Cairngorms NP and Monadhliath
Cairngorms National Park and Monadhliath. Also includes the Ben Alder area hills between Loch Ericht and Loch Laggan.
Tuesday's Forecast
Light wind, negligible impact
Little wind or walking hardly affected by the wind, but feeling chilly if exposed on tops. 10-15mph or less.
Patchy rain or drizzle
Rain on and off, or generally drizzly - total amounts small, but may be persistently damp, especially where hills are shrouded in cloud.
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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Light wind, negligible impact
Little wind or walking hardly affected by the wind, but feeling chilly if exposed on tops. 10-15mph or less.
Patchy rain or drizzle
Rain on and off, or generally drizzly - total amounts small, but may be persistently damp, especially where hills are shrouded in cloud.
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
Tuesday 25th August 2026
Last updated
Mon 24th Aug 26 at
4:26PM
Summary for all mountain areas
Early cloud and drizzle in northeast England and east Scotland. Cloud lifts, sun breaking out; cloud caps cling to high east Scotland tops, a little light rain passing westward. Wales and west parts of England and Scotland largely dry with little hill cloud. Wind strengthens into night in England and Wales.
Headline for Cairngorms NP and Monadhliath
Lingering cloud east, sun breaks west; a little drizzly rain
How windy? (On the Munros)
Southeasterly 10-15mph, occasionally approaching 20mph over high tops.
Effect of the wind on you?
Mostly small.
How Wet?
A little rain, more often dry
A little drizzle at times mainly areas toward Lochnagar. A small area of more steady rain quickly moves east-to-west, but the rain will be light with rainfall amounting to little.
Cloud on the hills?
Mostly in morning and toward east
Varied cloud banks from some lower slopes upward in the morning, some higher terrain may be at least briefly above cloud, and most north and western slopes largely free of cloud. Bases drift upward, may linger some eastern tops, largely breaking west.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
50%, rising to 80% near/west of A9.
Sunshine and air clarity?
Sunshine best near Strathspey, some thin high cloud. Eastern areas may be cloudier especially morning. Visibility excellent.
How Cold? (at 900m)
8C rising to 10 or 11C; coolest toward Deeside where may only rise slightly, if at all.
Freezing Level
Above the summits.
Viewing Forecast For
Cairngorms NP and Monadhliath
Wednesday 26th August 2026
Last updated
Mon 24th Aug 26 at
4:26PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
East-southeasterly 20 to 30mph, local stronger gusts in places around higher mountains.
Effect of the wind on you?
Generally breezy, local gusty areas may suddenly affect balance on high tops and locally downslope west of Cairngorms.
How Wet?
Little or no rain
Patchy drizzle some eastern slopes where in cloud. Odd spots from high cloud elsewhere, later perhaps a burst of rain.
Cloud on the hills?
Most extensive south and east, improving
Banks of cloud fairly extensive south and eastern Cairngorms NP above 600-800m, rolling across higher slopes toward north and west, patchier toward Monadhliath. Cloud tends to lift, to mostly just high tops.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
30% south & east to 60% northwest, tending to improve
Sunshine and air clarity?
Occasional sun mostly near Strathspey, high cloud tending to thicken. Visibility good, some haze east and south.
How Cold? (at 900m)
9C, rising to 13 or 14C, or warmer where out of cloud towards Strathspey. Feeling like 2 to 5C in the wind.
Freezing Level
Above the summits.
Viewing Forecast For
Cairngorms NP and Monadhliath
Thursday 27th August 2026
Last updated
Mon 24th Aug 26 at
4:26PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
Generally easterly, some variability, 20-30mph early with strong gusts, easing towards 15mph, or less.
Effect of the wind on you?
Strenuous walking in exposure early with buffeting, easing to fairly small effects.
How Wet?
Some patchy rain
Patchy rain drifts from the east from time-to-time, areas near and west of Strathspey seeing only rare spots. May trend towards more frequent patches with heavier falls later.
Cloud on the hills?
Fairly extensive
Low cloud shrouds most hills from dawn, rolling over the high Cairngorms (highest west summits perhaps out of cloud). Lifting to shroud high terrain, and with time above Monadhliath summits. Cairngorms remain in cloud, lowest Deeside where unlikely above 800m.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
20%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Sun breaks towards Strathspey/Monadhliath, where visibility becomes very good. Cloudier east, poor visibility on high terrain.
How Cold? (at 900m)
10 to 12C.
Freezing Level
Above the summits.
Planning Outlook
Low pressure to the south will develop and drift across Britain into the second half of this week bringing increasingly wet, warm, and humid conditions widely. Areas of rain will drift northward during Wednesday, possibly thundery showers forming over England & Wales. Heavy and thundery rain likely affects England, Wales & southern Scotland on Thursday-Friday, potentially prolonged heavy falls bringing a risk of flooding locally. Northwest Scotland likely driest. The eastern Highlands often covered in low cloud. Strong gusty easterly winds prevail for a few days through midweek. Into the weekend it remains unsettled with areas of rain and heavy showers, plus cooler northwesterly winds developing.