Cairngorms NP and Monadhliath
Cairngorms National Park and Monadhliath. Also includes the Ben Alder area hills between Loch Ericht and Loch Laggan.
Sunday'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.
Patchy rain or drizzle
Rain on and off, or generally drizzly - total amounts small, but may be persistently damp, especially where hills are shrouded in cloud.
Poor visibility
Murky conditions with areas of fog shrouding the hills, making navigation challenging. Map and compass essential.
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.
Patchy rain or drizzle
Rain on and off, or generally drizzly - total amounts small, but may be persistently damp, especially where hills are shrouded in cloud.
Poor visibility
Murky conditions with areas of fog shrouding the hills, making navigation challenging. Map and compass essential.
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
Sunday 14th December 2025
Last updated
Sat 13th Dec 25 at
4:15PM
Summary for all mountain areas
Extensive rain, sustained heavy falls over many western mountains, expect flooding. Smaller amounts of rain toward the N/E Cairngorms, also S/E Wales and Peak District. Widespread gales, powerful gusts around high tops, locally downslope to east. Blanket cloud across hills, lowest in west.
Headline for Cairngorms NP and Monadhliath
Gales, severe high terrain. Wettest and lowest cloud south.
How windy? (On the Munros)
Southwesterly 40-55mph, but often 60mph higher Cairngorms, powerful gusts downslope from northern corries. Tending to strengthen up to dusk, reaching 70mph for a time. Easing only well into night to 30mph or less.
Effect of the wind on you?
Arduous conditions over the mountains. Strong gusty winds will challenge balance and stability all day, including less exposed slopes. Significant wind chill.
How Wet?
Intermittent rain, may set in
Rain on and off, some more persistent pulses of rain moving in from southwest to Drumochter/south Monadhliath, some increasingly heavier falls. Patches spreading more widely at times with a risk of setting in for periods afternoon.
Cloud on the hills?
Lowest and most persistent south/west
Covering the mountains most or all day areas near Drumochter and Glen Garry above 600-800m. Often drifting further east and north across Cairngorms above 900m and over the tops of Monadhliath. Some higher breaks north.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
10% south/west, 30% north
Sunshine and air clarity?
Glimpses of weak sun on north slopes. Visibility variable, often poor toward south and southwest, locally very good out of cloud north.
How Cold? (at 900m)
6 to 8C; warmest in north; then lowering rapidly into night to 1 or 2C. Feeling like -5 to -8C in the wind.
Freezing Level
Above the summits, but then into night dropping from west to 1000-1100m.
Viewing Forecast For
Cairngorms NP and Monadhliath
Monday 15th December 2025
Last updated
Sat 13th Dec 25 at
4:15PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
Some uncertainty, speed may vary; southwesterly 15 to 30mph, strongest toward west Cairngorms / Monadhliath.
Effect of the wind on you?
Fairly small, though winds may be suddenly uncomfortable in exposure.
How Wet?
Likely dry
Cloud on the hills?
Mostly high tops, banks south/west
Variable: banks of cloud drifting over high Cairngorms, some lower banks on southern and western slopes as well. Best breaks toward the north.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
50%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Little sun expected, a veil of high cloud. Very good visibility.
How Cold? (at 900m)
2C, slightly warmer eastern areas. Feeling like -5C in direct wind.
Freezing Level
1100 to 1200m.
Viewing Forecast For
Cairngorms NP and Monadhliath
Tuesday 16th December 2025
Last updated
Sat 13th Dec 25 at
4:15PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
Southwesterly 25 to 35mph. Strengthening onward into night to gales.
Effect of the wind on you?
Blustery and starting to affect comfortable walking and balance on exposed higher terrain, considerable wind chill.
How Wet?
Local showers west
Risk of occasional showers mostly toward Ben Alder, falling as snow flurries above 800-900m. More likely substantially dry much of Cairngorms NP.
Cloud on the hills?
Patches some slopes, clearer north/east
Patchy cloud banks likely to drift over some higher slopes, mostly above 800-900m in the southwestern Cairngorms to Ben Alder, but good breaks likely. More often clear to tops further east and north.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
60%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Sunshine most frequent north/east, glimpses elsewhere. Visibility excellent out of cloud.
How Cold? (at 900m)
0 to 1C. Feeling like -10C directly in the wind.
Freezing Level
900 to 1000m. Slight frost sheltered glens in morning.
Planning Outlook
Prolonged rain will leave flooding of streams and rivers in many mountain areas early in the new week, with the exception of northeastern Scotland. A frontal system will eventually pass eastwards Monday-Tuesday, wind easing; dropping to freezing above 900m, beware of ice forming on higher Scottish mountains. Drier conditions for many on Tuesday, though showery near west coast of Scotland. By Wednesday, another system sweeps in from the Atlantic bringing further rain and gales. A risk of more heavy rain particularly England and Wales later in the week. A change of weather pattern is likely in the run up to Christmas, as high pressure builds northward, bringing drier weather, possibly chillier with time.