Cairngorms NP and Monadhliath
Cairngorms National Park and Monadhliath. Also includes the Ben Alder area hills between Loch Ericht and Loch Laggan.
Tuesday's Forecast
Windy, walking impeded
Blustery conditions enough to give buffeting on higher terrain or affect balance on exposed ridges. 25 to 40mph.
Patchwork of cloud and sun
Dry most or all day. A mix of cloud and sunshine. Occasional cloud banks drifting over higher slopes, lifting above the tops.
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.
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Windy, walking impeded
Blustery conditions enough to give buffeting on higher terrain or affect balance on exposed ridges. 25 to 40mph.
Patchwork of cloud and sun
Dry most or all day. A mix of cloud and sunshine. Occasional cloud banks drifting over higher slopes, lifting above the tops.
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.
Viewing Forecast For
Cairngorms NP and Monadhliath
Tuesday 16th December 2025
Last updated
Mon 15th Dec 25 at
4:00PM
Summary for all mountain areas
Showery in western Scotland, with hail, snow on higher mountains; fewer showers eastwards, more sun and higher cloud breaks. Strongest winds in NW Highlands, up to gale force tops. England and Wales largely dry and bright, patchy cloud western tops.
Headline for Cairngorms NP and Monadhliath
Blustery winds over hills. Largely dry, cloud breaks best N/E.
How windy? (On the Munros)
Southwesterly 25 to 35mph, strongest north Cairngorms and Monadhliath. Strengthening onward into night to gales, further into night reaching 50-70mph.
Effect of the wind on you?
Blustery and starting to affect comfortable walking and balance on exposed higher terrain, considerable wind chill. Deteriorating into night.
How Wet?
Local showers west
Occasional brief showers mostly toward Ben Alder, falling as snow flurries above 800-900m, chance of hail. Substantially dry much of Cairngorms NP.
Cloud on the hills?
Patches some slopes, clearer north/east
Patchy cloud banks likely to drift over some higher slopes, mostly above 800-900m in the southwestern Cairngorms to Ben Alder, but good breaks likely. More often clear to tops further east and north.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
30% Ben Alder area, up to 70% N/E Cairngorms.
Sunshine and air clarity?
Sunshine most frequent north/east, glimpses elsewhere. Visibility excellent out of cloud.
How Cold? (at 900m)
0 to 1C. Feeling like -10C directly in the wind.
Freezing Level
900 to 1000m, beware icy surfaces on tops. Slight frost sheltered glens in morning.
Viewing Forecast For
Cairngorms NP and Monadhliath
Wednesday 17th December 2025
Last updated
Mon 15th Dec 25 at
4:00PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
South-southwesterly 50 to 60mph, often 70mph higher Cairngorms, powerful gusts in places downslope to north.
Effect of the wind on you?
Challenging conditions over the mountains, walking difficult in exposure, sudden buffeting to some mid-slopes.
How Wet?
Rain and some hill snow, mostly south
Rain and initially snow above 700-900m from before dawn, turning to rain during morning toward higher slopes, heaviest southern Cairngorms NP, some heavy; less toward north. Later becoming showery.
Cloud on the hills?
Extensive higher areas
Shrouding most higher terrain all day, from mid-slopes up southern Cairngorms around to Drumochter. Mostly higher tops northward, but rarely above summits.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
30%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Overcast and murky south. Better visibility below cloud and if drier locally north.
How Cold? (at 900m)
0C rising to 3 or 4C in morning, then lowering again from dusk. Feeling like -12 to -15C directly in the wind.
Freezing Level
Varying, 800-1000m around dawn, then rising above highest summits; then into night dropping to 1100-1200m.
Viewing Forecast For
Cairngorms NP and Monadhliath
Thursday 18th December 2025
Last updated
Mon 15th Dec 25 at
4:00PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
South to southwesterly 40 to 60mph, powerful gusts downslope from northern Cairngorms corries.
Effect of the wind on you?
Ongoing arduous conditions over higher terrain, walking often difficult in exposure, significant wind chill.
How Wet?
Risk of rain developing
Patchy showers, snow flurries above 900m, but often dry for several hours at least. Risk of rain moving in from southwest during day, may set in heavy.
Cloud on the hills?
Most persistent south
Varied cloud banks, often covering southern Cairngorms NP above 800m, higher and better breaks northward.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
30%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Some sun and very good visibility mostly north, varied high cloud. Mistier southern hills, reducing to poor if in rain.
How Cold? (at 900m)
2 or 3C. Wind chill feeling like -12 to -15C on tops.
Freezing Level
1100 to 1200m, tending to rise a little during daytime, then lowering into night.
Planning Outlook
An unsettled southwesterly weather pattern continues mid-late this week. On Wednesday, another system sweeps in from the Atlantic bringing further rain and gales. Showery conditions then persist in western Scotland, with hail and snow on high tops. Scottish mountains often near or below freezing above 900m, only brief thawing higher up. Meanwhile, England and Wales stay mild midweek with more heavy rain likely into Thursday, then lowering to freezing on high tops for periods from Friday. A change of weather pattern is likely in the run up to Christmas, as high pressure builds northward, bringing drier weather, fog and frost more common.