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Mountain weather

North Grampian

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North Grampian Mountain weather forecast table

Confidence

High confidence for dry, warm and fine conditions Monday and also high confidence for a change to more unsettled conditions later Wednesday, but then less confidence for timings and coverage of heavier rain and showers

This evening forecast

Sunrise:
Sunset:

Dry with clear periods, though cloudier over the Monadhliaths and Speyside at first and perhaps some mist and fog forming at low levels over Speyside through the evening.

Sunrise:
Sunset:
Mountain hazards

Mountain weather hazards

Hazards apply at or above 300m, reflecting the more severe conditions which can occur at altitude.

hazard Gales
Gale force winds (gusts over 50mph) make walking difficult and strenuous with a potential to be blown over by gusts. There is often a marked increase in winds through cols or on exposed ridges and summits. Distances can take longer to cover and compass bearings become harder to follow accurately.
hazard Strong sunlight
Harmful UV levels from sunlight increase with altitude giving a greater risk of sunburn and eye damage, even on some overcast days. On breezy days, the cooling effect of wind on exposed skin may disguise any feeling of sunburn until it is too late. If there is snow cover, glare increases the effect of UV rays especially on the eyes. It is advisable to wear sun block, protective clothing such as a long-sleeved top and hat and have good quality eye protection.

hazard Storm force winds
Storm force winds (gusts over 70mph) make walking very strenuous with any mobility virtually impossible over exposed ground. Where these conditions occur there is a high risk of being blown over and even standing may be impossible at times with a risk of being blown off one’s feet. Basic tasks such as using a map, eating, putting on extra clothing or communication become extremely difficult away from any shelter.
hazard Poor visibility
Poor visibility presents challenging route finding conditions. Visibility could be significantly less than 50 metres in all directions with few or no visual references, especially on featureless moors or plateaux. Distances become hard to judge and cliff or cornice edges can be difficult to recognise. These conditions require good navigational skills. There is a risk of white-out conditions when mist or fog is combined with extensive snow cover.
Mountain hazards explained

Mountain weather forecast

A mostly fine, dry and warm day, light winds at low level but windy at height

Wind direction and speed (mph)
Altitude above mean sea level
Wind gust (mph)
Altitude above mean sea level

Altitude above mean sea level

Altitude above mean sea level

Additional weather information

Weather

A few mist and fog patches in glens in northwest, but dry with largely clear skies overnight. Any fog will soon clear Monday, then a fine, warm and sunny day. Still dry in the evening but high cloud pushing in from the south and patchy cloud will develop onto eastern slopes

Chance of cloud-free mountain/hill tops at 800m

100% with any cloud well above summits, but chance reducing in the evening in the east

Visibility

Poor with fog at height in the west in the early hours, then becoming mostly good and generally good or very good through Monday, though some haziness later with distant hills becoming indistinct.

Met Office Aberdeen meteorologist's view

Warm or very warm, especially over lower slopes, with long spells of sunshine and quite strong sunlight there is a risk of sunburn and dehydration. Temperatures in some western glens likely to reach 23 Celsius. However much cooler feel at height, with gale force winds over the summits. Despite signal for winds to ease at height, winds expected to increase over the Cairngorm Plateau, likely 45 gust 60mph

Sunrise:
Sunset:

Mountain weather information

Weather

Some build up of cloud onto eastern slopes overnight with perhaps the odd spot of drizzle, otherwise clear spells, though rather a lot of high cloud around. Low cloud will clear from eastern slopes in the morning then dry and bright, with hazy sunshine, though a good deal of high cloud. Staying dry in the afternoon but patchy cloud will tend to develop over the summits. Still very warm in western Glens, but a little cooler in east. Cloud building over eastern slopes in the evening with low cloud forming quite extensively onto eastern upslopes, bringing drizzle and hill fog

Chance of cloud-free mountain/hill tops at 800m

Around 30% at first in east with broken or blanket cloud down to 400 or 500m, but this clearing then generally 90% or more with little cloud on the hills, but chance decreasing a little in afternoon as scattered cloud develops over the tops. Chance decreasing to 10 or 20% in east later as cloud spreads in from east.

Maximum wind speed expected

East or southeast 30 to 35 gust 45mph, perhaps 45 gust 60mph over the Cairngorms, and more generally later in the day.

Temperature

  • At 800m Plus 8 to 10 Celsius
  • Glen Plus 7 Celsius rising to plus 17 Celsius in east, but to plus 21 Celsius in west
  • Freezing level Gradually falling to 1400m

Visibility

Moderate perhaps poor in east overnight, otherwise mostly good, though rather hazy and distant hills will be indistinct. Becoming moderate or poor in east later

Mountain weather information

Wednesday 24 April

Sunrise:
Sunset:

Dry and bright start in west, but cloud and drizzle in east will filter westwards, though most of the low cloud expected to stay over eastern areas. Cloud thickening in the afternoon to bring heavy and possibly thundery rain in the evening. Easterly winds increasing with gales or severe gales developing over the summits. Freezing level steadily rising.

Thursday 25 April

Sunrise:
Sunset:

Heavy rain clearing overnight with winds turning more southerly and easing to strong. Staying mostly cloudy though some bright or sunny spells, but cloudy with some heavy rain possible in far east for a time in the morning. Scattered heavy and possibly thundery showers will develop in the afternoon and these could be wintry on the higher slopes with freezing level around summit level.

Friday 26 April

Sunrise:
Sunset:

Some low cloud in east at first, but mostly dry and bright. Cloud increasing in afternoon to bring a spell of heavy rain and perhaps summit snow, but clearing in the evening. Southerly winds strengthening, but turning southwest later. Freezing level mostly near summit level but rising in afternoon.

Updated at:
Mountain weather explained

Summit specific forecast map

Summit specific forecasts for North Grampian

Includes the North and West Cairngorms National Park, Monadhliath, Ben Alder, Creag Meagaidh, Loch Ericht and Loch Rannoch.

The North Grampian region includes a large part of the Cairngorm National Park and the Balmoral Estate, the Scottish home of the Royal family since 1852. Five of the UK's six highest mountains lie inside Cairngorm National park, and there are 55 Munros (mountains over 3,000 ft). You will also find three of Scotland’s five ski centres including the Glenshee Ski Centre, the largest in the UK. The centre extends across four mountains, Glas Maol the largest at 1,068 metres and Carn Aosda the smallest at 917 metres, and includes 36 different ski runs.

Most people agree that Creag Meagaidh in Glen Spean is where the east highlands meet the west highlands. It is also this location which provides one of the area's most popular activities - ice climbing. This is thanks to its vast plateau from which five Munros (that seem almost made for climbing) stretch out. Seeing as plenty is on offer for visitors and it is crammed in a relatively small area, it should come as no surprise that the Creag Meagaidh area has been praised as offering all that is good about the Highlands in a single nature reserve.

For snow and avalanche hazard forecasts please visit Sportscotland Avalanche Information Service

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