Cairngorms NP and Monadhliath
Cairngorms National Park and Monadhliath. Also includes the Ben Alder area hills between Loch Ericht and Loch Laggan.
Sunday's Forecast
Moderate breeze, locally gusty
A noticeable breeze, feeling cool where exposed on tops. Locally may be gusty, but unlikely to affect walking progress. 15-25mph.
Sunshine and showers
A good amount of dry and bright weather, but scattered bursts of rain, some may be locally heavy.
Clear
Excellent or superb visibility, no navigation issues.
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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Moderate breeze, locally gusty
A noticeable breeze, feeling cool where exposed on tops. Locally may be gusty, but unlikely to affect walking progress. 15-25mph.
Sunshine and showers
A good amount of dry and bright weather, but scattered bursts of rain, some may be locally heavy.
Clear
Excellent or superb visibility, no navigation issues.
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
Sunday 19th April 2026
Last updated
Sat 18th Apr 26 at
4:00PM
Summary for all mountain areas
Fine conditions for many places with patchy cloud and sun. A chilly breeze will be strongest in northern Scotland. Brief showers with snow flurries on hills in northwest Scotland in the morning. Well scattered mostly light showers across Scotland and northern England into afternoon and early evening.
Headline for Cairngorms NP and Monadhliath
Breezy and chilly, sun and broken cloud, showers later.
How windy? (On the Munros)
Northwesterly 20-25mph, local 30mph at times north and eastern Cairngorms. Turning northerly, tending to ease a little in western areas afternoon.
Effect of the wind on you?
Blustery with considerable wind chill over exposed higher terrain, particularly more north and eastern tops.
How Wet?
Often dry, brief showers, mainly north
An occasional snow flurry will drift in from the northwest during the day. Locally in north toward evening, risk more frequent showers with snow on tops, possible soft hail.
Cloud on the hills?
Summits soon clear, local banks later
Patchy cloud forming around some higher slopes in the morning, plus local mist in some glens at first. Most cloud lifting above the summits during morning. Later in day, cloud may return to higher N/E Cairngorms.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
90%, reducing to 70% later N/E.
Sunshine and air clarity?
A patchwork of cloud and sun, best sun in eastern areas in morning. Excellent visibility, occasionally reduced briefly in flurries.
How Cold? (at 900m)
0C rising to 2 or 3C afternoon, staying coolest north and later eastern areas too. Feeling like -7 to -10C directly in the wind.
Freezing Level
900m in the morning, plus frost in glens at dawn, mainly toward south. Lifting to 1200m or higher.
Viewing Forecast For
Cairngorms NP and Monadhliath
Monday 20th April 2026
Last updated
Sat 18th Apr 26 at
4:00PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
East or northeasterly, 20 to 25mph, gusty 30mph in places.
Effect of the wind on you?
Rather blustery with considerable wind chill on exposed higher terrain. Gusts may start to feel more noticeable at times.
How Wet?
Scattered showers
Showers with soft hail, also snow falling to 400-500m in morning, initially toward the north and east, but risk showery fairly widely for a few hours during day, though locally may escape drier more often.
Cloud on the hills?
Fairly extensive, lifting higher
Cloud banks fairly widely above 700-900m in the morning, lowest toward northeast. Base tending to rise, but may linger over the higher Cairngorms above 1000m into the afternoon, gradually breaking higher.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
20% rising to 50%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Largely cloudy, though some shafts of sunshine breaking through. Visibility often very good, but briefly reduced to poor in showers.
How Cold? (at 900m)
0C rising to 3C afternoon. Where exposed to wind, feeling like -5C, to possibly nearer -10C early in day.
Freezing Level
800-900m from dawn, plus frost in some glens. Rising to 1200-1300m or just above highest tops during afternoon.
Viewing Forecast For
Cairngorms NP and Monadhliath
Tuesday 21st April 2026
Last updated
Sat 18th Apr 26 at
4:00PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
Easterly 20 to 30mph, gusty in places high tops and downslope west of Cairngorms.
Effect of the wind on you?
Marked wind chill in exposure, some blustery spots affecting ease of walking.
How Wet?
Precipitation rare if any
Substantially dry. Chance of occasional light spots of rain, snow grains on higher slopes.
Cloud on the hills?
Covering tops for a time, lifting
Cloud banks likely to cover slopes above 700-800m early in the day, perhaps lower northeast areas for a time. Tending to lift higher up and may increasingly break up.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
40%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Fairly cloudy, some brighter sunnier moments mostly A9 corridor westward. Visibility very good.
How Cold? (at 900m)
0C rising to 2 or 3C afternoon. Directly in the wind, feeling as cold as -10C in the morning.
Freezing Level
900m early morning, rising to 1200-1300m or just above high tops afternoon.
Planning Outlook
A cool northeasterly wind into Monday brings a scattering of showers, but plenty of dry weather too. High pressure stays nearby to the north of Britain through the week ahead giving a run of dry days with sunshine typically best in the west, but many mountains often free of low cloud. A cool easterly wind prevails for England and Wales, strongest toward the south, whilst Scotland has often lighter winds. Some overnight frosts. Daytime temperatures near average, typically a few degrees above freezing on high tops through midweek. Dry, settled conditions are likely to continue into next week.