Cairngorms NP and Monadhliath
Cairngorms National Park and Monadhliath. Also includes the Ben Alder area hills between Loch Ericht and Loch Laggan.
Today'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.
Patchwork of cloud and sun
Dry most or all day. A mix of cloud and sunshine. Occasional cloud banks drifting over higher slopes, lifting above the tops.
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.
Patchwork of cloud and sun
Dry most or all day. A mix of cloud and sunshine. Occasional cloud banks drifting over higher slopes, lifting above the tops.
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
Wednesday 6th May 2026
Last updated
Tue 5th May 26 at
4:20PM
Summary for all mountain areas
Odd early snow flurries in north Scotland, otherwise clear Munros until late; some snow returns to the west and north Highlands near evening. Little or no rain south Scotland and England, several hours of morning sun and any hill cloud soon clearing. Spotty light rain for Wales, cloud clearing hills, but only glimpses of sun.
Headline for Cairngorms NP and Monadhliath
Mixed cloud and sun, summits largely clear until late
How windy? (On the Munros)
Variable less than 10mph much of morning. Trending southerly and strengthening afternoon, approaching 15mph evening, gusting 20mph over tops by dusk.
Effect of the wind on you?
Mostly small.
How Wet?
Little or none until late in the day
A small risk of snow flurries near Drumochter and nearby southern slopes in the early morning, the hills soon dry, only a small risk of an odd fleeting flurry. Well-scattered light snow flurries return later, rain below 700m, may become more frequent Monadhliath into evening.
Cloud on the hills?
Some early and late banks on high terrain, otherwise clear
Some patchy cloud on the high Cairngorm plateau in the morning, some lower banks towards Drumochter, but soon lifting and dissipating for clear summits well into the day. Some risk of banks returning to western high tops later where showers occur.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
90%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Best of sun in the early morning, but soon weakened by high cloud and increasingly a patchwork of cloud and sun. Visibility excellent.
How Cold? (at 900m)
-2C at first, rising to +1 or 2C afternoon, mildest central highlands where may reach 3C.
Freezing Level
600-700m from dawn, plus frost in glens. Rising to 900-1000m afternoon.
Viewing Forecast For
Cairngorms NP and Monadhliath
Thursday 7th May 2026
Last updated
Tue 5th May 26 at
4:20PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
Southerly 25-30mph, strong downslope gusts early.
Effect of the wind on you?
Walking impeded in exposure with notable wind chill; buffeting in early gusts not just on high tops.
How Wet?
Periods of showery rain
Showery rain affecting the hills through the day; the rain tending to come in clusters, punctuated by drier periods.
Cloud on the hills?
Lifting to summits with breaks
Fairly extensive 800m and up Drumochter to Deeside, bases nearer 1000m or higher north Cairngorms. Cloud lifting through morning, tending to break, variable banks on high tops, but then returning more broadly over high terrain around rain.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
Rising to 60%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Glimpses of sunshine, best north. Excellent visibility, but deteriorating where showers form.
How Cold? (at 900m)
+1C, rising to 5 or 6C, perhaps 7C northern Cairngorms. Feeling like -3 to -5C in strongest wind.
Freezing Level
1000m, with patchy frosts in southern glens and corries. Lifting to the highest tops or just above.
Viewing Forecast For
Cairngorms NP and Monadhliath
Friday 8th May 2026
Last updated
Tue 5th May 26 at
4:20PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
Southwesterly 25-35mph, strongest north Monadhlaith where gusty; shifting westerly and easing, 15-25mph.
Effect of the wind on you?
Walking inconvenienced, strenuous northern areas with wind chill; easing, but nuisance breeze on summits.
How Wet?
Showers, most afternoon
A day of scattered showers, most likely increasing frequency and intensity in afternoon, but timing and detail is currently uncertain.
Cloud on the hills?
Early cloud lifts to or above the summits
Covering terrain above 1000m at dawn, lower bases south slopes, to 800m. Likely lifting through morning to clear the summits for much of the afternoon. Banks may return over the Cairngorm plateau during heaviest rain.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
Rising to 80%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Bursts of sunshine, more often cloudy with time. Very good visibility but becoming variable as showers increase.
How Cold? (at 900m)
2 or 3C, rising to 6C. Feeling as cold as -10C in early wind.
Freezing Level
Lingering just around the high tops, sometimes above, but later may lower to 1200m.
Planning Outlook
Low pressure to the north of Scotland brings stronger wind and a greater risk of showery rain from Thursday. Cooler temperatures, high Munros staying below freezing for several days, the freezing level as low as 800-1000m. Showers affecting England and Wales, always a risk of heavier bursts afternoon, but timing and location of showers uncertain. Early varied cloud tends to lift to higher slopes, often above summits but some tops shrouded for longer. Into the weekend, low pressure south of the British Isles, facilitating a strong easterly wind with increasingly heavy rain and showers for Wales and southern Pennines. Pressure may remain higher in Scotland for a few days, but staying cold here with freezing levels perhaps to 700m. Indications of increasingly widespread unsettled weather into next week.