Mountain weather

South Grampian and Southeast Highlands

Print version

There may be weather warnings in force for the UK

South Grampian and Southeast Highlands Mountain weather forecast table

Confidence

High for settled conditions until the weekend then more unsettled. Low for cloud amounts, and timing and quantities of rain later in the weekend.

This evening forecast

Sunrise:
Sunset:

Staying dry. Clear spells, but cloud increasing across the Angus and Aberdeenshire foothills..

Sunrise:
Sunset:
Mountain hazards

Mountain weather hazards

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

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.

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.
Mountain hazards explained
Avalanche information for Scotland. Scottish Avalanche Information Service.

Mountain weather forecast

Staying dry. Uncertain cloud, best chance of sunshine in Perthshire.

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

Met Office Aberdeen meteorologist's view

Note the falling summit temperatures in the evening.

Weather

A dry day. Some low cloud over the south and east, especially the Ochils and the Angus/Aberdeenshire foothills. Best chance of sunny spells over Perthshire and the highest summits of Aberdeenshire. Later in the evening some light rain and hill snow may reach the Aberdeenshire Hills with cloud becoming more extensive

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

70%.

Visibility

Away from cloud good, but rather hazy. Cloud amounts uncertain. Bases in south and east around 400m, lower patches, tops around 750m, so greatest chance of poor visibility on the windward side of the hills between these heights.

Sunrise:
Sunset:

Mountain weather information

Weather

A cloudy start with a little light rain, with snow above 500m. Then dry in the afternoon with cloud breaking to allow some sunshine. A clear cold evening with frost at all levels.

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

30% in morning rising 80% in afternoon.

Maximum wind speed expected

East or northeast 20 gusts 30mph.

Temperature

  • At 800m Minus 1 Celsius falling to Minus 4 during the afternoon.
  • Glen Plus 4 Celsius falling to Minus 2 in the evening.
  • Freezing level 700m falling to 450m in afternoon and all levels in evening

Visibility

Moderate at first with some slight haze and some reductions in light rain and snow. Then very good in the afternoon in the clean cold arctic airmass away from any residual lower cloud. Cloud bases 600-900m in morning then becoming broken and lifting above summits in the afternoon except for the odd patch.

Mountain weather information

Friday 5 March

Sunrise:
Sunset:

Dry with some sunny spells. A gentle southerly breeze. Freezing level 450m but all levels early and late.

Saturday 6 March

Sunrise:
Sunset:

Dry bright start with some sunshine but turning cloudy in the afternoon afternoon. Then some rain, with sleet and snow above 600m, arriving later in the afternoon, the snow level lifting to 800m in the evening. Fresh south or southwest wind.

Sunday 7 March

Sunrise:
Sunset:

Cloudy with occasional rain, summit snow and some hill fog. Freezing level 1100m. Fresh south or southwesterly wind.

Updated at:
Mountain weather explained

Including South and East Cairngorms National Park, Aberdeenshire and Angus Hills, Ben Vrackie, Ben Lawers, Loch Tay and Ochils

This weather forecast area covers much of the southern and eastern Cairngorm National Park, the Aberdeenshire hills and Angus hills and includes the Balmoral Estate, Scottish home of the Royal Family since 1852. Lochnagar, with its magnificent northern corrie, is very popular among walkers and climbers and Mount Keen is the most easterly of all Munros (Scottish mountains over 3000 feet).

The Perthshire hills offer a rich variety of heather-clad hills and mighty pine forests. The River Tay flows 120 miles from its source to the North Sea and is the longest and largest river in Scotland. Loch Tay is a freshwater loch and 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 near the north shore of the loch that includes seven Munros.

The Ochil Hills are a long range of steep-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.

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

Related links