Mountain weather
South Grampian and Southeast Highlands Mountain weather forecast table
Confidence
High for drier conditions Monday, and Tuesday with just occasional showers. High for sometimes changeable conditions to continue later in the week but low for daily detail.
This evening forecast
Windy with showers
Mountain weather hazards
Hazards apply at or above 300m, reflecting the more severe conditions which can occur at altitude.
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.
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.
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.
Thunderstorms
Lightning is a significant mountain hazard which can result in serious injury or death. Mountain terrain often leaves one highly exposed to lightning strikes. Hail may give unpleasant conditions with torrential rain and localised flash flooding also possible, mainly in Summer months.
Mountain weather forecast
Windy with showery rain, brightest and driest 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) |
20% | 20% | 20% | 20% | 30% | 60% | 60% | 30% |
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 |
SW
32
|
SW
30
|
W
29
|
W
30
|
W
32
|
W
35
|
W
29
|
W
21
|
| 900m |
SW
24
|
SW
22
|
W
23
|
W
26
|
W
27
|
W
28
|
W
24
|
W
16
|
| 600m |
SW
17
|
SW
16
|
W
16
|
W
19
|
W
20
|
W
21
|
W
16
|
W
11
|
| 300m |
W
9
|
W
9
|
W
8
|
W
14
|
W
15
|
W
14
|
W
10
|
W
6
|
| Glen |
W
9
|
SW
6
|
SW
8
|
W
13
|
W
15
|
W
14
|
W
10
|
W
5
|
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 | 38 | 36 | 36 | 37 | 40 | 44 | 35 | 26 |
| 900m | 30 | 28 | 29 | 34 | 35 | 37 | 31 | 21 |
| 600m | 28 | 26 | 26 | 30 | 34 | 35 | 26 | 17 |
| 300m | 22 | 19 | 18 | 29 | 31 | 29 | 21 | 14 |
| Glen | 21 | 14 | 17 | 27 | 31 | 30 | 21 | 12 |
Altitude above mean sea level
| 00:00 | 03:00 | 06:00 | 09:00 | 12:00 | 15:00 | 18:00 | 21:00 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1100m |
5°
|
5°
|
5°
|
5°
|
6°
|
6°
|
6°
|
5°
|
| 900m |
7°
|
7°
|
7°
|
8°
|
9°
|
8°
|
8°
|
7°
|
| 600m |
9°
|
9°
|
9°
|
11°
|
12°
|
11°
|
10°
|
9°
|
| 300m |
11°
|
10°
|
11°
|
14°
|
16°
|
14°
|
13°
|
12°
|
| Glen |
11°
|
11°
|
11°
|
16°
|
17°
|
16°
|
15°
|
12°
|
| Freezing Level |
1,900m
|
2,000m
|
1,900m
|
1,900m
|
1,900m
|
2,100m
|
2,100m
|
2,000m
|
Altitude above mean sea level
| 00:00 | 03:00 | 06:00 | 09:00 | 12:00 | 15:00 | 18:00 | 21:00 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1100m |
-2°
|
-1°
|
-1°
|
-1°
|
1°
|
-1°
|
0°
|
0°
|
| 900m |
2°
|
2°
|
2°
|
3°
|
4°
|
3°
|
3°
|
3°
|
| 600m |
5°
|
6°
|
6°
|
7°
|
9°
|
8°
|
7°
|
7°
|
| 300m |
9°
|
8°
|
9°
|
11°
|
13°
|
12°
|
12°
|
10°
|
| Glen |
10°
|
9°
|
10°
|
13°
|
14°
|
13°
|
13°
|
12°
|
Additional weather information
Weather
Mainly dry for most of the day with some bright or sunny intervals, perhaps one or two showers over the Perthshire hills. Showers will become more extensive later in the afternoon, spreading to most ranges by early evening.
Chance of cloud-free mountain/hill tops at 800m
70%, most summits seeing cloud at 900 metres or above. Some patchy cloud around 700 metres developing across the Cairngorms and Perthshire hills from mid-afternoon onwards.
Visibility
Generally very good with great air clarity outside of cloud and rain.
Met Office Aberdeen meteorologist's view
Be prepared for notable windchill at height.
Mountain weather information
Weather
Mainly dry with some bright or sunny periods. Some patchy rain may return northeastwards later in the day.
Chance of cloud-free mountain/hill tops at 800m
80%, some patchy cloud around 800 metres but most summits clear for much of the day.
Maximum wind speed expected
Westerly 15 mph
Temperature
- At 800m Plus 7 Celsius
- Glen Plus 5 rising to 17 Celsius
- Freezing level Above summits
Visibility
Very good with good air clarity.
Mountain weather information
Wednesday 21 August
Sunrise:
Sunset:
After a mainly dry start strong winds and rain will spread from the west, drying up by evening.
Thursday 22 August
Sunrise:
Sunset:
Mainly cloudy and dry for most of the day.
Friday 23 August
Sunrise:
Sunset:
Mainly dry with some brightness at times.
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