Cairngorms NP and Monadhliath
Cairngorms National Park and Monadhliath. Also includes the Ben Alder area hills between Loch Ericht and Loch Laggan.
Wednesday's Forecast
Windy, walking impeded
Blustery conditions enough to give buffeting on higher terrain or affect balance on exposed ridges. 25 to 40mph.
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.
Cold
Air temperature below 0C all day on higher mountains. Significant chill factor if exposed to strong winds. Suitable protective clothing required.
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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.
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.
Cold
Air temperature below 0C all day on higher mountains. Significant chill factor if exposed to strong winds. Suitable protective clothing required.
Viewing Forecast For
Cairngorms NP and Monadhliath
Wednesday 13th May 2026
Last updated
Tue 12th May 26 at
4:35PM
Summary for all mountain areas
Cold for the time of year, with a cyclonic and unstable north-westerly bringing an increasingly widespread showery day across the hills. Showers heavy, with hail and risk of isolated thunder. Snow falling above around 700m. Gusty north-westerly winds, particularly strong and turbulent in and around the showers.
Headline for Cairngorms NP and Monadhliath
Cold, blustery and showery with hail and above 600-700m snow. Risk thunder.
How windy? (On the Munros)
Northwesterly 25mph, at times 30mph higher Cairngorms, tending to increase later in day.
Effect of the wind on you?
Significant wind chill, blustery on high terrain, may start to affect comfortable walking in exposure, buffeting gusts.
How Wet?
Showery, hail and hill snow
Showers focused on northern areas early morning, but becoming widespread, heavy bursts with hail, risk isolated thunder; snow often falling on the Munros, at times down to 600-700m in north.
Cloud on the hills?
Fairly extensive, then varying over tops
Often capping higher northern Cairngorms above 1000m in morning, tending to rise, then frequently changing over higher tops, ragged patches to 600m, but periods where breaking to clear even highest tops.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
40%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Brief bursts of bright sun and intermittently excellent visibility, but suddenly appalling where in cloud, snow or hail.
How Cold? (at 900m)
0C rising to 3C. Wind chill feeling like -10C, or nearer -15C at times on higher summits.
Freezing Level
900m early morning, rising to 1200m or above into afternoon, but lowering again in showers.
Viewing Forecast For
Cairngorms NP and Monadhliath
Thursday 14th May 2026
Last updated
Tue 12th May 26 at
4:35PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
North-westerly 15 to 25mph
Effect of the wind on you?
Feeling cold for mid May, with considerable chill in the north-westerly wind.
How Wet?
Showers, increasingly widespread.
A few isolated showers here and there at first, mainly in the north. Showers then developing through day widely; some hail with snow above 700-900m.
Cloud on the hills?
Bases varied, often banked across tops.
Cloud bases varying through day, particularly in and out of showers, but banks may be fairly persistent on tops above 900-1100m. Best breaks in south.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
50%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Skies often filled in with cloud limiting the sun to glimpses. Visibility very good, but lowering to become poor or very poor in showers.
How Cold? (at 900m)
Around freezing
Freezing Level
900-1000m
Viewing Forecast For
Cairngorms NP and Monadhliath
Friday 15th May 2026
Last updated
Tue 12th May 26 at
4:35PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
Northwesterly 25 to 35mph at dawn, perhaps 40mph easternmost hills, but easing to 15 to 25mph through day.
Effect of the wind on you?
Arduous start with significant wind chill and buffeting, but hour by hour easing down, to become mostly small.
How Wet?
Scattered snow and hail showers
A scattering of snow and hail showers through the day. Fewest across western coastal hills and Skye. Snow falling above 500m initially, rising to 900-1000m.
Cloud on the hills?
Varying, concentrated over northern hills.
Bases varying through the day, with patches of banks of cloud over the tops, concentrated across the northern Cairngorms, where may persist.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
40%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Skies often filled in with cloud, limiting the sun to fleeting glimpses.
How Cold? (at 900m)
-1 or -2C at dawn, but lifting to plus 1 to 3C into afternoon.
Freezing Level
700-800m at dawn, will lift to 1000-1200m.
Planning Outlook
Staying notably chilly for mid-May through this week as air from the north-northwest prevails, with showers heavy at times and containing hail with snow over the tops, but over the weekend a front will edge in and bring a change to westerly winds. Next week may see ridging across England and Wales giving drier conditions, but occasional rain and blustery south-westerly winds for Scotland.