Cairngorms NP and Monadhliath
Cairngorms National Park and Monadhliath. Also includes the Ben Alder area hills between Loch Ericht and Loch Laggan.
Saturday's Forecast
Gale force, walking arduous
Considerable buffeting, walking into the wind will be strenuous on exposed terrain, stronger gusts may knock you off your feet. 40 to 55mph.
Frequent or persistent rain
Steady rain fairly persistent, occasionally heavy, rather wet underfoot.
Cool to mild
Air temperature 5 to 10C on higher terrain. Comfortable temperatures on lower terrain, but feeling chilly if exposed to wind higher up, especially if stationary. Pack extra layers.
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Gale force, walking arduous
Considerable buffeting, walking into the wind will be strenuous on exposed terrain, stronger gusts may knock you off your feet. 40 to 55mph.
Frequent or persistent rain
Steady rain fairly persistent, occasionally heavy, rather wet underfoot.
Cool to mild
Air temperature 5 to 10C on higher terrain. Comfortable temperatures on lower terrain, but feeling chilly if exposed to wind higher up, especially if stationary. Pack extra layers.
Viewing Forecast For
Cairngorms NP and Monadhliath
Saturday 13th June 2026
Last updated
Fri 12th Jun 26 at
3:58PM
Summary for all mountain areas
Chilly and showery west Scottish highlands, fewer showers east but several afternoon hours of more widespread rain, later easing. Some early showers from south Scotland to north Wales, largely fading with sun breaks; south Wales is dry and brighter. Strong wind widely, easing Wales and north Scotland.
Headline for Cairngorms NP and Monadhliath
Gales over high summits; some showers, more rain afternoon
How windy? (On the Munros)
West-northwesterly 35-45mph, gusts will sometimes approach 50mph over the Cairngorm plateau. Steadily northwesterly later in the day, some variability, and may just slightly ease as night approaches.
Effect of the wind on you?
Arduous walking over the Cairngorm plateau with significant wind chill most of the day. Maintaining stability requires sustained effort, strongest wind limiting forward progress.
How Wet?
Showery rain, more persistent afternoon
Rain drifting from the northwest for much of the day, some more persistent falls possible near and west of Ben Macdui for periods. Drier Deeside until afternoon when rain spreads more widely for several hours. Rain breaks back into showers later afternoon and slowly eases.
Cloud on the hills?
Mostly high terrain, more extensive for several hours
Cloud banks shroud the high Cairngorm plateau most of the day, some variability north slopes where may reach down to 800-900m. Filling in more extensively for several midday/afternoon hours to 900m, lower north slopes, later improving again. Deeside slopes often clear outside of this period.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
20%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Glimpses of sunshine, best sun towards Deeside, but cloudier periods too. Very good visibility out of cloud and rain, but notably variable.
How Cold? (at 900m)
5C rising to 6 or 7C, mildest Deeside. Feeling as cold as -7C in direct wind.
Freezing Level
Above the summits.
Viewing Forecast For
Cairngorms NP and Monadhliath
Sunday 14th June 2026
Last updated
Fri 12th Jun 26 at
3:58PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
Northwesterly 15-25mph early, strongest east, gusting 30mph; shifting northerly, easing to 10-15mph, or lighter west.
Effect of the wind on you?
Fairly small, some notable gusts over the high Cairngorm plateau, particularly east.
How Wet?
Light patchy rain fades
Some fine drizzle over the Cairngorm plateau in the morning with a few patches of light rain drifting from the north. A fading trend, little or no precipitation remaining by mid-afternoon.
Cloud on the hills?
Lifting to high terrain, some breaks
Most terrain above 900m shrouded at dawn, patchy lower banks to 600-700m northern Cairngorms and Monadhliath. Cloud bases rises with time, south Cairngorm slopes soon largely clear of cloud, and banks isolating to high terrain, some breaks.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
Rising to 50%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Increasingly sunny on south slopes; northern slopes may be slow to see any substantial sun breaks. Very good visibility.
How Cold? (at 900m)
5C rising to 9C, or a degree milder south of high Cairngorms; staying a degree cooler Ben Avon.
Freezing Level
Above the summits.
Viewing Forecast For
Cairngorms NP and Monadhliath
Monday 15th June 2026
Last updated
Fri 12th Jun 26 at
3:58PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
Variable 10mph or less, orienting east-southeasterly and rising to 10-15mph afternoon, some variability.
Effect of the wind on you?
Mostly small.
How Wet?
Substantially dry
Odd spots of drizzly rain may drift from the north, but any rain light and likely dry most or all day.
Cloud on the hills?
Likely lifting to or above tops
Detail uncertain, but banks of cloud at various heights in the morning, locally extensive, high tops probably covered, and some fog in glens and corries as well. Cloud lifts, isolating to high terrain and probably clearing tops well into the day, then may return into nighttime.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
Rising to 60%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Broken cloud, often sunny afternoon, high cloud building later. Very good visibility.
How Cold? (at 900m)
6 or 7C at dawn, rising to 9 or 10C.
Freezing Level
Above the summits.
Planning Outlook
Sunday will be a clearing day for most under a core of high pressure: early rain in Scottish Highlands easing, most cloud lifting off all hills except the north of Scotland, and good sunshine through weakened by high cloud. Temperature more widely mild, warm in Wales. Into next week, a mixed southwesterly pattern remains, windy at times with periods of rain, drizzle and low cloud most persistent in the west. Warmest in England and Wales, but may stay cooler in Scotland as low pressure to the northwest recycles air from the north Atlantic back onto the Munros. Tuesday into Wednesday shows indications of a wetter and windier spell. Pressure generally trending higher later in the week, but extensively settled weather remains elusive until at least the following week.