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.
Heavy snow and hail showers, isolated lightning
Showery precipitation, often heavy, may merge to become constant for periods. A mix of snow and hail often falling to lower slopes. Risk of very localised thunder and lightning.
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.
Heavy snow and hail showers, isolated lightning
Showery precipitation, often heavy, may merge to become constant for periods. A mix of snow and hail often falling to lower slopes. Risk of very localised thunder and lightning.
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
Monday 13th April 2026
Last updated
Sun 12th Apr 26 at
4:20PM
Summary for all mountain areas
Heavy showers with hail from dawn in northwest Scotland, snow falling as low as middle-slopes. Hail showers become widespread afternoon, a risk of isolating lightning. Cloud above most hills between showers. Chilly temperatures, slightly rising in sun, but suddenly chilly again around showers and also gusty.
Headline for Cairngorms NP and Monadhliath
Morning sun, afternoon hail showers, risk isolated lightning
How windy? (On the Munros)
Southerly, 20 to 25mph; in the morning, southwesterly and risk 30mph higher Cairngorms and more eastern tops. gusty later around showers, and may rise again to 30mph late in the day.
Effect of the wind on you?
Fairly small, but more noticeably blustery on some exposed tops in the morning, giving considerable wind chill, perhaps late in the day too. Sudden gusts may briefly affect stability.
How Wet?
Hail showers forming widely afternoon, persistent for a few later hours
Much of the morning dry, an odd early shower around Drumochter. A scattering of brief showers forming from midday, becoming more widespread with time, suddenly persistent and heavy later afternoon with hail, and snow falling as low as 700m; risk isolated thunder & lightning. Becoming scattered again into night.
Cloud on the hills?
Often above hills, varied in showers, most later afternoon
Patches of cloud forming around some upper slopes in the morning, mostly southern areas, lifting above many tops through morning, only odd caps around midday on western summits. Then occasional banks forming over hills during and after showers, risk becoming more extensive over high terrain later afternoon, lower bases south.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
80%, lowering to 60% later afternoon
Sunshine and air clarity?
Sunshine best in north & east in morning, perhaps more widely for a few hours, but then cloud building afternoon, leaving brief bursts of sun. Visibility excellent, but briefly very poor in showers.
How Cold? (at 900m)
-1C rising to +2C, or a degree warmer on northern slopes, but dropping a few degrees in showers. Wind chill feeling like -6C to near -10C early in day on tops.
Freezing Level
700-800m at first, also frost in sheltered glens; rising to 1100m into middle of the day and afternoon, locally 1200m north slopes east of Ben Macdui.
Viewing Forecast For
Cairngorms NP and Monadhliath
Tuesday 14th April 2026
Last updated
Sun 12th Apr 26 at
4:20PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
South to southeasterly, 15 to 20mph in morning, strengthening afternoon toward 30mph later. Into night likely over 45mph.
Effect of the wind on you?
Fairly small for half the day or more, but likely becoming more blustery over higher terrain with time.
How Wet?
Rain not expected until night
Likely dry during daylight. Into dusk, patchy rain develops from southwest, increasingly frequent overnight.
Cloud on the hills?
Little if any
Fragments of cloud around some slopes early morning, also mist in some glens at first. Dispersing to leave hills generally clear. A few odd cloud caps may reform on high tops late in the day, deteriorating overnight.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
90%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Mostly sunny morning, then patchwork of cloud and sun, high cloud gradually builds later. Visibility excellent.
How Cold? (at 900m)
0C rising to 4C; to 5C northwest areas. Feeling colder later in day as wind increases.
Freezing Level
900-1000m early in day, plus frost in glens around dawn. Rising to 1200-1300m, then above all tops later.
Viewing Forecast For
Cairngorms NP and Monadhliath
Wednesday 15th April 2026
Last updated
Sun 12th Apr 26 at
4:20PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
Southerly 40-55mph, very gusty, not just at high elevations, locally variable direction, risk stronger for a time.
Effect of the wind on you?
Challenging conditions with significant wind chill in exposure likely all day; chaotic gusts constantly affecting balance.
How Wet?
Frequently raining
Rain fairly widespread in the morning, local heavy falls, trending showery but remaining drizzly on high terrain even between spells of rain. Later, becoming more frequent and heavy again.
Cloud on the hills?
Fairly extensive, local high breaks north
Extensive to at least the middle slopes early, likely lower slopes in the south and west, to glen level around Drumochter. A lifting trend, towards 700-900m, higher breaks later but high summits will struggle to clear. Bases always higher on northern slopes.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
20%
Sunshine and air clarity?
A few glimpses of weak afternoon sun, but otherwise mostly cloudy. Mixed visibility, often poor in cloud/drizzle but very good where out of cloud.
How Cold? (at 900m)
6 or 7C, perhaps a degree milder on northern Cairngorm slopes. Feeling like -8C in strongest wind.
Freezing Level
Above the summits. Overnight, lowering to touch the high summits.
Planning Outlook
Tuesday starts largely dry and temperatures trend milder than prior days, but rain and strengthening south-southwesterly winds return from the west later. Milder into mid-late week, but Scottish high tops above 1200m close to freezing at times. Wednesday through Friday sees unsettled conditions with showers, occasionally more persistent rain, accompanied by strong gusty winds, gales over mountains for periods, but also brighter spells between rain. With strengthening sunshine, temperatures will tend to rise several degrees during daylight, often becoming warm in the valleys; slopes north of major hill groups often milder. Higher pressure gradually builds through next weekend, bringing fewer showers and lighter winds; chilly overnight, but fairly mild spring days.