally covering some mountain slopes.
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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Windy, walking impeded
Blustery conditions enough to give buffeting on higher terrain or affect balance on exposed ridges. 25 to 40mph.
Patchy cloud and winter sun
Mostly dry with a mix of cloud and sun, patchy cloud occasionally covering some mountain slopes.
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
Tuesday 17th February 2026
Last updated
Mon 16th Feb 26 at
3:52PM
Summary for all mountain areas
Early snow showers in northern Scotland and north Wales, these easing to dry and sunny conditions across the country. Lying snow remains on most slopes above 700-800m, locally lower. A blustery morning, particularly eastern areas where powerful gusts will reach gale force, but easing to fairly small effects widely.
Headline for Cairngorms NP and Monadhliath
Cold winter sunshine; early snow showers north and windy
How windy? (On the Munros)
Northerly 30 to 40mph early morning, stronger before dawn and staying strong in the east for a time, powerful downslope gusts to the south. Steadily easing to 15-20mph, perhaps less, and shifting NE'ly.
Effect of the wind on you?
Prepare for significant wind chill and challenging walking in exposure early in day, but gradually improving with time to fairly small effects.
How Wet?
Odd snow showers north, fading
A few snow showers affect the northern Cairngorm slopes in the early hours, largely confined to eastern areas, these fading fur substantially dry conditions.
Cloud on the hills?
Becoming confined to higher areas and increasingly clearing
Cloud fairly extensive in the morning higher Cairngorms and Deeside but patchy elsewhere. By afternoon patches above 750 to 900m, but increasingly only fragments, mostly confined above 1150m.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
70% by afternoon
Sunshine and air clarity?
Bright sunshine increasingly. Excellent visibility.
How Cold? (at 900m)
-5 or -6C to start the day, rising slightly, locally to -4C. Early in day, feeling like -15C directly in the wind, near -20C high tops, easing.
Freezing Level
Terrain widely frozen; partial thawing on low sunlit slopes, but refreezing again after sunset.
Viewing Forecast For
Cairngorms NP and Monadhliath
Wednesday 18th February 2026
Last updated
Mon 16th Feb 26 at
3:52PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
Southeasterly 20-30mph. Very gusty, and not just on high terrain.
Effect of the wind on you?
Breezy in exposure all day with considerable wind chill - always gusty with buffeting to middle slopes.
How Wet?
Precipitation unlikely
Cloud on the hills?
Little expected
Patchy banks may drift over the high tops of the Cairngorm plateau from Deeside but the hills often free of cloud.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
80%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Mostly sunny, some high cloud around. Excellent visibility.
How Cold? (at 900m)
-4 or -5C. Only little change with added height. Feeling like -15 to -18C in strongest wind.
Freezing Level
Terrain likely widely frozen, some light thaws on sun-exposed low slopes.
Viewing Forecast For
Cairngorms NP and Monadhliath
Thursday 19th February 2026
Last updated
Mon 16th Feb 26 at
3:52PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
Generally southerly, some variability, 35-45mph, strong gusts, approaching 55mph.
Effect of the wind on you?
Walking arduous with severe wind chill; buffeting in exposure making it challenging to stay on your feet.
How Wet?
Precipitation unlikely
A small chance of some snow approaching the central highlands late in the day but likely entirely dry.
Cloud on the hills?
Cloud banks near Deeside
Cloud banks cling to high slopes near Deeside, high tops of Cairngorm plateau may often be above the cloud layer but the wind pushing ragged patches towards the tops as well.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
70%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Often sunny but weakened by high cloud. Very good visibility.
How Cold? (at 900m)
-3 or -2C, some local variability.
Freezing Level
Widely frozen from dawn, thaws to 300-400m, locally higher northern slopes and rising further into night.
Planning Outlook
Much terrain frozen midweek, frost into valleys and glens. Strengthening wind on Wednesday with considerable gustiness, gales likely in Wales; possible snow moving into Wales as well, which may move further north but detail is uncertain. Late in the week and through next weekend, a switch to southwesterly winds is expected, bringing a change to milder conditions - lifting above freezing to tops in England and Wales, and generally higher freezing levels in Scotland; periods of thawing likely to Munro summits, though some further snowfall at times on higher Munros during periods of cooler northwesterly wind. Rain most frequent over western hills. Generally windy with upland gales.