Mountain weather
South Grampian and Southeast Highlands Mountain weather forecast table
Confidence
High for staying rather cold until mid week, but lower for extent of showers on Monday. High for milder conditions from late Wednesday or on Thursday, but low for timing.
Mountain weather hazards
Hazards apply at or above 300m, reflecting the more severe conditions which can occur at altitude.
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.
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.
Mountain weather forecast
Cold and windy. Low cloud with snow flurries for most. Drier brighter in the north.
| 06:00 | 09:00 | 12:00 | 15:00 | 18:00 | 21:00 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Weather (at 800m) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Chance of precipitation (at 800m) |
20% | 60% | 60% | 60% | 60% | 60% |
Wind direction and speed (mph)
Altitude above mean sea level
| 06:00 | 09:00 | 12:00 | 15:00 | 18:00 | 21:00 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1100m |
S
19
|
SW
16
|
SW
27
|
S
31
|
S
34
|
S
37
|
| 900m |
S
15
|
SW
14
|
SW
22
|
S
24
|
S
27
|
S
28
|
| 600m |
S
8
|
SW
10
|
SW
13
|
SW
15
|
S
16
|
S
17
|
| 300m |
E
2
|
W
3
|
W
4
|
S
4
|
S
6
|
S
7
|
| Glen |
E
4
|
W
2
|
SW
4
|
SW
5
|
S
8
|
S
10
|
Wind gust (mph)
Altitude above mean sea level
| 06:00 | 09:00 | 12:00 | 15:00 | 18:00 | 21:00 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1100m | 24 | 20 | 35 | 38 | 42 | 45 |
| 900m | 20 | 18 | 29 | 31 | 34 | 36 |
| 600m | 15 | 16 | 23 | 25 | 26 | 28 |
| 300m | 7 | 9 | 11 | 10 | 13 | 18 |
| Glen | 7 | 6 | 10 | 13 | 17 | 22 |
Altitude above mean sea level
| 06:00 | 09:00 | 12:00 | 15:00 | 18:00 | 21:00 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1100m |
-3°
|
-4°
|
-4°
|
-3°
|
-3°
|
-3°
|
| 900m |
-2°
|
-3°
|
-2°
|
-2°
|
-2°
|
-2°
|
| 600m |
-1°
|
-1°
|
0°
|
0°
|
0°
|
0°
|
| 300m |
0°
|
0°
|
1°
|
1°
|
1°
|
2°
|
| Glen |
1°
|
1°
|
2°
|
2°
|
2°
|
2°
|
| Freezing Level |
400m
|
400m
|
400m
|
500m
|
600m
|
600m
|
Altitude above mean sea level
| 06:00 | 09:00 | 12:00 | 15:00 | 18:00 | 21:00 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1100m |
-11°
|
-11°
|
-13°
|
-12°
|
-13°
|
-13°
|
| 900m |
-9°
|
-9°
|
-10°
|
-9°
|
-10°
|
-10°
|
| 600m |
-5°
|
-5°
|
-6°
|
-5°
|
-5°
|
-6°
|
| 300m |
-1°
|
-2°
|
-1°
|
-1°
|
-2°
|
-2°
|
| Glen |
-1°
|
-1°
|
-1°
|
-1°
|
-2°
|
-1°
|
Additional weather information
Weather
Mainly light snow showers through the day, perhaps turning heavier in the evening. Mainly dry with some bright or sunny spells across north Aberdeenshire hills.
Chance of cloud-free mountain/hill tops at 800m
10% or less, extensive cloud above 700m, occasionally down to 400-500m across southern ranges. Better chance across northern Aberdeenshire hills where often cloud free until evening.
Visibility
Generally poor in low cloud, whiteout conditions on higher snow covered slopes.
Met Office Aberdeen meteorologist's view
A challenging navigation day with whiteout conditions persisting above the snowline. Some icy surfaces.
Mountain weather information
Weather
Low cloud and occasional light snow flurries through the early hours. Dry from dawn with sunny spells developing from the south. Clear spells in the evening.
Chance of cloud-free mountain/hill tops at 800m
10-20% through the early hours. Improving to 80% in the morning as cloud clears from the south.
Maximum wind speed expected
Southwest 30mph becoming West 15-20mph by dawn. Turning northwest for a few hours in the evening.
Temperature
- At 800m Minus 1 Celsius.
- Glen Minus 1 Celsius rising to plus 3 Celsius.
- Freezing level 800m lowering to 400m in the afternoon
Visibility
Very good through daylight hours and in the evening.
Mountain weather information
Wednesday 18 December
Sunrise:
Sunset:
A dry cold day with some sunny spells and moderate winds. Low cloud in the evening and Southerly severe gales developing. A chance of snow. Freezing level 300-400m, rising to 1000m in the evening.
Thursday 19 December
Sunrise:
Sunset:
Snow soon turning to rain at all levels clearing in the morning with southerly gales easing. Then dry and bright with sunny spells. Milder than recent days. Freezing level above the summits.
Friday 20 December
Sunrise:
Sunset:
Light to moderate southerly winds. Most likely turning increasingly cloudy, a chance of light rain later. Freezing level just above the highest summits.
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