Cairngorms NP and Monadhliath
Cairngorms National Park and Monadhliath. Also includes the Ben Alder area hills between Loch Ericht and Loch Laggan.
Today'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.
Patchy rain or drizzle
Rain on and off, or generally drizzly - total amounts small, but may be persistently damp, especially where hills are shrouded in cloud.
Chilly
Air temperature typically 0 to 5C on higher summits. Feeling distinctly chilly on tops when stationary or where exposed to wind. Take appropriate layers.
Winter kit required on higher terrain
Snow cover over higher mountains. Safe progress over some terrain will require suitable footwear - possibly crampons and ice-axe where necessary.
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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.
Patchy rain or drizzle
Rain on and off, or generally drizzly - total amounts small, but may be persistently damp, especially where hills are shrouded in cloud.
Chilly
Air temperature typically 0 to 5C on higher summits. Feeling distinctly chilly on tops when stationary or where exposed to wind. Take appropriate layers.
Winter kit required on higher terrain
Snow cover over higher mountains. Safe progress over some terrain will require suitable footwear - possibly crampons and ice-axe where necessary.
Viewing Forecast For
Cairngorms NP and Monadhliath
Tuesday 24th February 2026
Last updated
Mon 23rd Feb 26 at
3:58PM
Summary for all mountain areas
Widely windy, gales over high terrain and more widely Scottish Highlands. Most rain in northwest Scotland with extensive coastal cloud, some drizzle on other high northwestern terrain with low cloud, most persistent on south/west aspects. Largely dry central and east areas, early low cloud, sun breaks with time.
Headline for Cairngorms NP and Monadhliath
Very windy in exposure; summit drizzle, high south slopes too
How windy? (On the Munros)
Southwesterly 35 to 40mph, though gusty, particularly over high Cairngorms to the north, speeds reaching 45mph+ here.
Effect of the wind on you?
Strenuous walking over the mountains, gusts over high terrain will make maintaining balance difficult at times. Significant wind chill despite milder air.
How Wet?
Some drizzle south and west
Some drizzle affecting high slopes from Ben Alder across the Cairngorm plateau, mainly focused on southern aspects, dry periods likely too. Northern slopes likely stay dry. Wet underfoot where snow melts.
Cloud on the hills?
Fairly extensive higher areas and south
Covering most higher terrain, lowest cloud base near Drumochter, 600 to 800m, higher northward with some breaks to upper slopes north and east of Ben Macdui. Some ragged patches cling to the lower slopes/corries in the north in the morning.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
20%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Largely cloudy, some brighter skies with sun through high cloud north of Cairngorms where visibility good. Hazier south, misty around some hills.
How Cold? (at 900m)
3 or 4C, though some slopes to the northeast of Ben Macdui may reach 5C. In exposure to strongest wind, feeling like -8C.
Freezing Level
Above all summits with thawing to upper slopes, though icy surfaces remain on high tops with local refrozen snow patches.
Viewing Forecast For
Cairngorms NP and Monadhliath
Wednesday 25th February 2026
Last updated
Mon 23rd Feb 26 at
3:58PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
Southwesterly 25-35mph; gusty, including to lower slopes.
Effect of the wind on you?
Walking at times strenuous and feeling chilly. Notable buffeting affecting stability, including to middle elevations.
How Wet?
Rain on-and-off
Periods of rain affect most mountains on-and-off throughout the day. Drizzly in cloud on high terrain as well. Northern Cairngorm slopes may only see spotty light rain at least for a time.
Cloud on the hills?
Fairly extensive, higher bases north
Extensive cloud from middle slopes upward along the southern Cairngorms and much of the Monadhliath hills, reaching the lower slopes during rain. North and east of Ben Macdui may see breaks up towards 800m
Chance of cloud free Munros?
20%
Sunshine and air clarity?
A few brighter moments towards the northeast, where visibility locally good. Otherwise overcast and dull with poor visibility.
How Cold? (at 900m)
5C; only small change with added height. Locally to 6C northern Cairngorm slopes. Feeling as cold as -5C in direct wind.
Freezing Level
Above the summits.
Viewing Forecast For
Cairngorms NP and Monadhliath
Thursday 26th February 2026
Last updated
Mon 23rd Feb 26 at
3:58PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
Southwesterly 30-45mph, some variability in this range and notable gusts on high terrain.
Effect of the wind on you?
Walking at least strenuous and often arduous with considerable buffeting in exposure and significant wind chill.
How Wet?
Pulses of rain/snow, dry periods
Bands of rain sweep west-to-east, snow falling above 900-1000m, dry periods between the rain, northern Cairngorm plateau sees the lightest precipitation.
Cloud on the hills?
Variable, clear summits during dry periods
During pulses of rain, cloud shrouds much of the high Cairngorm plateau, the lowest bases reaching 800m towards central highlands during heaviest rain. Dry periods see cloud clearing, likely to the summits.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
50%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Variable cloud, likely bright with bursts of sunshine between pulses of rain. Very good visibility, though very poor if in snow.
How Cold? (at 900m)
2C, some local variability by a degree. Feeling like -10 to -15C in direct wind.
Freezing Level
1100m, variable, may lower for a time around midday but also lifting to the high summits later, then lowering overnight.
Planning Outlook
West to southwesterly winds prevail from mid-week into the weekend as areas of low pressure move toward northwest Scotland; regular rainfall here, most frequent and heavy over western mountains. Bands of rain from the west also affecting England and Wales. Milder temperatures from mid-week with freezing levels above all summits for a few days, substantial thawing to the summits in England and Wales, some high slope thawing in Scotland too. Extensive gales, only a brief easing on Wednesday, then soon unsettled again with cooler temperatures returning, showery west with bands of rain passing east, some snow on Scottish Munros. Some drier, brighter weather is possible over the weekend, though interruptions by bands of rain are likely with low confidence in detail.