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.
Sunshine and showers
A good amount of dry and bright weather, but scattered bursts of rain, some may be locally heavy.
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.
Click an icon for more information or click here for a key to all icons.
Windy, walking impeded
Blustery conditions enough to give buffeting on higher terrain or affect balance on exposed ridges. 25 to 40mph.
Sunshine and showers
A good amount of dry and bright weather, but scattered bursts of rain, some may be locally heavy.
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
Tuesday 18th August 2026
Last updated
Mon 17th Aug 26 at
4:25PM
Summary for all mountain areas
Fresh-to-strong westerly breezes bring frequent showery rain and drizzle to western Scotland all day, plus patchy rain western England and Wales in the morning, here becoming drier until rain returns by evening. All western tops often in cloud. Some showery rain extends east across the Highlands.
Headline for Cairngorms NP and Monadhliath
Blustery, some showery rain, cloud mostly high tops.
How windy? (On the Munros)
West-southwesterly 25 to 30mph, gusts 35-40mph for periods high Cairngorms.
Effect of the wind on you?
Strenuous walking where exposed on high terrain, some buffeting over high tops and ridges. Considerable wind chill.
How Wet?
A few showers develop from west
Remnants of overnight rain toward the north early in the day will clear northward. Then occasional showery rain, most common toward and west of the A9, moving northeast during afternoon, odd heavier moments.
Cloud on the hills?
Capping higher areas, some breaks
Most cloud often above 800 to 1000m, but some lower patches in the morning. Tending to break higher with time. Some patches return in showers.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
40%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Broken cloud and sun, best in east. Visibility very good, briefly reduced in showers.
How Cold? (at 900m)
7 to 9C, trending cooler later in day. Feeling like 0 to -3C in the wind.
Freezing Level
Above the summits.
Viewing Forecast For
Cairngorms NP and Monadhliath
Wednesday 19th August 2026
Last updated
Mon 17th Aug 26 at
4:25PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
Variable 10mph or less, but risk sudden gusts in rain. Late in day NE'ly 25mph.
Effect of the wind on you?
Mostly small, but prepare for notable wind chill if exposed to gusts and later stronger speeds.
How Wet?
Heavy bursts increasingly, risk lightning
Largely dry start, but areas of rain forming toward middle of day, developing increasingly into heavy bursts of rain widely in the afternoon, moving around slowly to give rain in places for a few hours. Risk of thunder.
Cloud on the hills?
Forming mostly around rain
Some patches briefly around upper slopes in morning, but many mountains clear through middle of day. During and after rain, cloud lowering over tops, ragged patches to lower slopes.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
70%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Sunshine mostly early in day, then cloud bubbling up and filling in. Visibility very good, reducing to poor in showers.
How Cold? (at 900m)
7 or 8C, little change all day. Feeling near to freezing if exposed to increasing wind.
Freezing Level
Above the summits.
Viewing Forecast For
Cairngorms NP and Monadhliath
Thursday 20th August 2026
Last updated
Mon 17th Aug 26 at
4:25PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
North-northeasterly 25 to 35mph.
Effect of the wind on you?
Feeling distinctly chilly on exposed high terrain. Breezy over hills, on higher Cairngorms walking more strenuous.
How Wet?
Rain on and off
Showery rain spreading from the north, more frequent rain for periods, some heavier moments.
Cloud on the hills?
Fairly extensive on tops
Often capping higher slopes above 700-900m, some lower patches in rain, most persistent north Cairngorms.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
20%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Mostly cloudy, rare sun mainly south. Visibility poor in rain, at times good.
How Cold? (at 900m)
5 or 6C, little variation all day; slightly cooler by evening. Feeling like -3 to -5C in stronger wind.
Freezing Level
Above the summits, but by evening, dropping close to freezing on Ben Macdui summit.
Planning Outlook
Low pressure dominates across Britain into midweek, bringing showery conditions widely, some more organised bands of rain at times. Some heavy and thundery downpours forming, mostly into the afternoons, becoming focused further south with time. Fresh westerly winds turning northerly and temperature lowering later this week, dropping close to freezing on high Scottish tops by Friday and frost may occur in Highland glens over a couple of nights. More often dry with rare lighter showers over the weekend as higher pressure builds. Strengthening south-southwesterly winds into early next week with a risk of rain returning from the west, but warmer temperatures are likely.