Cairngorms NP and Monadhliath
Cairngorms National Park and Monadhliath. Also includes the Ben Alder area hills between Loch Ericht and Loch Laggan.
Today's Forecast
Gale force, walking arduous
Considerable buffeting, walking into the wind will be strenuous on exposed terrain, stronger gusts may knock you off your feet. 40 to 55mph.
Heavy showers, hail and thunder
Bursts of rain, torrential downpours with hail, risk of thunder and lightning. Seek shelter where possible.
Chilly
Air temperature typically 1 to 5C on higher summits. Feeling distinctly chilly on tops when stationary or where exposed to wind. Take appropriate layers.
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Gale force, walking arduous
Considerable buffeting, walking into the wind will be strenuous on exposed terrain, stronger gusts may knock you off your feet. 40 to 55mph.
Heavy showers, hail and thunder
Bursts of rain, torrential downpours with hail, risk of thunder and lightning. Seek shelter where possible.
Chilly
Air temperature typically 1 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
Thursday 11th September 2025
Last updated
Wed 10th Sep 25 at
4:15PM
Summary for all mountain areas
Gale force winds over many Scottish high tops in the morning, but persistent all day toward the northwest; powerful squally gusts around showers. Up to gale-force also on Welsh high tops. Heavy downpours already affect most of western Britain from dawn, increasingly widespread with hail, thunder & lightning.
Headline for Cairngorms NP and Monadhliath
Windy, gale-force at times. Increasingly showery, hail & thunder.
How windy? (On the Munros)
Southwesterly 40 to 50mph early morning, tending to ease a little, but often 30mph with sudden squalls 40mph in showers.
Effect of the wind on you?
Walking strenuous, more arduous for a time with balance challenges where exposed to strongest wind, most sustained in the morning. Significant wind chill.
How Wet?
Scattered showers, brief heavy bursts
Overnight rain clears northeast by dawn, then dry for a few hours in eastern areas. Scattered showers drift in from the west, tending to increase in frequency afternoon, locally heavy, chance isolated hail and thunder.
Cloud on the hills?
Well broken east, filling in during rain
Cloud over high terrain around Drumochter and southern Monadhliath in the morning; some patches extending north and east on higher terrain; often clear Deeside/east Cairngorms. Tending to fill in for periods above 800m as showers come and go.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
50%, lowering to 30%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Some patchy sunshine mainly morning in north/east - largely cloudy for several hours at a time. Excellent visibility, reducing in showers.
How Cold? (at 900m)
5 or 6C, slightly rising east Cairngorms/Deeside. Feeling like -5C to -8C in exposure on higher terrain.
Freezing Level
Above the summits
Viewing Forecast For
Cairngorms NP and Monadhliath
Friday 12th September 2025
Last updated
Wed 10th Sep 25 at
4:15PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
Southwesterly 20 to 30mph, at times reaching 35mph over higher Cairngorms plateau.
Effect of the wind on you?
Starting to affect ease of walking in strongest winds, starting to impact stability where very exposed. Feeling cool.
How Wet?
Afternoon showers, heavy at times
Mostly dry morning. Risk of heavy showers through afternoon, possibility of local hail and thunder. May briefly merge into broader areas of rain, mainly toward Drumochter and Ben Alder.
Cloud on the hills?
Mostly higher tops toward southwest
Banks of cloud on high terrain in the morning, most extensive near Drumochter/southern Monadhliath. Cloud will lift and break, largely clearing summits, best eastwards, though returning to tops at times in showers.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
70%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Frequent or extensive sunshine, best in the east/north in morning; increasingly patchy afternoon. Excellent visibility.
How Cold? (at 900m)
5C, rising slightly, up to 7C eastern Cairngorms. Feeling like -3C in direct wind.
Freezing Level
Above the summits
Viewing Forecast For
Cairngorms NP and Monadhliath
Saturday 13th September 2025
Last updated
Wed 10th Sep 25 at
4:15PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
Southerly risk 30-40mph at dawn, soon easing to 20-25mph, perhaps less for a time, turning southwest 25-35mph later.
Effect of the wind on you?
Expect blustery conditions on higher terrain affecting ease of walking, but may improve for a time. Considerable wind chill.
How Wet?
Showers, mostly afternoon
Clusters of showery rain, likely most widespread by late afternoon, when risk of hail, isolated thunder. A few hours in morning may be dry.
Cloud on the hills?
Mostly high tops, some breaks
Likely to come and go on upper slopes, most frequent toward Ben Alder where frequently covering tops above 900m. Bases varying in and out of showers.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
40%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Occasional sun, mostly morning and in north/east. Visibility very good when dry, reduced to poor in showers.
How Cold? (at 900m)
5 or 6C. Feeling like -5C, to -8C on highest tops directly in the wind.
Freezing Level
Above the summits
Planning Outlook
Unsettled southwesterlies dominate through the weekend into early next week - often windy with frequent rain, cloud capping the tops. Showery bursts at times with a risk of hail and thunder. Driest and highest cloud bases toward eastern Scotland. Temperatures on the cool side, often feeling below freezing in exposure to wind on higher terrain. During Sunday and into Monday, a deeper Atlantic low is expected to move in, bringing more extensive heavy rain and gales - the strongest wind probably focused on England & Wales. Some improvement expected for a time into middle of next week, but the longer range outlook into late September remains unsettled.