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
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.
Snow flurries
Occasional light snow flurries, sleet or rain lower elevations. Amounts little more than nuisance value, but locally more persistent and reducing visibility for periods.
Hazy, some fog banks
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Visibility reduced around cloud banks, hazier on some lower slopes. Locally some improvements possible out of cloud.
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.
Winter kit required on higher terrain
Snow cover over higher mountains. Safe progress over some terrain will require suitable footwear - possibly crampons and ice-axe where necessary.
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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.
Snow flurries
Occasional light snow flurries, sleet or rain lower elevations. Amounts little more than nuisance value, but locally more persistent and reducing visibility for periods.
Hazy, some fog banks
Visibility reduced around cloud banks, hazier on some lower slopes. Locally some improvements possible out of cloud.
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.
Winter kit required on higher terrain
Snow cover over higher mountains. Safe progress over some terrain will require suitable footwear - possibly crampons and ice-axe where necessary.
Viewing Forecast For
Cairngorms NP and Monadhliath
Tuesday 20th January 2026
Last updated
Mon 19th Jan 26 at
4:30PM
Summary for all mountain areas
Strong southeasterlies, gusting gale-force Scottish mountains, strengthening widely. Gales all day for Wales, severe on high tops, increasingly northern England also. Some light rain and hill snow flurries, mostly eastern Scotland, fading with rising cloud base. Heavier rain develops in south Wales.
Headline for Cairngorms NP and Monadhliath
Windy, increasingly gales. Cloud breaking northwestwards.
How windy? (On the Munros)
Southeasterly 35 to 50mph, tending to strengthen, very gusty in places including downslope around northern corries. Increasingly 50-60mph later afternoon onward into evening.
Effect of the wind on you?
Affecting comfortable walking and making balance challenging, blustery not just on tops; considerable wind chill. Deteriorating to become increasingly difficult later.
How Wet?
A little rain, snow on tops
Patchy areas of rain moving northwards, snow falling mostly above 900m. Small amounts northern Cairngorms and Monadhliath. Fading to become mostly dry by afternoon.
Cloud on the hills?
Most persistent south in morning, breaks north and northwest
Covering upper slopes most of day, to some mid-slopes in south Cairngorms NP, higher breaks northward. As the day progresses, cloud lifting and breaking more widely, best toward the north and west, clearing tops for periods.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
20% in morning, rising to 50%, or 70% northwest of Cairngorms.
Sunshine and air clarity?
Largely cloudy, brightest toward Strathspey, visibility good below cloud. Hazier toward south and east.
How Cold? (at 900m)
1C. Wind chill feeling like -10C, to -15C in stronger speeds.
Freezing Level
1000 to 1100m.
Viewing Forecast For
Cairngorms NP and Monadhliath
Wednesday 21st January 2026
Last updated
Mon 19th Jan 26 at
4:30PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
Southeasterly 45 to 60mph, risk 70mph higher Cairngorm plateau, plus powerful gusts downslope to north/west.
Effect of the wind on you?
Challenging conditions widely, any mobility may be difficult in exposure on high terrain. Severe wind chill.
How Wet?
Rain and upland snow
Snow falling above 800-900m, rain lower down, in places wetter higher up at times, most persistent Deeside across southern Cairngorms NP, smaller amounts toward Strathspey.
Cloud on the hills?
Extensive, lowest south/east
Shrouding the mountains widely, from 700 to 900m up from Lochnagar to Glen Garry, higher bases northwestward, some breaks to tops at times Monadhliath.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
20%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Rare if any weak sun mostly Strathspey, where visibility good if dry. Mostly poor visibility, whiteout high tops.
How Cold? (at 900m)
0 or 1C. Wind chill feeling like -13 to -17C where exposed on higher areas.
Freezing Level
900 to 1000m, but some slopes just above freezing higher up on western side of Cairngorms.
Viewing Forecast For
Cairngorms NP and Monadhliath
Thursday 22nd January 2026
Last updated
Mon 19th Jan 26 at
4:30PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
East to southeasterly 50 to 60mph, in places 70mph higher Cairngorms; powerful gusts downslope toward west.
Effect of the wind on you?
Difficult conditions, mobility challenging and gusts may knock you over not just on highest terrain. Severe wind chill.
How Wet?
Constant upland snowfall, heavier east
Hill snow likely persistent, constant heavier falls expected over east and southeastern Cairngorms NP; rain or sleet on lower slopes. Patchier smaller amounts toward Strathspey and Monadhliath.
Cloud on the hills?
Extensive
Shrouding the mountains widely, lowest cloud base eastern areas, to mid-slopes. Some breaks above 900m mostly toward western side of Cairngorms.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
20%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Largely cloudy, hazy at best, but whiteout conditions over the mountains in cloud and snow.
How Cold? (at 900m)
-2C, may drop slightly colder with time. Wind chill feels as cold as -17 to -20C.
Freezing Level
600 to 800m, likely to drop further during day to lower slopes.
Planning Outlook
Strong east to southeasterlies continue beyond midweek, sustained gales over most mountains with powerful gusts downslope toward west. Near or just below freezing on higher tops - colder air is likely to move into Scotland at least late in the week, much mountain terrain then frozen with severe chill factor. Scope for substantial snowfalls over eastern Scottish hills later this week. Sleet or snow mostly higher tops in England and Wales, may fall lower over the weekend. Low cloud often covering many hills across Britain, clearer and drier toward western coasts. Circulating low pressure and cold air likely into next week, with further snowfalls likely.