Cairngorms NP and Monadhliath
Cairngorms National Park and Monadhliath. Also includes the Ben Alder area hills between Loch Ericht and Loch Laggan.
Monday's Forecast
Severe gale or storm, mobility very difficult
Severe conditions on the mountains, any movement very challenging, you may be blown over. 55-70mph+
Snow and hail showers
Periods of bright or sunny conditions mixed with showers or flurries of snow and hail. Visibility may change rapidly from excellent to very poor.
Hazy, some fog banks
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Visibility reduced around cloud banks, hazier on some lower slopes. Locally some improvements possible out of 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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Severe gale or storm, mobility very difficult
Severe conditions on the mountains, any movement very challenging, you may be blown over. 55-70mph+
Snow and hail showers
Periods of bright or sunny conditions mixed with showers or flurries of snow and hail. Visibility may change rapidly from excellent to very poor.
Hazy, some fog banks
Visibility reduced around cloud banks, hazier on some lower slopes. Locally some improvements possible out of 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
Monday 12th January 2026
Last updated
Sun 11th Jan 26 at
1:43PM
Summary for all mountain areas
Extensive upland gales, although storm force at first N Scotland. Bands of showers, of hail, and snow higher areas, will merge to give periods of almost constant precipitation on many western mountains. Small risk thunder. Driest conditions will be on easternmost mountains and S Wales.
Headline for Cairngorms NP and Monadhliath
Severe gale or storm force upland wind. Snow and fog.
How windy? (On the Munros)
South to southwesterly 50 to 65mph, strongest Cairngorms and Monadhliath in morning. Marginal drop in speed through day.
Effect of the wind on you?
Walking widely challenging, frequent buffeting even lower elevationsl. Severe wind chill.
How Wet?
Snow showers; frequent more southern ranges
Frequent to sometimes near constant precipitation, hail and above 750m snow, from Ben Alder to areas accessed from Glen Garry. Intermittent whiteout. Elsewhere, showery, although often dry Deeside.
Cloud on the hills?
Almost all higher areas persistently foggy
Cloud intermittently below 450m and rare if any breaks above 750m from Ben Alder to areas accessed from Glen Garry. Higher cloud base north toward Cairngorms and Deeside, often 700, rarely 1050m (most likely Lochnagar), but patches below 600m near showers.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
Almost nil
Sunshine and air clarity?
Glimpses of sun mostly lower areas Cairngorms and Deeside. Slight haze; visibility poor in precipitation.
How Cold? (at 900m)
1C. Will feel as cold as -167C where exposed to the wind.
Freezing Level
1050m. Some terrain lower down still frozen and icy.
Viewing Forecast For
Cairngorms NP and Monadhliath
Tuesday 13th January 2026
Last updated
Sun 11th Jan 26 at
1:43PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
Forecast confidence remains low: There may well be a lull to low speeds, but risk of westerly 25mph.
Effect of the wind on you?
Probably small.
How Wet?
Little or perhaps no precipitation
It may well be dry most or all day - but threat of showers (snow higher slopes) reaching particularly areas west of A9 and later in day possible general precipitation spreading northwards.
Cloud on the hills?
May become confined to higher slopes, possibly clearing some summits
Patches of fog may have formed both valleys and lower slopes and also higher up. Through day, may clear some higher areas, whilst nearby the fog persists.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
20%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Patches of sunshine in places. Visibility mostly very good.
How Cold? (at 900m)
0 or -1C
Freezing Level
700 to perhaps 900m.
Viewing Forecast For
Cairngorms NP and Monadhliath
Wednesday 14th January 2026
Last updated
Sun 11th Jan 26 at
1:43PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
West backing southerly around 25mph before late in day strengthening to 40-50mph.
Effect of the wind on you?
May well be fairly small most or all daylight before walking.becomes increasingly difficult and wind chill significant.
How Wet?
Little or no precipitation
Mostly or completely dry - between previous precipitation overnight and more snow advancing from west toward or during evening.
Cloud on the hills?
Probably remaining extensive on most or all higher areas
Cloud generally widespread on higher areas, although as cloud base rises, breaks to 1000m may well occur, particularly toward Deeside.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
20%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Occasional sunshine, mainly toward Deeside. Visibility very good or excellent.
How Cold? (at 900m)
-2C
Freezing Level
400m.
Planning Outlook
High rainfall and intermittently windy across most mountains over the next week or more as a series of Atlantic lows cross Britain. With uncertainty in the tracks of some lows, Tuesday's forecast remains very uncertain - but by Wednesday a transient weak ridge of high pressure will bring a brief improvement. Higher summits sometimes below freezing point S Scotland southwards: snow may accumulate on highest summits. Mostly below freezing Scottish Highlands enabling snow to accumulate widely.