Cairngorms NP and Monadhliath
Cairngorms National Park and Monadhliath. Also includes the Ben Alder area hills between Loch Ericht and Loch Laggan.
Friday'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.
Snow and hail showers
Periods of bright or sunny conditions mixed with showers or flurries of snow and hail. Visibility may change rapidly from excellent to very poor.
Cold
Air temperature below 0C all day on higher mountains. Significant chill factor if exposed to strong winds. Suitable protective clothing required.
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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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.
Snow and hail showers
Periods of bright or sunny conditions mixed with showers or flurries of snow and hail. Visibility may change rapidly from excellent to very poor.
Cold
Air temperature below 0C all day on higher mountains. Significant chill factor if exposed to strong winds. Suitable protective clothing required.
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
Friday 27th February 2026
Last updated
Thu 26th Feb 26 at
4:11PM
Summary for all mountain areas
Blustery showers in north and west Scotland, snow above 800m, this level lowering; wind eases, showers isolate to the northwest. Patchy rain in south Scotland and north England, fairly small wind effects, some clear hills. Overnight rain central/south Pennines and Wales turns patchy; risk of changeable conditions here.
Headline for Cairngorms NP and Monadhliath
Early breeze eases; scattered showers, snowfall level lowering
How windy? (On the Munros)
Westerly 25 to 35mph, strongest wind north, may reach up to 40mph just before dawn. Shifting northwesterly with time, 15-20mph.
Effect of the wind on you?
In the morning, blustery wind impedes comfortable walking with marked wind chill; walking may be strenuous over high Cairngorms at and before dawn. Easing towards fairly small effects.
How Wet?
Scattered showers, snowfall level lowering
Often dry, but occasional clusters of showers arrive from the west, at times passing towards easternmost hills. Falling as snow above 800m, the snowfall level lowering later towards 500-600m.
Cloud on the hills?
Mostly high tops with breaks
Cloud mostly confined to the high Cairngorm plateau, coming and going as patches but the tops also often clear. Broader banks occasionally cover the higher terrain during clusters of showers but these soon passing.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
60%
Sunshine and air clarity?
May be often cloudy but sunny breaks are likely between showers, although some high cloud around limits extent of sun. Very good visibility.
How Cold? (at 900m)
0C from dawn, locally +1C on eastern slopes, lowering trend during day to -1C, or -2C into night. Feeling near -10C directly in the wind early in the day, this effect easing.
Freezing Level
1000 to 1200m in morning, a slight lowering trend during the day, lowering to 700-800m into and overnight, some lower frosts forming as well overnight.
Viewing Forecast For
Cairngorms NP and Monadhliath
Saturday 28th February 2026
Last updated
Thu 26th Feb 26 at
4:11PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
Westerly 15-20mph, shifting southwesterly and slowly strengthening, 20-30mph by dusk and onward, up to 45mph overnight.
Effect of the wind on you?
Fairly small early in day, but increasingly blustery, comfortable walking affected later afternoon and further deteriorating.
How Wet?
Precipitation unlikely during day
Rare if any brief flurries. Overnight, some spotty rain and hill snow drifts onto south and western hills.
Cloud on the hills?
Mostly little
May drift onto some higher southern slopes at times, but often clear most northern areas. Caps begin affecting tops more often late in the day.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
70%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Mostly sunny, some patchy cloud south. High cloud may start to develop from west later. Visibility excellent.
How Cold? (at 900m)
-1 or -2C. As wind strengthens, feeling like -10C, risk nearer -15C by dusk.
Freezing Level
500 to 700m, plus frost some sheltered lower areas early morning.
Viewing Forecast For
Cairngorms NP and Monadhliath
Sunday 1st March 2026
Last updated
Thu 26th Feb 26 at
4:11PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
Southerly 30-35mph, strong downslope gusts to the north. A deteriorating trend likely, approaching 50mph into evening.
Effect of the wind on you?
Strenuous walking with chaotic gusts all day. Deteriorating to challenging conditions with significant wind chill.
How Wet?
Patchy rain/snow, snowfall level lifting
Patchy rain/snow in the morning, mostly south and west; snow falling to 700m and up early, though this level rising. Later, a rising risk of patches further east towards Deeside.
Cloud on the hills?
Most extensive south and west
Variable banks of cloud affect Drumochter and nearby slopes, as well as eastward to Deeside, fairly consistently to 800m, sometimes lower, though odd higher breaks possible too. Slopes northeast of Ben Macdui will be often clear.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
20%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Best sunshine on low northern slopes in the morning, otherwise cloudy. Very good visibility away from fog/rain.
How Cold? (at 900m)
-2C, lifting to 4C, or 5C towards the north. Feeling as cold as -10C in direct wind.
Freezing Level
500-700m from dawn, local variability, including lower frosts. Lifting with time to above the summits afternoon.
Planning Outlook
A changeable southwesterly regime continues through the weekend into early next week. Colder for a time with lowering freezing levels on Saturday allowing some refreezing of higher mountain terrain mainly in Scotland, the snowpack on high mountains consolidating following recent thawing. Early low frosts possible into north England as well. Milder air and thawing returns into Sunday, accompanied by rain and upland gales. During next week, higher pressure is expected to develop around the British Isles, bringing quieter weather, drier for most with lighter winds. Some fronts may continue to graze northwest Scotland with rain and stronger winds. Temperatures tending to be on the milder side during early March, occasional cooler winds lowering freezing levels, but winter conditions only on high Munros.