Mountain weather
South Grampian and Southeast Highlands Mountain weather forecast table
Confidence
High for occasionally unsettled, lowering for the detail of worst of weather due to mobile nature of the pattern
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
Hill fog becoming quite extensive, particularly in north. Some patchy rain early, turning more persistent later in day, as southeast winds freshen.
| 06:00 | 09:00 | 12:00 | 15:00 | 18:00 | 21:00 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Weather (at 800m) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Chance of precipitation (at 800m) |
40% | 20% | 20% | 50% | 80% | 80% |
Wind direction and speed (mph)
Altitude above mean sea level
| 06:00 | 09:00 | 12:00 | 15:00 | 18:00 | 21:00 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1100m |
SE
5
|
SE
5
|
S
13
|
S
17
|
S
19
|
S
24
|
| 900m |
SE
4
|
SE
5
|
S
13
|
S
16
|
S
18
|
S
16
|
| 600m |
SW
2
|
NE
3
|
S
10
|
S
10
|
S
10
|
S
6
|
| 300m |
E
4
|
E
5
|
SE
8
|
SE
8
|
E
7
|
E
4
|
| Glen |
NE
3
|
E
5
|
SE
6
|
E
5
|
E
5
|
NE
3
|
Wind gust (mph)
Altitude above mean sea level
| 06:00 | 09:00 | 12:00 | 15:00 | 18:00 | 21:00 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1100m | 6 | 7 | 17 | 22 | 25 | 30 |
| 900m | 6 | 6 | 16 | 21 | 23 | 22 |
| 600m | 3 | 4 | 15 | 17 | 17 | 12 |
| 300m | 5 | 6 | 13 | 14 | 13 | 9 |
| Glen | 5 | 7 | 11 | 9 | 8 | 6 |
Altitude above mean sea level
| 06:00 | 09:00 | 12:00 | 15:00 | 18:00 | 21:00 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1100m |
0°
|
0°
|
1°
|
3°
|
4°
|
4°
|
| 900m |
1°
|
2°
|
3°
|
4°
|
5°
|
4°
|
| 600m |
2°
|
2°
|
4°
|
4°
|
4°
|
5°
|
| 300m |
4°
|
5°
|
6°
|
6°
|
5°
|
5°
|
| Glen |
4°
|
5°
|
6°
|
6°
|
6°
|
5°
|
| Freezing Level |
1,000m
|
1,200m
|
1,600m
|
2,000m
|
2,100m
|
2,000m
|
Altitude above mean sea level
| 06:00 | 09:00 | 12:00 | 15:00 | 18:00 | 21:00 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1100m |
-3°
|
-3°
|
-4°
|
-2°
|
-2°
|
-2°
|
| 900m |
-1°
|
-1°
|
-2°
|
0°
|
0°
|
0°
|
| 600m |
1°
|
1°
|
0°
|
0°
|
0°
|
3°
|
| 300m |
2°
|
3°
|
3°
|
3°
|
3°
|
4°
|
| Glen |
3°
|
3°
|
5°
|
5°
|
4°
|
4°
|
Additional weather information
Met Office Aberdeen meteorologist's view
Hill fog becoming extensive for the afternoon.
Weather
Overcast overnight with some light rain and drizzle, though this turning patchy towards dawn, initially falling as snow above 600-700m. A largely dull, cloudy day with some limited and patchy light rain and drizzle for the morning, gradually turning more persistent from the south during the afternoon and evening.
Chance of cloud-free hill tops
20-30% at first becoming 10% or less for the afternoon.
Low cloud and visibility
Good, becoming moderate or poor in rain and drizzle, very poor in initial summit snow and within cloud with bases becoming quite extensive down to 400m for the afternoon, with patches lower down in north.
Mountain weather information
Weather
Overcast start with periods of rain, perhaps heavy at times, turning to snow above 900-1000m, then clearing as a mix of sunshine and isolated showers feed erratically from the west around late morning. Further area of rain and snow feeding from the west late evening.
Chance of cloud-free hill tops
10% becoming 80-90% for the afternoon, lowering again during late evening
Maximum wind speed expected
Southerly 15-20 mph with gusts reaching 30 mph across more exposed ridges and summits
Temperature
- At 800m Plus 2-3 Celsius
- Glen Plus 3 Celsius increasing 11 Celsius for the afternoon
- Freezing level Around 1000m by day
Low cloud and visibility
Good, becoming moderate or poor in rain, very poor in snow and within cloud with bases extensive down to 400m at first before breaking and lifting for the afternoon.
Mountain weather information
Wed 22 Mar
Sunrise:
Sunset:
Unsettled with showers or longer periods of rain and summit snow, chiefly in the west. Fresh south to southwest summit winds.
Thu 23 Mar
Sunrise:
Sunset:
Showers and some brighter spells with snow level around 800m. Fresh south to southwest summit winds.
Fri 24 Mar
Sunrise:
Sunset:
Showery with snow level around 700m. Fresh south to southwest winds.
Updated at:
Summit specific forecast
Mountain summit forecast map
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Key
Mountain summits
Other points of interest
Cluster of multiple stations
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