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
Light wind, negligible impact
Little wind or walking hardly affected by the wind, but feeling chilly if exposed on tops. 10-15mph or less.
Sunshine and showers
A good amount of dry and bright weather, but scattered bursts of rain, some may be locally heavy.
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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Light wind, negligible impact
Little wind or walking hardly affected by the wind, but feeling chilly if exposed on tops. 10-15mph or less.
Sunshine and showers
A good amount of dry and bright weather, but scattered bursts of rain, some may be locally heavy.
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 18th May 2026
Last updated
Sun 17th May 26 at
4:27PM
Summary for all mountain areas
Variable hill cloud at dawn, early rain in Wales into Lakeland and south/eastern Scotland; NW Scotland starts clear. Most cloud lifts to or above summits. Heavy afternoon showers build over the Pennines northward across most of Scotland; risk hail and local thunder. Risk lingering rain south Wales.
Headline for Cairngorms NP and Monadhliath
Cloud lifts to summits, then afternoon showers, risk lightning
How windy? (On the Munros)
Southerly 10mph at dawn, shifting southeasterly and slowly rising to 15-20mph by evening, some strong gusts around showers too. Deteriorating overnight.
Effect of the wind on you?
Fairly small, but locally varied gusty spots may affect comfortable walking at times, most notably around showers.
How Wet?
Afternoon heavy showers, risk thunder later
A few odd spots of rain around Deeside in the morning, otherwise dry until early afternoon. Scattered showers begin forming, suddenly turning frequent and heavy afternoon with hail and rising risk of localised thunder. Later afternoon, most showers trend westward.
Cloud on the hills?
High tops and upper eastern slopes
Varied patchy cloud around upper slopes in the morning, most extensive to the south and east, some patchy mist in sheltered glens too. Bases lift after sunrise, west and northern slopes will substantially clear but caps cling to high summits and upper east slopes. Bases lower again towards 900m in afternoon showers.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
60%
Sunshine and air clarity?
A patchwork of cloud and sun most of the day, most often cloudy around Deeside, and some early sun towards the Moray Firth. Visibility very good, but deteriorating where showers form.
How Cold? (at 900m)
2C rising to 6 or 7C, mildest towards the Moray Firth. May feel near freezing in strongest gusts around showers.
Freezing Level
1100-1200m at dawn, plus slight frost in some glens. Rising above all tops.
Viewing Forecast For
Cairngorms NP and Monadhliath
Tuesday 19th May 2026
Last updated
Sun 17th May 26 at
4:27PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
Southeasterly 40-55mph through morning; gusty early. Trending southerly and slowly easing, around 30mph evening.
Effect of the wind on you?
Arduous walking with considerable buffeting and wind chill well into the day; effects ease somewhat later.
How Wet?
Rain sets in, then afternoon showers
Persistent rain arrives from the southwest as sunrise approaches; east Cairngorms may see a few dry dawn hours. Rain spreads through morning, breaking to showers afternoon, most frequent south and west. Slippery rock surfaces.
Cloud on the hills?
Fairly extensive
Cloud shrouds the hills to low slopes in the morning with patches into the glens; may be more broken northwest of Ben Macdui. A lifting trend with time, some patchy breaks, perhaps above 1000m north and west of Ben Macdui, but high tops unlikely clear.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
20%
Sunshine and air clarity?
A few afternoon glimpses of sun north but otherwise overcast. Largely poor visibility, some better moments out of rain in the north.
How Cold? (at 900m)
4 or 5C, rising to 8C, or warmer northern Cairngorms. Feeling like -5 to -10C in direct wind.
Freezing Level
May be near freezing just on the high tops at dawn, but soon lifting above the summits.
Viewing Forecast For
Cairngorms NP and Monadhliath
Wednesday 20th May 2026
Last updated
Sun 17th May 26 at
4:27PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
Generally westerly 10-20mph.
Effect of the wind on you?
Fairly small.
How Wet?
Patchy rain, later heavy
Areas of patchy rain drift from the southwest from before dawn, at times setting in for a few hours, but a few dry spells too (though fine drizzle lingering on tops in cloud). Through afternoon, a rising risk of extended heavy falls, particularly north and east.
Cloud on the hills?
Lifting to upper terrain, chance of breaks
Extensive to at least the middle slopes from dawn, bases soon lift after sunrise, mostly above 900m by afternoon with some higher breaks, perhaps fleeting breaks off summits. Cloud fills in again later in the east as rain becomes heavier here.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
30%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Few glimpses of weak sunshine. Variable visibility, often poor due to rain but some very good windows.
How Cold? (at 900m)
7 to 9C; may reach 10C northeast Cairngorms.
Freezing Level
Above the summits.
Planning Outlook
A mixed but milder outlook. Damp southwesterlies prevail for a few days as mid-week approaches with regular rain and showers, most on western hills where drizzly rain may persist between showers and persistent low cloud. Expect increasingly wet conditions underfoot and slippery rock surfaces. Also, a risk of isolated hail and lightening in the showers; showers may be enhanced in eastern Scotland in sea breezes. Indications of rising pressure later in the week, brining milder and drier conditions to England and Wales. However, some drizzle and low cloud may continue to affect western hills, with periods of rain and wind continuing to affect Scotland. Pressure may continue to rise into the weekend, allowing for warmer and sunnier conditions, but some fronts and lingering humidity will bring local periods of rain.