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
Windy, walking impeded
Blustery conditions enough to give buffeting on higher terrain or affect balance on exposed ridges. 25 to 40mph.
Cloud and some sun, snow cover on tops
Mostly dry with a mix of cloud and sun, patchy cloud occasionally covering some mountain slopes. Snow covering higher terrain.
Cold
Air temperature below 0C all day on higher mountains. Significant chill factor if exposed to strong winds. Suitable protective clothing required.
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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.
Cloud and some sun, snow cover on tops
Mostly dry with a mix of cloud and sun, patchy cloud occasionally covering some mountain slopes. Snow covering higher terrain.
Cold
Air temperature below 0C all day on higher mountains. Significant chill factor if exposed to strong winds. Suitable protective clothing required.
Viewing Forecast For
Cairngorms NP and Monadhliath
Saturday 15th November 2025
Last updated
Fri 14th Nov 25 at
4:20PM
Summary for all mountain areas
High fog banks in the east Scottish Highlands, dry with sunshine west; windy early but easing. A thin layer of snow blankets the summits. Early gales in England and north Wales ease but remaining blustery. Rain here too, also easing though lingering south Pennines. Flood risk in Wales and south Pennines.
Headline for Cairngorms NP and Monadhliath
Gusty gales over tops early, easing; most cloud east
How windy? (On the Munros)
Easterly 35 to 50mph from dawn, strongest higher southern Cairngorms NP. Slowly decreasing with a southeasterly shift, later in day to 20mph or less.
Effect of the wind on you?
Expect challenging conditions and significant wind chill (risk severe) in morning; buffeting gusts may require bracing to maintain balance. Conditions generally improving, may become fairly small north.
How Wet?
Occasional flurries
Often dry, but a few light snow flurries may drift onto the eastern Cairngorms and Deeside, amounting to little.
Cloud on the hills?
Mostly higher eastern areas
Patchy cloud mostly above 900m, most common toward eastern half of Cairngorms NP and Deeside. Cloud may be more sheet-like here at times, best of breaks around midday. Typically only brief patches on upper slopes near/west of A9.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
30% east, rising to 50%, up to 80% toward Ben Alder.
Sunshine and air clarity?
Patchy to frequent sun near and west of the A9, more cloudy to the east. Visibility very good, some haze in east early.
How Cold? (at 900m)
-1C (to -4C on Ben Macdui in morning). Wind chill feeling like -15C in morning, improving.
Freezing Level
Around 700-800m with local variations - some lower slopes near or at freezing in morning. May rise a little during day.
Viewing Forecast For
Cairngorms NP and Monadhliath
Sunday 16th November 2025
Last updated
Fri 14th Nov 25 at
4:20PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
North-northwesterly 20-25mph, or slightly less around dawn; up to 30mph higher Cairngorms at times mainly afternoon.
Effect of the wind on you?
Prepare for considerable wind chill; fairly small effect on walking, but increasingly blustery exposed high tops.
How Wet?
Snow flurries develop from north
Occasional snow flurries northernmost areas in morning, then into afternoon a band of snow flurries above 700-800m coming in from north; rain lower elevations. Snow showers onto north slopes follow.
Cloud on the hills?
Most high Cairngorms, later more widely
Patchy cloud mostly over higher northern slopes of Cairngorms above 900m, only local fragments elsewhere. Cloud fills in above 700m from north in afternoon precipitation with more banks forming on southern slopes.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
50% north, to 80% south; later 40%.
Sunshine and air clarity?
Sunshine mostly morning and best toward south. Clouding over from north with time. Visibility mostly excellent, but reducing in showers, risk locally poor later.
How Cold? (at 900m)
0 or -1C. May briefly rise slightly afternoon. Feeling like -7C, to nearer -10C on higher Cairngorms in exposure to wind.
Freezing Level
Frost in glens, near or just below freezing most elevations early in day; typical freezing level 900-1000m by midday.
Viewing Forecast For
Cairngorms NP and Monadhliath
Monday 17th November 2025
Last updated
Fri 14th Nov 25 at
4:20PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
Northwesterly 25-35mph, at times stronger in northern and eastern areas.
Effect of the wind on you?
Comfort of walking affected, particularly east where strenuous with buffeting in exposure. Significant wind chill.
How Wet?
Snow showers northern slopes and tops
Frequent snow showers will drift onto the high Cairngorms and northern slopes, some snow blowing over the tops to southern slopes - snow to middle slopes. Showers will tend to isolate to eastern area later.
Cloud on the hills?
Coming and going over tops and northern slopes
Cloud comes and goes above 800m on and over the northern Cairngorms throughout the day. A few patches will pass further south. Westernmost hills and Monadhliath may becomes clearer later.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
50%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Patchy sun over high tops and northern slopes, more often sunny south. Variable visibility - often excellent but fast deteriorating in snow showers.
How Cold? (at 900m)
-3C. Feeling as cold as -13C in strongest wind.
Freezing Level
600m; frosts likely widespread into the glens at dawn.
Planning Outlook
Rain eases in Wales and the southern Pennines though flood risk may linger for another day. Winds shift widely northerly as the weekend turns into next week, drawing cold air widely across the country; staying below freezing over higher mountains most likely throughout the next week to 10 days. Snow flurries move in on this northerly wind on slopes exposed to coasts; snow most frequent toward north of the Highlands with some locally more substantial accumulations over higher terrain; some accumulating upland snow possible more widely during Tuesday as a front drifts southward. Elsewhere, sunny breaks will occur at times frequent and prolonged. Winds often strong, at times gale force; significant wind chills likely.