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
Windy, walking impeded
Blustery conditions enough to give buffeting on higher terrain or affect balance on exposed ridges. 25 to 40mph.
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.
Click an icon for more information or click here for a key to all icons.
Windy, walking impeded
Blustery conditions enough to give buffeting on higher terrain or affect balance on exposed ridges. 25 to 40mph.
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
Tuesday 21st April 2026
Last updated
Mon 20th Apr 26 at
4:00PM
Summary for all mountain areas
Brisk easterly winds for all areas will give considerable chill factor across the mountains; very gusty toward the west. A little patchy rain at first, otherwise a generally dry day. Cloud banks over the hill early in the day, particularly in the east, but increasingly breaking up to leave clear hills and sunshine.
Headline for Cairngorms NP and Monadhliath
Blustery, gusty spots. Cloud breaking, sunshine.
How windy? (On the Munros)
Easterly 20 to 30mph, gusty in places high tops and downslope west of Cairngorms.
Effect of the wind on you?
Marked wind chill in exposure, some blustery spots affecting ease of walking.
How Wet?
Patchy flurries at dawn fade
From the early hours through to dawn or just after, snow flurries above 600m, patchy light rain lower slopes, mostly east and southern areas. Soon fading out to leave dry conditions.
Cloud on the hills?
Covering tops for a time, lifting, clearing
Cloud banks covers slopes above 700-800m early in the day, locally lower northeast areas for a time; higher tops may be near top of the cloud layer. Tending to lift higher up and increasingly all break up. Low cloud returns to north/eastern areas into night.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
50% at first, rising above 90%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Mostly cloudy start, then patchy cloud with sunshine increasingly breaking through. Visibility very good then excellent.
How Cold? (at 900m)
-1C in morning, rising to 2 or 3C afternoon. Directly in the wind, feeling as cold as -10C in the morning.
Freezing Level
800m early morning, rising to 1200-1300m or just above high tops by later afternoon.
Viewing Forecast For
Cairngorms NP and Monadhliath
Wednesday 22nd April 2026
Last updated
Mon 20th Apr 26 at
4:00PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
Easterly 15-20mph, but local gusty spots 25mph, typically strongest south and west of Cairngorm plateau.
Effect of the wind on you?
Fairly small, but locally uncomfortable gusts, not just on higher slopes. Feeling chilly in exposure.
How Wet?
No precipitation expected
Cloud on the hills?
Patches some mid-upper slopes
Some cloud banks early in the day, mostly toward the north and east, patchier westwards; base around 600-700m, whilst tops above 1100m likely poke above the cloud. Tending to disperse.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
80%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Sunshine and broken cloud around some hills for a time; lower eastern areas may be under cloudier skies for a few hours. Visibility excellent out of cloud.
How Cold? (at 900m)
0 or 1C rising to 4C afternoon, locally warmer toward Ben Alder. Feeling sub-zero directly in the wind.
Freezing Level
Around freezing on higher slopes in the morning, also frost in glens at dawn. Rising above freezing to tops.
Viewing Forecast For
Cairngorms NP and Monadhliath
Thursday 23rd April 2026
Last updated
Mon 20th Apr 26 at
4:00PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
Easterly or variable 10-15mph or less.
Effect of the wind on you?
Small.
How Wet?
No precipitation expected
Cloud on the hills?
Little or none
Patchy fog some glens early morning, perhaps local patchy low cloud some eastern hill slopes, fragments may drift briefly upslope, but all dispersing.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
Above 90%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Mostly sunny, possibly thin high cloud. Visibility excellent.
How Cold? (at 900m)
5C rising to 9C, locally warmer during afternoon.
Freezing Level
Frost in glens and some sheltered higher areas at dawn. Otherwise above freezing to the summits.
Planning Outlook
Staying dry through the remainder of this week and likely into the weekend as high pressure centred to the north stays nearby. Strong and gusty easterly winds tending to lessen later in the week to leave mostly light winds onward into the weekend. Temperatures generally a few degrees above freezing on higher tops, though often some frost in valleys and sheltered higher terrain at dawn. Western areas generally sunniest and warmest, some low cloud banks over eastern hills in the mornings, early fog patches some valleys. Commonly dry weather likely into next week too, chance of local showers occasionally.