Cairngorms NP and Monadhliath
Cairngorms National Park and Monadhliath. Also includes the Ben Alder area hills between Loch Ericht and Loch Laggan.
Saturday's Forecast
Windy, walking impeded
Blustery conditions enough to give buffeting on higher terrain or affect balance on exposed ridges. 25 to 40mph.
Snow and hail showers
Periods of bright or sunny conditions mixed with showers or flurries of snow and hail. Visibility may change rapidly from excellent to very poor.
Hazy, some fog banks
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Visibility reduced around cloud banks, hazier on some lower slopes. Locally some improvements possible out of cloud.
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.
Snow and hail showers
Periods of bright or sunny conditions mixed with showers or flurries of snow and hail. Visibility may change rapidly from excellent to very poor.
Hazy, some fog banks
Visibility reduced around cloud banks, hazier on some lower slopes. Locally some improvements possible out of cloud.
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
Saturday 14th March 2026
Last updated
Fri 13th Mar 26 at
12:32PM
Summary for all mountain areas
Very much less windy, especially England and Wales in afternoon. But still cold day with hail and snow showers, and particularly Wales away from western hills spells of sun. The snow will penetrate to lower slopes in Scotland but be confined above 600m elsewhere.
Headline for Cairngorms NP and Monadhliath
Wind easing; a few snow showers. Much higher cloud base.
How windy? (On the Munros)
Westerly, 35mph after dawn. Will during morning east to 20 or on higher tops 25mph, although gusty near showers.
Effect of the wind on you?
Becoming fairly small, although balance difficult and wind chill considerable in gusty winds in precipitation.
How Wet?
Hail and snow showers
Hail and above 300, later 600m snow showers. However, widely dry morning, and all day toward Deeside.
Cloud on the hills?
Almost constantly covering highest mountains; highest cloud base Deeside
Varied cloud base: sometimes below 600m -800 near precipitation particularly west of A9 morning. otherwise as cloud base rises, by midday most cloud above 1000 to 1200m highest toward Deeside.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
30% rising to 60%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Occasional sun west of A9 to patchwork of sun Deeside. Very good visibility or by afternoon mostly excellent visibility.
How Cold? (at 900m)
-2C; varying by a degree or two as showers come and go. Will feel as cold as minus 14C directly in the wind.
Freezing Level
600m post dawn; mostly 800m by mid afternoon
Viewing Forecast For
Cairngorms NP and Monadhliath
Sunday 15th March 2026
Last updated
Fri 13th Mar 26 at
12:32PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
Westerly typically between 35 and 45mph. Risk strengthening further later afternoon onwards.
Effect of the wind on you?
Continued difficult walking and wind chill significant on exposed higher areas. Expect balance, and in places general mobility to be difficult.
How Wet?
Frequent snow and hail
After dawn; rain, or above 900m snow, on and off, very little eastern Cairngorms NP, will clear within a few hours. Then, often dry, particularly toward Deeside, but hail and snow showers will gradually extend eastwards.
Cloud on the hills?
Very extensive morning; cloud base then rising
Areas of very low cloud will break as precipitation clears. Then varying cloud base between occasionally 600m near precipitation and otherwise 900m (west of A9) to 1100m Cairngorm plateau and 1200m Deeside.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
30%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Patches of sun developing, mainly toward Deeside. Varied visibility; very poor in precipitation but otherwise very good.
How Cold? (at 900m)
Soon -2C. Will feel as cold as minus 15C where exposed to the wind.
Freezing Level
Soon between 400 and 600m.
Viewing Forecast For
Cairngorms NP and Monadhliath
Monday 16th March 2026
Last updated
Fri 13th Mar 26 at
12:32PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
West backing southwesterly; 50 to 65mph most of morning. Then gradually easing to around 40mph in a slight lull.
Effect of the wind on you?
Severe wind chill and difficult walking. Any mobility may well be a struggle at least in the morning - especially near precipitation.
How Wet?
Hail and snow showers
Showers; sometimes frequent, particularly west of A9 morning. Expect hail and above 300, later 600m snow - may give whiteout. Precipitation may be more widespread toward dusk.
Cloud on the hills?
Very extensive on higher summits; cloud base highest toward the east
Cloud base will vary: near precipitation forming at around 600, occasionally below 450m west of A9. Otherwise, cloud base 750-900m morning, and 900 to 1100m into the afternoon. Highest cloud base will be across Deeside.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
30%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Occasional sun, most sun toward Deeside. Slight haze - but very poor visibility in precipitation.
How Cold? (at 900m)
-2C, rising toward 0C. Will feel as cold as minus 18C due to wind chill.
Freezing Level
600m, rising toward 900m.
Planning Outlook
Frequent upland gales until Tuesday - generally strongest Scottish Highlands. Precipitation will continue on most mountains, focussed in the west - lengthy periods of showery weather and occasional swathes of widespread rain. Freeze thaw cycles will continue: on the Scottish Highlands, thaw periods brief and snow widely accumulating. Further south, lying snow mostly confined to higher summits. There is now high likelihood of an abrupt transition mid-week as pressure builds north of Britain: extensively fine; cloud often clearing, particularly western Britain and temperature levels more varied - fairly warm some afternoons but frost widely at night.