Cairngorms NP and Monadhliath
Cairngorms National Park and Monadhliath. Also includes the Ben Alder area hills between Loch Ericht and Loch Laggan.
Wednesday'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.
Frequent or persistent rain
Steady rain fairly persistent, occasionally heavy, rather wet underfoot.
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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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.
Frequent or persistent rain
Steady rain fairly persistent, occasionally heavy, rather wet underfoot.
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
Wednesday 19th August 2026
Last updated
Tue 18th Aug 26 at
4:27PM
Summary for all mountain areas
Slow-moving showers across Scotland, trending more frequent and heavy afternoon with thundery downpours; light wind but gusty around showers. Showers in England, most frequent and heavy early and into night in northern areas with thunder risk. Scattered showers and sun in Wales on a westerly wind.
Headline for Cairngorms NP and Monadhliath
Scattered showers early, increasingly frequent and heavy
How windy? (On the Munros)
Variable 10mph or less, but risk sudden gusts around rain. Late in day, reorienting northeasterly and strengthening to 20mph.
Effect of the wind on you?
Mostly small, but prepare for notable wind chill if exposed to gusts and stronger speeds into evening.
How Wet?
Heavy bursts increasingly, risk lightning
Largely dry start, but areas of rain soon forming from the west, developing increasingly into heavy bursts of rain widely in the afternoon, moving around slowly to give rain in places for a few hours. Risk of thunder. Tending to pass east into evening, scattered showers following.
Cloud on the hills?
Increasingly extensive with arrival of rain
Some patches briefly around upper slopes in morning, but many mountains clear as midday approaches. During and after rain, cloud lowering over tops, ragged patches to lower slopes and gradually becoming more extensive as the day goes.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
70% lowering to 20%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Sunshine mostly early in day, then cloud bubbling up and filling in. Good visibility, reducing to poor in showers.
How Cold? (at 900m)
7 or 8C, only slight rise if any. Cooling several degrees overnight. Feeling near to freezing if exposed to increasing wind.
Freezing Level
Above the summits.
Viewing Forecast For
Cairngorms NP and Monadhliath
Thursday 20th August 2026
Last updated
Tue 18th Aug 26 at
4:27PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
North-northeasterly 25 to 35mph, strongest eastern hills.
Effect of the wind on you?
Feeling distinctly chilly on exposed high terrain. Breezy over hills, on higher Cairngorms walking more strenuous.
How Wet?
Frequent showers
Showery rain spreading from the north, falls rather frequent with some heavier moments and may well set in for extended falls on northern slopes.
Cloud on the hills?
Fairly extensive on tops
Often capping higher slopes above 700-900m, some lower patches in rain, most persistent north Cairngorms.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
20%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Mostly cloudy, rare sun mainly south. Visibility poor in rain, at times good.
How Cold? (at 900m)
5 or 6C, little variation all day; slightly cooler by evening. Feeling like -3 to -5C in stronger wind.
Freezing Level
Above the summits, but by evening, dropping close to freezing on Ben Macdui summit.
Viewing Forecast For
Cairngorms NP and Monadhliath
Friday 21st August 2026
Last updated
Tue 18th Aug 26 at
4:27PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
Northerly 20-25mph in the morning, slightly easing over western hills with a northwesterly bend.
Effect of the wind on you?
Fairly small, but chilly over the high tops, particularly early when feeling blustery.
How Wet?
Showers, increasingly scattered
Showers drift from the north from the morning, may be briefly frequent but becoming increasingly scattered, plenty of dry windows later. Showers at and before dawn may fall as sleet/snow on Ben Macdui summit.
Cloud on the hills?
Lifting to high terrain, only rare breaks
Fairly extensive from 600m up over northern Cairngorms, nearer 800m southern slopes. A gradual lifting trend with time, through breaks above 1000m over the Cairngorm plateau will be only brief, with lower bases on northern slopes during showers.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
30%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Mostly cloudy, a few sunny glimpses on lower slopes south of the Cairngorm plateau. Very good visibility out of cloud and rain.
How Cold? (at 900m)
4 to 6C. Feeling like -3C in strongest wind.
Freezing Level
Just above freezing on the highest Cairngorm summits at dawn, lifting higher.
Planning Outlook
As the weekend approaches, wind will shift northerly, moving showers and afternoon thundery downpours further south with time. Generally lighter wind but gusts will be common around showers. Temperature lowering later this week too, dropping close to freezing on high Scottish tops on Friday morning (chance of sleet/snow here) and frost may occur in Highland glens over a couple of nights. More often dry with few lighter showers over the weekend as higher pressure builds into the southwest. Conditions remain on the drier, brighter side early next week, pressure dropping again as the week goes: periods of cloud and rain for most hill groups, and perhaps some stronger wind at times. Detail beyond the weekend is uncertain, and there may well be windows of better weather through the week too.