Cairngorms NP and Monadhliath
Cairngorms National Park and Monadhliath. Also includes the Ben Alder area hills between Loch Ericht and Loch Laggan.
Wednesday'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.
Heavy snow and hail showers, isolated lightning
Showery precipitation, often heavy, may merge to become constant for periods. A mix of snow and hail often falling to lower slopes. Risk of very localised thunder and lightning.
Whiteout
Fog and lying snow over the mountains, possibly with falling or blowing snow, very disorientating. Map and compass essential, beware of unseen hazards.
Very cold
Significant wintry conditions - below freezing from lower elevations up all day, -7 or -8C highest summits, feeling like -20C or below on high tops due to wind chill. Frostbite and hypothermia risk. Substantial protective clothing is required.
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.
Heavy snow and hail showers, isolated lightning
Showery precipitation, often heavy, may merge to become constant for periods. A mix of snow and hail often falling to lower slopes. Risk of very localised thunder and lightning.
Whiteout
Fog and lying snow over the mountains, possibly with falling or blowing snow, very disorientating. Map and compass essential, beware of unseen hazards.
Very cold
Significant wintry conditions - below freezing from lower elevations up all day, -7 or -8C highest summits, feeling like -20C or below on high tops due to wind chill. Frostbite and hypothermia risk. Substantial protective clothing is required.
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
Wednesday 19th November 2025
Last updated
Tue 18th Nov 25 at
4:00PM
Summary for all mountain areas
Strong to gale-force northerly winds; severe chill factor on the mountains. Terrain widely frozen with fresh snow cover. Snow and hail showers frequent in the northern Highlands. Showers also north/west Wales. From the central Highlands into northern England, generally dry with sunshine and very clear air.
Headline for Cairngorms NP and Monadhliath
Bitterly cold; gale-force upland wind. Snow and hail mostly north.
How windy? (On the Munros)
Northerly 35 to 50mph, strongest sustained speeds higher Cairngorms.
Effect of the wind on you?
Challenging walking conditions on exposed terrain, any mobility at times difficult on higher areas; severe wind chill.
How Wet?
Frequent snow and hail north
Succession of snow and hail showers coming in from north, merging to be near constant at times north Cairngorms, chance of isolated lightning. Fewer showers southwards toward Glen Garry. Snow lying into glens.
Cloud on the hills?
Fairly extensive higher areas
Shrouding the higher Cairngorms above 900-1000m most or all day, at times banks of cloud to 700m or lower in showers. Patches will come and go over higher Monadhliath. Further south, higher bases, breaks at times to tops.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
30%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Brief bursts of sun, mostly southern areas. Visibility at times appalling when in cloud and snow, but intermittently very good, or locally excellent further southwest.
How Cold? (at 900m)
-5C (to -8C on higher summits). Wind chill feeling like -17C, to -22C over higher Cairngorms.
Freezing Level
Terrain widely frozen from glens upward, only slight rise above freezing point on some lower slopes.
Viewing Forecast For
Cairngorms NP and Monadhliath
Thursday 20th November 2025
Last updated
Tue 18th Nov 25 at
4:00PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
Northerly 35 to 50mph from dawn, gradually lessening, into afternoon 25-30mph, or less from dusk.
Effect of the wind on you?
Continuing challenging conditions with significant wind chill, severe higher mountains; some improvement.
How Wet?
Frequent snow and hail north
Ongoing succession of snow and hail showers coming in from north, most frequent north Cairngorms, may tend to ease later. Fewer showers southwards toward Glen Garry. Snow lying into glens.
Cloud on the hills?
Fairly extensive higher areas
Persisting on higher Cairngorms above 900-1000m, at times banks of cloud to 700m or lower in showers, mostly morning. Patches will come and go over higher Monadhliath. Further south, higher bases, breaks at times to tops.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
30%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Brief bursts of sun, mostly southern areas. Visibility at times appalling when in cloud and snow, but intermittently very good, more often excellent later in day.
How Cold? (at 900m)
-4 or -5C (to -7C highest summits). Wind chill feeling like -15 to -20C, coldest in stronger speeds in morning.
Freezing Level
Terrain widely frozen from glens upward, only partial thawing lowest sunlit slopes.
Viewing Forecast For
Cairngorms NP and Monadhliath
Friday 21st November 2025
Last updated
Tue 18th Nov 25 at
4:00PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
West later southwesterly, strengthening during daytime - some uncertainty of timing - 25 to 40mph, risk later 50mph.
Effect of the wind on you?
Expect conditions to deteriorate, with time more strenuous, risk later difficult on higher mountains, significant wind chill.
How Wet?
Snow moving in from west
Likely dry start, possibly largely dry in easternmost areas all daylight. Snow flurries likely to develop from west, risk becoming persistent near/west of A9. Likely after dark, rain at lower elevations.
Cloud on the hills?
Mostly little, later lowers from west
Patchy mist some glens and perhaps corries at first, otherwise hills largely clear, possibly much of the daytime. Later, patchy cloud lowering onto tops from west, risk more extensive by evening.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
80% later dropping to 50%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Sun through high cloud in morning becoming weak, then obscured. Visibility excellent, reducing if snow develops, possibly locally poor late in day.
How Cold? (at 900m)
-3C, slow rise, by evening up to 0C. In stronger wind feeling like -15C.
Freezing Level
Much terrain frozen all day to lower slopes, but later in day likely to start rising just above freezing at lower elevations.
Planning Outlook
Prepare for winter conditions - snow covering many mountains to lower slopes in Scotland, snow and ice cover varied for England & Wales, but much terrain frozen; hard frosts into inland valleys and glens the next couple of nights. Continuing strong northerlies into Thursday, showery snow and hail gradually fading from northwest Scotland. A front moving into Scotland from the west on Friday brings gales and snow, turning to rain lower down - in England & Wales more likely develops Friday evening-night. Less cold into the weekend, but higher mountains stay near or just below freezing, particularly Scotland; showers or locally more frequent upland snow over several days forward.