Cairngorms NP and Monadhliath
Cairngorms National Park and Monadhliath. Also includes the Ben Alder area hills between Loch Ericht and Loch Laggan.
Thursday'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.
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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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.
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
Thursday 3rd September 2026
Last updated
Wed 2nd Sep 26 at
4:30PM
Summary for all mountain areas
Strong to gale-force winds over high terrain. A lot of cloud, shrouding all western hills, plus patchy rain and drizzle, becoming heavier persistent falls in the west later; a swathe of more intense rain develops for southwest Scotland into northwest England by evening, later into north Wales.
Headline for Cairngorms NP and Monadhliath
Gales on tops; cloudy with some rain at times.
How windy? (On the Munros)
Southwesterly between 35 to 45mph, somewhat variable but sometimes stronger, to 50-55mph over highest tops.
Effect of the wind on you?
Strenuous-to-arduous walking most of the day, challenging moments on highest tops with significant wind chill.
How Wet?
Occasional rain, more often dry east; wetter later west
Some early drizzle on high terrain fades, then a little patchy rain drifting onto hills near Drumochter from time to time, more often dry progressively eastwards. Toward late afternoon and evening, more frequent rain, heavier falls in southwest again.
Cloud on the hills?
Breaking off the summits, more persistent toward Ben Alder
Fairly extensive above 800m in the morning, varied lower banks mostly west. Soon rising, breaking up with time, banks likely come and go above 900m near Drumochter, but many summits clearing for periods, best north and eastern Cairngorms NP, though cloud will lower more widely onto the tops again later in day from west.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
50% southwest, rising to 80% northeast.
Sunshine and air clarity?
Sun best toward east and northeast, cloudier more often west, thickening with time. Very good visibility out of cloud especially eastern hills.
How Cold? (at 900m)
8 or 9C, rising a degree easternmost hills. Feeling below freezing in strongest wind.
Freezing Level
Above the summits.
Viewing Forecast For
Cairngorms NP and Monadhliath
Friday 4th September 2026
Last updated
Wed 2nd Sep 26 at
4:30PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
Southwest then westerly, 40 to 55mph, at times 60mph higher summits, stronger gusts over Cairngorm plateau 70mph.
Effect of the wind on you?
Arduous to difficult walking conditions, frequent buffeting knocking you off balance on exposed terrain. Significant wind chill.
How Wet?
Intermittent rain, mostly west
Pulses of rain spreading from the west at times, locally steadier with showery moments mixed in for areas near/west of the A9. Patchier eastwards.
Cloud on the hills?
Mostly higher tops, some breaks
Varying over high terrain often above 900-1000m, some lower banks in rain in the west to 800m or lower for a time. Breaks more often toward 1200m furthest east.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
30% west to 60% east.
Sunshine and air clarity?
Fairly cloudy, occasional sun mostly east. Visibility often good, but reduced at times in rain, mostly in west.
How Cold? (at 900m)
7C, little change all day. Directly in the wind, feeling like -5C.
Freezing Level
Above the summits.
Viewing Forecast For
Cairngorms NP and Monadhliath
Saturday 5th September 2026
Last updated
Wed 2nd Sep 26 at
4:30PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
Westerly 40-50mph at dawn, easing during morning, 20-25mph afternoon, turning S-SW'ly; rising into night to 50-60mph+.
Effect of the wind on you?
Blustery and chilly start, more challenging just at first, but lessening to be fairly small. Deteriorating significantly into night.
How Wet?
Rare brief showers
Well scattered light showers spreading from the west during the day. Into the night, risk of persistent rain developing from the south, some heavy.
Cloud on the hills?
Clearing most tops
Patchy cloud drifting over higher slopes in the morning, mostly in western Cairngorms and above 900-1000m. Lifting to upper slopes and often above many tops afternoon, odd patches near Ben Alder.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
70%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Occasional sun, best in east; high cloud tending to develop later from south. Visibility very good.
How Cold? (at 900m)
6C rising to 8C afternoon, little change or rising a degree or so higher into night. Feeling like -5C in the wind early in day.
Freezing Level
Above the summits.
Planning Outlook
A series of weather systems moves in from the Atlantic over the next 10 days to bring spells of rain and showers, accompanied by frequently strong to gale force mountain winds. A window of better weather is likely on Saturday for Scotland and northern England, but further rain is expected to move in from the southwest by Saturday night and Sunday, heaviest western Scotland; a risk of more powerful upland gales developing over Scotland into Sunday. Temperatures will vary, mildest toward the south, but some cooler air moves in from the north at times bringing higher Scottish tops close to freezing point.