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
Severe gale or storm, mobility very difficult
Severe conditions on the mountains, any movement very challenging, you may be blown over. 55-70mph+
Heavy snow and hail showers, isolated lightning
Showery precipitation, often heavy, may merge to become constant for periods. A mix of snow and hail often falling to lower slopes. Risk of very localised thunder and lightning.
Whiteout
Fog and lying snow over the mountains, possibly with falling or blowing snow, very disorientating. Map and compass essential, beware of unseen hazards.
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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Severe gale or storm, mobility very difficult
Severe conditions on the mountains, any movement very challenging, you may be blown over. 55-70mph+
Heavy snow and hail showers, isolated lightning
Showery precipitation, often heavy, may merge to become constant for periods. A mix of snow and hail often falling to lower slopes. Risk of very localised thunder and lightning.
Whiteout
Fog and lying snow over the mountains, possibly with falling or blowing snow, very disorientating. Map and compass essential, beware of unseen hazards.
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
Sunday 12th April 2026
Last updated
Sat 11th Apr 26 at
4:00PM
Summary for all mountain areas
Gales will be severe all day over Scottish mountains, whilst upland gales gradually lessen for northern England, easing sooner in Wales, but remaining blustery. Widespread heavy showers merging into more constant precipitation in western Scotland, powerful squalls with hail, snow falling at times and risk of thunder.
Headline for Cairngorms NP and Monadhliath
Severe gales. Frequent hail, snow, becoming widespread.
How windy? (On the Munros)
South then southwesterly, 50 to 60mph, but often 70mph higher Cairngorms and stronger gusts widely over tops in showers. Lessening marginally from the south later in day.
Effect of the wind on you?
Difficult walking conditions, any mobility challenging in places, powerful squally gusts could knock you over on exposed terrain. Severe wind chill.
How Wet?
Frequent heavy showers, hail, snow
Showers most common toward south and west Cairngorms in morning, but increasingly widespread with time; heavy bursts with hail, snow at times falling toward 600m, chance of isolated thunder & lightning. Snow cover on most high terrain, substantial in places.
Cloud on the hills?
Varying over higher tops
Cloud often above 900m, for periods confined to only patches on highest tops with good breaks. Around showers, lowering over higher slopes more widely, patches toward 700m briefly.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
40%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Intermittent bright sunshine, sunniest toward north and east in the morning. Visibility changing suddenly from very good to briefly appalling in snow/hail and cloud.
How Cold? (at 900m)
0 or -1C rising to +1 or 2C by afternoon, but dropping slightly during showers. Wind chill feeling like -15C, often nearer -20C higher summits.
Freezing Level
800-900m from dawn, rising to 1000-1100m, then lowering again from dusk; briefly dropping also in showers.
Viewing Forecast For
Cairngorms NP and Monadhliath
Monday 13th April 2026
Last updated
Sat 11th Apr 26 at
4:00PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
Southerly, 20 to 25mph, risk 30mph higher Cairngorms and more eastern tops in the morning; gusty later around showers.
Effect of the wind on you?
Fairly small, but more noticeably blustery on some exposed tops in the morning, giving considerable wind chill.
How Wet?
Hail showers forming widely afternoon
Much of the morning dry, then a scattering of brief showers forming, becoming more widespread with time during afternoon, briefly heavy with hail, also snow may fall to 600m. Risk isolated thunder & lightning.
Cloud on the hills?
Often above hills, varied in showers
Patches of cloud forming around some upper slopes in the morning, mostly southern areas, lifting above many tops. Then occasional banks forming over hills during and after showers.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
80%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Sunshine best in north & east in morning, cloud building, leaving brief bursts of sun. Visibility excellent, but briefly very poor in showers.
How Cold? (at 900m)
-1C rising to +2C, but dropping a few degrees in showers. Wind chill feeling like -6C to near -10C early in day on tops.
Freezing Level
800m at first, also frost in sheltered glens; rising to 1100-1200m into middle of day and afternoon.
Viewing Forecast For
Cairngorms NP and Monadhliath
Tuesday 14th April 2026
Last updated
Sat 11th Apr 26 at
4:00PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
South to southeasterly, 15 to 20mph in morning, strengthening afternoon toward 30mph later. Into night likely over 50mph.
Effect of the wind on you?
Fairly small for half the day or more, but likely becoming more blustery over higher terrain with time.
How Wet?
Rain not expected until night
Likely dry all daytime. Into night, patchy rain develops from southwest.
Cloud on the hills?
Little if any
Fragments of cloud around some slopes early morning, also mist in some glens at first. Dispersing to leave hills generally clear.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
90%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Sunshine best northern areas in the morning, then patchwork of cloud and sun, high cloud gradually builds later. Visibility excellent.
How Cold? (at 900m)
0C rising to 4C. Feeling colder later in day as wind increases.
Freezing Level
900m early in day, plus frost in glens around dawn. Rising to 1200-1300m, then above all tops later in day.
Planning Outlook
Chilly and showery conditions to start the new week, hail and a risk of isolated thunder into Monday afternoon, but less windy than the weekend. Drier for much of Tuesday, but rain and strengthening south-southwesterly winds return from the west later. Milder into mid-late week, but Scottish high tops above 1200m close to freezing at times. Wednesday through Friday, showers or some more persistent rain, mostly in the west, accompanied by strong winds, gales over mountains for periods. Higher pressure gradually builds by next weekend, bringing fewer showers and lighter winds; chilly overnight, but fairly mild spring days.