Cairngorms NP and Monadhliath
Cairngorms National Park and Monadhliath. Also includes the Ben Alder area hills between Loch Ericht and Loch Laggan.
Saturday'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.
Patchy cloud and winter sun
Mostly dry with a mix of cloud and sun, patchy cloud occasionally covering some mountain slopes.
Cold
Air temperature below 0C all day on higher mountains. Significant chill factor if exposed to strong winds. Suitable protective clothing required.
Terrain widely frozen
All ground frozen from lower elevations upward, with hard frost or snow cover. Beware of icy surfaces on lower and higher terrain. Appropriate footwear needed, crampons may be necessary.
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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.
Patchy cloud and winter sun
Mostly dry with a mix of cloud and sun, patchy cloud occasionally covering some mountain slopes.
Cold
Air temperature below 0C all day on higher mountains. Significant chill factor if exposed to strong winds. Suitable protective clothing required.
Terrain widely frozen
All ground frozen from lower elevations upward, with hard frost or snow cover. Beware of icy surfaces on lower and higher terrain. Appropriate footwear needed, crampons may be necessary.
Viewing Forecast For
Cairngorms NP and Monadhliath
Saturday 10th January 2026
Last updated
Fri 9th Jan 26 at
4:05PM
Summary for all mountain areas
Most terrain frozen, snow cover over many hills, beware icy surfaces even lower down. Wind fairly light, but feeling blustery at times over Scottish mountains and later northern England. Some snow showers and flurries, mostly toward the west. Varied patchy cloud around hills, sunnier Pennines & NE Scotland.
Headline for Cairngorms NP and Monadhliath
Chilly wind. Largely dry, patchy cloud, sunnier north.
How windy? (On the Munros)
Southerly 15 to 30mph, gusty in places on some downslopes from northern corries and higher tops. Strengthening onward into the night to gales 50-70mph+.
Effect of the wind on you?
Noticeably blustery in places, locally buffeting gusts not just on tops; considerable wind chill. Deteriorating significantly into night.
How Wet?
Rare flurries
Often dry, scattered snow flurries mostly around Ben Alder and Drumochter, falling to lower slopes. Substantially dry north and eastern areas.
Cloud on the hills?
Varied patches, clearer north
Patches or fragments of cloud around some slopes and tops, may linger around corries. Some mist possible into glens. Toward the north the hills more often clear.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
70%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Occasional sun, mostly north and east of Cairngorms. Visibility mostly very good, but locally risk difficult navigation if in patchy fog over snow cover.
How Cold? (at 900m)
-2 or -3C. Feeling like -10 to -13C if exposed to wind.
Freezing Level
Terrain widely frozen from glens upward, some slopes around 400-500m just above freezing point.
Viewing Forecast For
Cairngorms NP and Monadhliath
Sunday 11th January 2026
Last updated
Fri 9th Jan 26 at
4:05PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
Southerly, in range 50 to 70mph much of daytime, but risk 80mph for a time in the morning, and likely again into the night.
Effect of the wind on you?
Difficult conditions over the mountains; frequent buffeting and powerful gusts to some lower slopes, significant wind chill.
How Wet?
Snow turning to rain
Snow starts overnight, heavy for a few hours through into morning, particularly southern Cairngorms NP. Soon turning to sleet on lower terrain, freezing rain some slopes; with time turning to rain at all elevations.
Cloud on the hills?
Extensive higher areas
Shrouding most higher terrain all day, lowest bases southern Cairngorms NP to 500-600m in places, some higher bases above 800-1000m in north.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
30%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Overcast and mostly dull. Visibility generally very poor, appalling if in cloud and blowing snow on hills.
How Cold? (at 900m)
-2C rising toward +1C, small variation of temperature with height. Wind chill feeling like -15 to -18C.
Freezing Level
Terrain frozen to lower slopes from dawn into morning; rising variably during day above freezing toward high tops.
Viewing Forecast For
Cairngorms NP and Monadhliath
Monday 12th January 2026
Last updated
Fri 9th Jan 26 at
4:05PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
South to southwesterly 50 to 70mph, may fluctuate during the day, risk 80mph for a time higher Cairngorms.
Effect of the wind on you?
Difficult conditions, any mobility challenging, frequent buffeting even lower elevations. Significant wind chill.
How Wet?
Rain, snow high tops, mostly southwest
Frequent to near-constant precipitation from Ben Alder to areas accessed from Glen Garry, smaller amounts northeastwards. Falling as snow above around 900-1000m. Very wet underfoot where snow melts.
Cloud on the hills?
Fairly extensive higher areas
Covering higher terrain most or all day, lowest base 700-900m southern Cairngorms NP, mostly above 900-1000m in northern areas, some higher breaks.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
30%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Glimpses of sun mostly north of the Cairngorms. Slight haze; visibility poor in precipitation.
How Cold? (at 900m)
1 or 2C. Wind chill feeling around -15C where directly exposed on tops.
Freezing Level
Near or just below freezing above 1000-1100m, chance of lowering further after dark.
Planning Outlook
Thawing develops during Sunday, snow turning to rain, rising just above freezing toward highest tops in Scotland, whilst in England and Wales a more rapid and substantial thaw - beware unstable snowpack conditions, then becoming very wet underfoot where melting occurs. A complex and unsettled outlook next week, generally less cold than recently, but still often below freezing over Scottish mountains above 800-1000m, and at least intermittently below freezing over tops in England and Wales. A mix of snow and rain will fall, often snow on Scottish tops with fresh accumulations. Some showery days with hail. Wind will vary in speed and direction day-to-day, some lulls, but risk gales at times on hills.