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
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.
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.
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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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.
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.
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
Monday 16th November 2026
Last updated
Sun 15th Nov 26 at
3:02PM
Summary for all mountain areas
Cold northerly winds in the morning bring snow and hail showers to northern Scotland and locally north Wales, otherwise generally clear and sunny. Winds drop light all areas through middle of day, then strengthen southeasterly later, gales into night; rain and hill snow moves in from southwest.
Headline for Cairngorms NP and Monadhliath
Early snow & hail showers fade, cloud lifts and breaks, some sun.
How windy? (On the Munros)
Northerly 30-35mph at dawn, easing during day, to 10mph or less afternoon. From dusk, rising southeasterly, gales into night, reaching 50-60mph later in night.
Effect of the wind on you?
Significant wind chill and challenging walking on high terrain at first, with time becoming small. Deteriorating after dark, significantly during night.
How Wet?
Local showers fading
Brief snow and hail showers mostly north and eastern Cairngorms early morning, fading out to become dry by middle of day.
Cloud on the hills?
Mostly higher Cairngorms in morning
Varying cloud base capping higher slopes mostly northern Cairngorms in the morning, but increasingly breaking up to leave the mountains clear by early afternoon, or sooner south/west areas.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
50% rising to 90%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Intermittent sun in morning, but increasingly sunnier. Visibility mostly excellent, but locally briefly poor if in early showers.
How Cold? (at 900m)
-3C. Feeling near -15C directly in the wind early morning, but improving.
Freezing Level
500-600m. Also frost in sheltered glens in morning.
Viewing Forecast For
Cairngorms NP and Monadhliath
Tuesday 17th November 2026
Last updated
Sun 15th Nov 26 at
3:02PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
Easterly 45 to 60mph and very gusty around high mountains; may lessen slightly during the daytime.
Effect of the wind on you?
Difficult conditions across the mountains, buffeting gusts to lower slopes and significant wind chill.
How Wet?
Risk of hill snow, mostly south
Some uncertainty about extent of precipitation: Risk of some persistent snowfalls, mainly south and eastern Cairngorms NP, sleet or rain lower elevations; may be patchy small amounts toward Strathspey.
Cloud on the hills?
Extensive
Likely shrouding the mountains widely, from lower elevations upward south and eastern areas, some higher cloud bases toward and west of A9, rarely above tops.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
20%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Overcast and dull, local brighter skies possible toward Monadhliath. Visibility mostly poor, appalling if in snow and cloud on high terrain.
How Cold? (at 900m)
-1 or -2C, may lift to around 0C. Feeling like -15C or possibly colder in exposure to stronger wind.
Freezing Level
500-700m, lowest if precipitation continues, but tending to rise a little into the afternoon.
Viewing Forecast For
Cairngorms NP and Monadhliath
Wednesday 18th November 2026
Last updated
Sun 15th Nov 26 at
3:02PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
Easterly 25 to 40mph.
Effect of the wind on you?
Strenuous walking with frequent buffeting gusts in places affecting balance in exposure. Significant wind chill.
How Wet?
Snow flurries
Light snow may fall frequently, particularly more eastern hills; sleet or rain lower slopes.
Cloud on the hills?
Fairly extensive
Shrouding most high terrain all day, some banks to lower levels in east. Local breaks may emerge toward Strathspey and westwards, rarely above tops.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
20%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Little or no sun. Visibility good where dry, but often reduced, very poor at times if in snow.
How Cold? (at 900m)
-1C. Feeling like -10 to -15C in the wind.
Freezing Level
700-800m.
Planning Outlook
Scottish mountain tops stay below freezing throughout this week ahead, snowfalls on Tuesday most prolonged east and southern areas. Thereafter, the Highlands see mostly little precipitation this week, but snow and hail showers will feed in from the north at times, locally giving frequent snow to the far north and the north Cairngorms. Frost also common in the glens. For England & Wales, snow on Monday night turns to rain into Tuesday as the freezing level rises above the summits, then dropping back to freezing above 800m midweek with a mix of rain and upland snow. A mixed outlook into the weekend and beyond, some quieter windows, but further areas of rain and hill snow are likely, perhaps milder air into late November.