
North Grampian Mountain weather forecast table
Confidence
High confidence in general weather picture through until Thursday, when confidence decreases. Lower confidence on exact location and timing of strongest winds Tuesday into Wednesday.
This evening forecast
Frequent showers, falling as snow above 600m, will continue through this evening and overnight. Accompanied by very strong westerly winds, reaching severe gale or perhaps storm force at height.
Mountain weather hazards
Hazards apply at or above 300m, reflecting the more severe conditions which can occur at altitude.
Severe Chill Effect
Gales
Blizzards
Storm Force Winds
Poor Visibility
Mountain weather forecast
Early showers clearing to a mostly fine day, further rain later in the evening.
00:00 | 03:00 | 06:00 | 09:00 | 12:00 | 15:00 | 18:00 | 21:00 | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Weather (at 800m) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Chance of precipitation (at 800m) |
70% | 40% | 20% | 10% | 10% | 20% | 30% | 70% |
00:00 | 03:00 | 06:00 | 09:00 | 12:00 | 15:00 | 18:00 | 21:00 | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1300m |
W
53
|
NW
56
|
NW
44
|
NW
30
|
NW
29
|
W
26
|
SW
28
|
SW
40
|
900m |
W
44
|
NW
45
|
NW
35
|
W
21
|
W
22
|
W
22
|
SW
25
|
SW
37
|
600m |
W
31
|
W
30
|
NW
22
|
W
14
|
W
16
|
W
14
|
SW
16
|
SW
25
|
300m |
W
18
|
NW
17
|
NW
13
|
SW
5
|
W
7
|
SW
7
|
SW
8
|
SW
13
|
Glen |
W
6
|
NW
6
|
NW
6
|
W
4
|
W
4
|
SW
4
|
SW
4
|
SW
6
|
00:00 | 03:00 | 06:00 | 09:00 | 12:00 | 15:00 | 18:00 | 21:00 | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1300m | 69 | 75 | 59 | 40 | 37 | 34 | 38 | 54 |
900m | 57 | 59 | 46 | 29 | 29 | 28 | 32 | 48 |
600m | 42 | 42 | 32 | 21 | 23 | 21 | 24 | 37 |
300m | 38 | 39 | 31 | 12 | 16 | 17 | 20 | 30 |
Glen | 33 | 34 | 29 | 22 | 19 | 17 | 17 | 26 |
00:00 | 03:00 | 06:00 | 09:00 | 12:00 | 15:00 | 18:00 | 21:00 | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1300m |
-6°
|
-5°
|
-5°
|
-5°
|
-5°
|
-4°
|
-4°
|
-3°
|
900m |
-2°
|
-2°
|
-2°
|
-2°
|
-1°
|
-1°
|
-1°
|
0°
|
600m |
0°
|
0°
|
0°
|
0°
|
1°
|
2°
|
2°
|
2°
|
300m |
2°
|
2°
|
2°
|
2°
|
3°
|
4°
|
3°
|
4°
|
Glen |
2°
|
3°
|
2°
|
1°
|
5°
|
5°
|
4°
|
5°
|
Freezing Level |
400m
|
600m
|
500m
|
500m
|
600m
|
700m
|
800m
|
1,000m
|
00:00 | 03:00 | 06:00 | 09:00 | 12:00 | 15:00 | 18:00 | 21:00 | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1300m |
-18°
|
-17°
|
-17°
|
-15°
|
-14°
|
-12°
|
-13°
|
-12°
|
900m |
-13°
|
-12°
|
-11°
|
-10°
|
-9°
|
-8°
|
-8°
|
-8°
|
600m |
-9°
|
-7°
|
-7°
|
-5°
|
-4°
|
-3°
|
-4°
|
-4°
|
300m |
-4°
|
-3°
|
-3°
|
-1°
|
1°
|
1°
|
0°
|
0°
|
Glen |
-2°
|
-1°
|
-2°
|
-1°
|
2°
|
3°
|
2°
|
1°
|
Additional weather information
Met Office Aberdeen meteorologist's view
Feeling very cold at height, particularly in strong winds.
Weather
Winds and showers, falling as snow above around 600m, will ease early on Monday morning to leave a mostly fine day with sunny spells. Clouding over from the west into the evening, with outbreaks of light rain, perhaps sleet at first, following behind. Rain turning heavier overnight.
Chance of cloud-free hill tops
20% through the early hours, increasing to 80% through the majority of the day, decreasing to 10% through the evening.
Low cloud and visibility
Low cloud and poor visibility in association with showers at first, patchy low cloud possibly at times around 600-800m but with good breaks and generally good visibility. Extensive low cloud during the evening with moderate or poor visibility.
Mountain weather information
Weather
Very strong winds throughout with frequent showers, falling as snow above 400m, along with the risk of lightning and hail.
Chance of cloud-free hill tops
10-20% throughout.
Maximum wind speed expected
Westerly 20-30 mph gusting 45-55 mph through much of the day, increasing to 35-40 mph gusting 60-65 mph later in the evening.
Temperature
- At 800m Plus 1 Celsius falling to minus 3 or 4.
- Glen Plus 2 to 5 Celsius.
- Freezing level Briefly 1400m during the early hours, falling to 400m soon after dawn.
Low cloud and visibility
Extensive broken cloud and poor visibility expected throughout the day, brief better interludes in any gaps between showers.
Mountain weather information
Wed 1 Feb
Scattered showers at first, falling as snow above around 400m. Then largely dry and bright for most of the day. Freezing level 400-600m. Very strong westerly winds at first, soon easing.
Thu 2 Feb
Low cloud with outbreaks of rain throughout the day, heavy at times. Freezing level 1500-2000m. Strong west to southwesterly winds.
Fri 3 Feb
Perhaps some rain at first but a generally drier day. Freezing level around 2000m. Moderate to strong southwesterly winds.
Summit specific forecast
Mountain summit forecast map
Includes the northern and western Cairngorms National Park, Monadhliath, Ben Alder, Creag Meagaidh, Loch Ericht and Loch Rannoch.
The North Grampian mountain weather forecast area includes much of the Cairngorms National Park which boasts five of the UK's six highest mountains and includes the largest areas of land in the UK above 2000 and 3000 feet. The Cairngorm Plateau is well-known for its extreme and very changeable weather (the strongest gust ever recorded in the UK was 173mph on Cairngorm Summit on 20th March 1986). Despite the challenging conditions, there is a diverse range of wildlife in the area including golden eagles, snow bunting and ptarmigan.
Creag Meagaidh, to the north of Glen Spean, is where the east Highlands meet the west Highlands and is often exposed to bad weather from either direction. It is a popular area for ice climbing thanks to its vast plateau which includes five Munros (Scottish mountains over 3000 feet).
Ben Alder lies just to the west of Loch Ericht and is one of the remotest of the Munros. Approaches are long from all directions with options including a long walk or cycle from Dalwhinnie to the northeast or by taking a train to the very remote Corrour Station and walking in from the southwest.
For snow and avalanche hazard forecasts please visit Scottish Avalanche Information Service