Cairngorms NP and Monadhliath
Cairngorms National Park and Monadhliath. Also includes the Ben Alder area hills between Loch Ericht and Loch Laggan.
Today'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.
Sunshine and showers
A good amount of dry and bright weather, but scattered bursts of rain, some may be locally heavy.
Chilly
Air temperature typically 0 to 5C on higher summits. Feeling distinctly chilly on tops when stationary or where exposed to wind. Take appropriate layers.
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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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.
Sunshine and showers
A good amount of dry and bright weather, but scattered bursts of rain, some may be locally heavy.
Chilly
Air temperature typically 0 to 5C on higher summits. Feeling distinctly chilly on tops when stationary or where exposed to wind. Take appropriate layers.
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
Monday 23rd February 2026
Last updated
Sun 22nd Feb 26 at
4:27PM
Summary for all mountain areas
Widespread gales, severe for several hours on higher terrain. Early showers from the west affect many hills, particularly Scotland where rain will be frequent; snow on high terrain. Rain slowly eases afternoon, then a warm front approaches Wales, brining more rain and rising temperatures here, spreading widely overnight.
Headline for Cairngorms NP and Monadhliath
Gales, risk severe for a time; showers west, fading afternoon
How windy? (On the Munros)
Westerly 40mph early, rising into midday, reaching 50mph, locally higher on southern tops. Easing later afternoon, to 30mph or less by dusk, lowering further into night but deteriorating in the later hours.
Effect of the wind on you?
Conditions soon becoming challenging on high terrain with severe wind chill. These conditions persist until the afternoon when improvement starts, but walking remains strenuous all the way into nighttime.
How Wet?
Morning showers, mostly west, fading
Showery precipitation from overnight into morning, mostly near and west of the A9, possible hail, snow above 900m. Some patches drift further east towards Deeside. Fading into afternoon morning to lighter showers, mostly just west, and increasingly dry. Rain returns later overnight.
Cloud on the hills?
Patches higher and western tops
Broken cloud drifting over higher tops in the morning, most common toward west of Cairngorm plateau, mostly above 900m. Good breaks higher up eastward. Many hills may clear for several hours.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
50%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Mixed cloud and sun, best in the east, more sunshine breaking out with time, but some high cloud approaches later in the day. Visibility mostly very good.
How Cold? (at 900m)
0 or 1C from dawn, rising to 2C during daylight, rising a few more degrees overnight. Feeling like -15C or colder directly in the wind.
Freezing Level
1000 to 1100m, may locally reach 900m some west slopes. Marginal rise during day, then lifting above the summits overnight.
Viewing Forecast For
Cairngorms NP and Monadhliath
Tuesday 24th February 2026
Last updated
Sun 22nd Feb 26 at
4:27PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
Southwesterly 35 to 45mph, though gusty, particularly over high Cairngorms to the north, up to 55mph.
Effect of the wind on you?
Arduous walking over the mountains, difficult in places higher up. Significant wind chill despite milder air.
How Wet?
Some drizzly rain
Some drizzle and light rain affecting hills from Ben Alder to southern Cairngorms, dry periods likely too. Only small amounts northeastward as spots in the wind, if any. Wet underfoot where snow melts.
Cloud on the hills?
Fairly extensive higher areas and south
Covering most higher terrain, lowest cloud base near Drumochter, 600 to 800m, higher northward with some breaks to upper slopes north and east of Ben Macdui.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
20%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Largely cloudy, some brighter skies with sun through high cloud north of Cairngorms where visibility good. Hazier south, misty around some hills.
How Cold? (at 900m)
3 to 5C. In exposure to wind, feeling like -8 to -10C.
Freezing Level
Above all summits with thawing toward upper slopes.
Viewing Forecast For
Cairngorms NP and Monadhliath
Wednesday 25th February 2026
Last updated
Sun 22nd Feb 26 at
4:27PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
Southwesterly 25-35mph; gusty, including to lower slopes.
Effect of the wind on you?
Walking at times strenuous and feeling chilly. Notable buffeting at times affecting stability.
How Wet?
Rain on-and-off
Periods of rain affect most mountains on-and-off throughout the day. Northern Cairngorm slopes may only see spotty light rain at least for a time.
Cloud on the hills?
Fairly extensive, higher bases north
Extensive cloud from middle slopes upward along the southern Cairngorms and much of the Monadhliath hills, reaching the lower slopes during rain. North and east of Ben Macdui may see breaks up towards 800m
Chance of cloud free Munros?
20%
Sunshine and air clarity?
A few brighter moments towards the northeast, where visibility locally good. Otherwise overcast and dull with poor visibility.
How Cold? (at 900m)
5C; little change with added height. Feeling as cold as -5C in direct wind.
Freezing Level
Above the summits.
Planning Outlook
West to southwesterly winds prevail during the week ahead as areas of low pressure move toward northwest Scotland; regular rainfall here, most frequent and heavy over western mountains. Weak high pressure keeps the weather drier to the south and east early in the week. Sustained gales over the mountains, only brief lulls around mid-week. Temperatures rising into mid-week with freezing levels soon lifting off summits in England and Wales for substantial snow thaws. Some thawing in Scotland too. Later in the week, becoming more widely unsettled again with cooler temperatures, at times showery with hail, some snow on Scottish Munros. The final days of February favour colder northwesterly air and a drop of freezing level; a dry and bright spell is possible early weekend.