Mountain weather
South Grampian and Southeast Highlands Mountain weather forecast table
Confidence
Generally high for Sunday and Monday, although uncertainty in extent of rain and showers on Sunday. High for strong winds Tuesday, but low for details Wednesday and on Thursday.
This evening forecast
A few showers this evening, becoming mostly confined to the north of Deeside overnight. Strong Northerly winds, gusting around 55 mph across the tops, but light in some sheltered glens, allowing temperatures to fall away quickly.
Mountain weather hazards
Hazards apply at or above 300m, reflecting the more severe conditions which can occur at altitude.
Severe chill effect
Wind significantly lowers the ‘feels-like’ temperature relative to the actual temperature, with even moderate winds significantly adding to the chilling effect. Strong winds can result in a severe and debilitating wind chill many degrees below the actual temperature. This effect will be enhanced in rain or wet snow. Without protection, prolonged exposure could result in frost nip or frostbite on exposed parts of the body and/or hypothermia.
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 weather forecast
Cold and breezy, wintery showers in the north, drier and sunnier in the south.
| 00:00 | 03:00 | 06:00 | 09:00 | 12:00 | 15:00 | 18:00 | 21:00 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Weather (at 800m) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Chance of precipitation (at 800m) |
40% | 40% | 40% | 20% | 10% | 10% | <05% | 00% |
Wind direction and speed (mph)
Altitude above mean sea level
| 00:00 | 03:00 | 06:00 | 09:00 | 12:00 | 15:00 | 18:00 | 21:00 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1100m |
N
38
|
N
37
|
N
36
|
N
32
|
N
27
|
N
27
|
N
27
|
N
22
|
| 900m |
N
31
|
N
29
|
N
29
|
N
26
|
N
24
|
N
23
|
N
21
|
N
18
|
| 600m |
N
18
|
N
17
|
N
17
|
N
15
|
N
15
|
N
14
|
N
11
|
N
9
|
| 300m |
N
11
|
N
12
|
N
12
|
N
11
|
N
11
|
N
10
|
N
7
|
N
7
|
| Glen |
N
11
|
N
11
|
N
11
|
N
10
|
N
11
|
N
10
|
N
8
|
N
7
|
Wind gust (mph)
Altitude above mean sea level
| 00:00 | 03:00 | 06:00 | 09:00 | 12:00 | 15:00 | 18:00 | 21:00 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1100m | 48 | 46 | 45 | 41 | 36 | 35 | 34 | 29 |
| 900m | 40 | 38 | 38 | 35 | 33 | 31 | 28 | 24 |
| 600m | 30 | 30 | 30 | 27 | 26 | 24 | 20 | 17 |
| 300m | 26 | 28 | 27 | 25 | 25 | 22 | 19 | 16 |
| Glen | 28 | 27 | 27 | 24 | 25 | 24 | 20 | 17 |
Altitude above mean sea level
| 00:00 | 03:00 | 06:00 | 09:00 | 12:00 | 15:00 | 18:00 | 21:00 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1100m |
-1°
|
-1°
|
-1°
|
-1°
|
-1°
|
-2°
|
-2°
|
-2°
|
| 900m |
2°
|
1°
|
1°
|
1°
|
1°
|
1°
|
0°
|
0°
|
| 600m |
4°
|
3°
|
3°
|
3°
|
3°
|
3°
|
2°
|
2°
|
| 300m |
6°
|
6°
|
5°
|
6°
|
7°
|
6°
|
4°
|
4°
|
| Glen |
7°
|
7°
|
6°
|
7°
|
8°
|
7°
|
5°
|
5°
|
| Freezing Level |
1,100m
|
1,000m
|
1,000m
|
1,000m
|
1,000m
|
900m
|
900m
|
800m
|
Altitude above mean sea level
| 00:00 | 03:00 | 06:00 | 09:00 | 12:00 | 15:00 | 18:00 | 21:00 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1100m |
-9°
|
-10°
|
-10°
|
-10°
|
-9°
|
-10°
|
-10°
|
-9°
|
| 900m |
-6°
|
-6°
|
-7°
|
-6°
|
-6°
|
-6°
|
-6°
|
-6°
|
| 600m |
-2°
|
-2°
|
-3°
|
-2°
|
-2°
|
-2°
|
-2°
|
-2°
|
| 300m |
3°
|
2°
|
2°
|
2°
|
4°
|
3°
|
2°
|
2°
|
| Glen |
4°
|
4°
|
3°
|
4°
|
5°
|
4°
|
3°
|
3°
|
Additional weather information
Weather
Mostly cloudy through the early hours and morning with some patchy rain, snow above 800-900m, across the Aberdeenshire hills. Largely dry with brighter spells south of Deeside. Drier in the afternoon with occasional sunny spells and a few isolated showers. Feeling bitterly cold in the wind. A dry evening and night with largely clear skies.
Chance of cloud-free mountain/hill tops at 800m
Generally 80%, with cloud bases mostly above the summits, but 40% around Deeside with frequent cloud down to 700m, most extensive during the morning.
Visibility
Good or very good outside of any low cloud.
Met Office Aberdeen meteorologist's view
Feeling bitterly cold in the strong northerly winds.
Mountain weather information
Weather
Largely clear skies through the early hours with a frost in the glens. A sunny cold start. A dry day with plenty of sunshine in the morning. High cloud gradually filters eastward turning the sunshine hazy, thickening late afternoon and evening.
Chance of cloud-free mountain/hill tops at 800m
100%, any cloud above the summits.
Maximum wind speed expected
Northeast 10 mph, falling light and variable soon after dawn. Becoming West 10 mph in the afternoon, increasing 25 gusting 35 mph after dark, gusting 40-45 mph over the higher summits.
Temperature
- At 800m Plus 1 Celsius.
- Glen Zero Celsius rising to plus 10 Celsius.
- Freezing level 900m, rising to 1200m after dark.
Visibility
Good or very good.
Mountain weather information
Tuesday 22 October
Sunrise:
Sunset:
Cloudy with bases gradually lowering to give extensive hill fog later in the day. Patchy rain by the evening. Strong southwest winds with a risk of summit gales. Freezing levels above the summits.
Wednesday 23 October
Sunrise:
Sunset:
Patchy rain and low cloud. Strong southwest winds and summit gales for a time. Freezing level well above the summits, but still feeling cold in strong winds and rain.
Thursday 24 October
Sunrise:
Sunset:
A fresher day with plenty of sunshine and a few wintery showers across western ranges. Fresh to strong west or southwest winds. Freezing level gradually falling to around 800m.
Updated at:
Summit specific forecast
Mountain summit forecast map
Key
Mountain summits
Other points of interest
Cluster of multiple stations
Includes South and East Cairngorms National Park, Aberdeenshire and Angus hills, Ben Vrackie, Ben Lawers, Loch Tay and Ochils
The Ochil Hills are a long range of steeply sided, round topped hills, stretching 25 miles from the Firth of Tay to Stirling. There are many peaks over 600 metres offering splendid views across central Scotland and to the north, with Ben Cleuch the highest at 721 metres.
Loch Tay is a freshwater loch in the central highlands and is around 15 miles long. At around 150 metres deep it is one of the deepest in Scotland. At 1,214 metres Ben Lawers is the highest point along the ridge on the north shore that includes seven Munros (mountains over 3,000 ft).
For snow and avalanche hazard forecasts please visit Sportscotland Avalanche Information Service