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.
Sunshine and showers
A good amount of dry and bright weather, but scattered bursts of rain, some may be locally heavy.
Cool to mild
Air temperature 5 to 10C on higher terrain. Comfortable temperatures on lower terrain, but feeling chilly if exposed to wind higher up, especially if stationary. Pack extra 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.
Sunshine and showers
A good amount of dry and bright weather, but scattered bursts of rain, some may be locally heavy.
Cool to mild
Air temperature 5 to 10C on higher terrain. Comfortable temperatures on lower terrain, but feeling chilly if exposed to wind higher up, especially if stationary. Pack extra layers.
Viewing Forecast For
Cairngorms NP and Monadhliath
Tuesday 15th September 2026
Last updated
Mon 14th Sep 26 at
4:29PM
Summary for all mountain areas
Clusters of showers over Scotland from dawn, a few dry, bright breaks forming, mostly south, but pulses of showers return too. A band of rain over England and Wales just at dawn soon passes east for a bright window, followed by intermittent rain, driest windows later afternoon. Cool-to-mild and breezy.
Headline for Cairngorms NP and Monadhliath
Blustery showers most of the day, some bright glimpses
How windy? (On the Munros)
Westerly typically 25-30mph, but possibly strongest just at first, 40-45mph, gusting 50mph over high Cairngorms. Shifting northwesterly with time, may briefly lessen, but higher speeds again late in the day.
Effect of the wind on you?
Blustery across the hills, strenuous walking on exposed higher terrain with buffeting gusts and considerable wind chill.
How Wet?
Intermittent rain
A possible area of rain from overnight and after dawn, some heavy falls, clearing eastward. Then showery rain spreading from the west, may become more frequent over a few hours with scattered heavier bursts mainly afternoon.
Cloud on the hills?
Mostly high tops, variable both higher and lower
Cloud mostly above 900m, often confined to 1100m or higher further east with breaks over higher summits at times. Lowering during showery periods, patches approaching 700m (and perhaps more extensive just at dawn), but clearer breaks increasingly forming later, particularly south Cairngorms.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
50%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Occasional sun, mostly toward east, and tending to break out more later, particularly southern slopes. Varied visibility, poor in cloud and showers, but windows where very good.
How Cold? (at 900m)
7 or 8C, may rise a degree on slopes near Deeside, then trending slightly cooler later in daytime. Feeling like -3C in the wind.
Freezing Level
Above the summits.
Viewing Forecast For
Cairngorms NP and Monadhliath
Wednesday 16th September 2026
Last updated
Mon 14th Sep 26 at
4:29PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
Gusty northwesterly 20-30mph, stronger gusts over high tops, lessening and shifting westerly 20mph, later shifting SW'ly.
Effect of the wind on you?
A blustery start with some buffeting in exposure, easing to fairly small effects.
How Wet?
Showers clear, then late rain
Early showers stream into the Cairngorms from the north, fading for dry conditions well into the day. From late afternoon, patchy rain returns from the west, gradually setting in into night.
Cloud on the hills?
Breaking well into the day
High Cairngorms begin shrouded, varied banks to middle heights, most extensive northern slopes with some mist into glens. Cloud will lift and break up, just passing patches over highest Cairngorms well into the day. Returning more sheet-like evening into night.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
Rising to 70%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Soon mostly sunny, high cloud thickening from the west late in the day. Very good visibility.
How Cold? (at 900m)
3C rising to 6C, staying elevated into night, later rising slightly. Feeling like 0 to -5C in direct wind.
Freezing Level
Above the summits.
Viewing Forecast For
Cairngorms NP and Monadhliath
Thursday 17th September 2026
Last updated
Mon 14th Sep 26 at
4:29PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
West-southwesterly 30-40mph, trending towards the higher end of the range, or stronger later, also gusty.
Effect of the wind on you?
Strenuous walking in exposure, later becoming arduous with considerable buffeting and significant wind chill.
How Wet?
Showers
Showers push onto hills west of the A9 from dawn, more scattered east with dry windows to start, but will become more frequent and increasingly push east for several hours, some heavy falls forming.
Cloud on the hills?
Varied on high terrain, later filling in
Banks above 800-900m in the morning, lowering somewhat in showers; well-broken east Cairngorms, summit breaks. Banks over high terrain increasingly frequent, may fill in above 800-900m; east of Glenmore, hills clear to 1000m.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
60% lowering to 30%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Patchy sun, extended windows to the east, but cloud increasing, and a cloudier period likely. Very good visibility out of cloud and rain.
How Cold? (at 900m)
5C, may rise a degree east but will reduce again in showers. Feeling like -5 to -7C in strongest wind.
Freezing Level
Above the summits.
Planning Outlook
A brief window of brighter weather on Wednesday, though some scattered showers around and feeling fresher in cooler temperatures. Showers and strong wind return on Thursday, and then the weather stays often unsettled during the next week as westerlies prevail - areas of low pressure passing north of Scotland with frontal systems bringing bands of rain, followed by showers, wettest over western mountains in Scotland. Often windy, sustained periods of gale-force westerly winds over higher terrain; significant wind chill, particularly in the north where temperatures will occasionally approach freezing point on high Scottish tops. A brief window of high pressure may form Saturday into Sunday, and a chance of a window of higher pressure the following week, but confidence is currently low.