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
Snowfall continuous or frequent over the mountains, beware of conditions becoming challenging on higher terrain. At lower elevations falling as rain.
Whiteout
Fog and lying snow over the mountains, possibly with falling or blowing snow, very disorientating. Map and compass essential, beware of unseen hazards.
Cold
Air temperature below 0C all day on higher mountains. Significant chill factor if exposed to strong winds. Suitable protective clothing required.
Snowdrifts
Considerable lying snow over the mountains, with substantial drifting in places.
Click an icon for more information or click here for a key to all icons.
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
Snowfall continuous or frequent over the mountains, beware of conditions becoming challenging on higher terrain. At lower elevations falling as rain.
Whiteout
Fog and lying snow over the mountains, possibly with falling or blowing snow, very disorientating. Map and compass essential, beware of unseen hazards.
Cold
Air temperature below 0C all day on higher mountains. Significant chill factor if exposed to strong winds. Suitable protective clothing required.
Snowdrifts
Considerable lying snow over the mountains, with substantial drifting in places.
Viewing Forecast For
Cairngorms NP and Monadhliath
Tuesday 3rd February 2026
Last updated
Mon 2nd Feb 26 at
4:15PM
Summary for all mountain areas
Feeling bitterly cold in gale force easterly winds over the hills. Snow falling to lower slopes, most constant in eastern Scotland with further drifting and whiteout over hills. Snow flurries over the Pennines. Some cloud breaks near west coasts. Rain and increasingly hill snow for Wales, persistent in southeast.
Headline for Cairngorms NP and Monadhliath
Gales, gusty. Snow and whiteout, less in west.
How windy? (On the Munros)
Easterly 40 to 55mph, very gusty in places over high Cairngorms and on downslopes west of high terrain.
Effect of the wind on you?
Challenging walking conditions, more difficult in places, frequent buffeting making balance difficult in places. Significant wind chill, severe higher tops.
How Wet?
Snow most continuous east
Frequent to persistent snow over the Cairngorms and areas to the south and east, falling to most lower slopes, sleet only lower Deeside. Fresh accumulations toward lower elevations, drifting. Patchier flurries westward, least toward Monadhliath.
Cloud on the hills?
Extensive
Shrouding higher terrain fairly widely, from 600 to 800m in eastern areas, 800 to 1000m west from Cairngorm plateau.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
20%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Overcast, dull in east. Hazy lower down, whiteout higher areas in snow and cloud.
How Cold? (at 900m)
-4C. Wind chill feeling like -15 to -20C.
Freezing Level
Most terrain frozen from lower slopes upward, around 300-400m.
Viewing Forecast For
Cairngorms NP and Monadhliath
Wednesday 4th February 2026
Last updated
Mon 2nd Feb 26 at
4:15PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
Easterly 35 to 50mph, very gusty, risk more persistently 50mph over higher Cairngorms for several hours at least.
Effect of the wind on you?
Challenging conditions with frequent buffeting gusts, significant wind chill.
How Wet?
Snow continuing east
Snow most persistent over the eastern Cairngorms NP, some constant heavier falls possible, sleet only lower slopes. Patchier flurries westwards, very little much of Monadhliath.
Cloud on the hills?
Fairly extensive, lowest east
Cloud shrouding the mountains widely, from mid slopes upward in east and southeast Cairngorms NP. Some higher bases toward Strathspey, local break.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
10%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Overcast and dull or misty. Whiteout over tops in fog and snow, locally better visibility western areas.
How Cold? (at 900m)
-3C, rising slightly during day. Wind chill feeling like -12 to -17C.
Freezing Level
400 to 600m, locally higher on some western slopes, may rise variably above 800m further ahead into night.
Viewing Forecast For
Cairngorms NP and Monadhliath
Thursday 5th February 2026
Last updated
Mon 2nd Feb 26 at
4:15PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
East to southeasterly 35 to 45mph, gusty around high tops, locally downslope.
Effect of the wind on you?
Walking strenuous, or arduous in places, frequent buffeting knocking you off balance. Significant wind chill.
How Wet?
Snow mostly eastern hills
Snow flurries, more frequent or fairly persistent south and east of Cairngorm plateau, mostly rain below 600m, but later snow to lowering elevations in east. Patchy amounts Strathspey westward.
Cloud on the hills?
Fairly extensive, lowest east
Shrouding higher terrain widely, lowest cloud base 600 to 800m areas accessed from Deeside, 800 to 1000m further west and north, breaks higher up mostly toward and west of the A9.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
20%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Largely cloudy, some glimpses of sun mainly Monadhliath. Hazy, often whiteout over higher terrain in cloud and snow.
How Cold? (at 900m)
-1 or -2C, later lowering a degree or so from east. Wind chill feeling like -12 to -15C.
Freezing Level
700 to 800m, tending to drop later toward 500m.
Planning Outlook
East or southeasterly winds prevail, strong to gale force over many hills for sustained periods this week. Freezing levels will vary, rising briefly during Wednesday from the south, but lowering widely again below 600m during Thursday, tending to lift again over England and Wales on Friday, then possibly rising just above freezing point to higher mountains in Scotland during the weekend, before colder air returns again next week. Further snowfalls mostly over eastern hills in Scotland, occasionally hills in England & Wales, mixed with rain here. Indications of less precipitation and lower wind speeds more often by early next week. Highest cloud breaks generally west & northwest Scotland.