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
Severe gale or storm, mobility very difficult
Severe conditions on the mountains, any movement very challenging, you may be blown over. 55-70mph+
Snow and rain mix
Precipitation falling mostly as snow on higher terrain, rain on low-to-middle elevations, may turn to sleet or rain higher up.
Cold
Air temperature below 0C all day on higher mountains. Significant chill factor if exposed to strong winds. Suitable protective clothing required.
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Severe gale or storm, mobility very difficult
Severe conditions on the mountains, any movement very challenging, you may be blown over. 55-70mph+
Snow and rain mix
Precipitation falling mostly as snow on higher terrain, rain on low-to-middle elevations, may turn to sleet or rain higher up.
Cold
Air temperature below 0C all day on higher mountains. Significant chill factor if exposed to strong winds. Suitable protective clothing required.
Viewing Forecast For
Cairngorms NP and Monadhliath
Friday 28th November 2025
Last updated
Thu 27th Nov 25 at
4:30PM
Summary for all mountain areas
Stormy conditions over Scottish mountains, easing only toward dusk; frequent or persistent rain and hill snow, heaviest western mountains. Severe gales high tops England & Wales, squally stormy gusts for a time with heavy bursts of rain. Risk of hail and isolated thunder, mainly western areas.
Headline for Cairngorms NP and Monadhliath
Stormy mountains winds most of day. Showery rain, snow tops.
How windy? (On the Munros)
Southwesterly 70 to 80mph, gusts to 100mph higher Cairngorms until early afternoon; peak speeds gradually lessening, from dusk starting to drop toward 40mph, then less into night.
Effect of the wind on you?
Extensively very difficult conditions with severe wind chill and buffeting - any mobility challenging mid-heights upward. Strong gusts into glens. Improving only from dusk onward.
How Wet?
Showers increasingly, snow upper slopes
Showers increasingly frequent. Most common on hills from Ben Alder to Drumochter. Falling as snow above 800m, possible hail in heavier bursts. Few brief showers reaching eastern hills.
Cloud on the hills?
Occasionally covering tops
Bases varying markedly, but extensively covering tops Ben Alder to Drumochter. More on and off tops elsewhere, down to 700-800m in showers.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
40%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Occasional sun, perhaps frequent in east. Visibility ranging from very good, to poor or very poor in showers.
How Cold? (at 900m)
0 or 1C. Wind chill feeling like -15 to -20C.
Freezing Level
900 to 1000m
Viewing Forecast For
Cairngorms NP and Monadhliath
Saturday 29th November 2025
Last updated
Thu 27th Nov 25 at
4:30PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
Northerly, 15 to 25mph, may increase to 30-35mph through day.
Effect of the wind on you?
Be prepared for significant wind chill in the north wind and some buffeting, which may increase through day.
How Wet?
Scattered snow and hail showers
Scattered snow and hail showers, becoming increasingly confined to northern parts. May ease away completely.
Cloud on the hills?
Varying, covering tops fairly widely.
Cloud cover variable across area, but scope for fairly extensive coverage across the tops above 800-1000m, with the best breaks in the south.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
30%
Sunshine and air clarity?
A mix of cloud and patchy sun; the latter mostly in the south. Visibility excellent, but poor or very poor in showers.
How Cold? (at 900m)
-2C
Freezing Level
600m
Viewing Forecast For
Cairngorms NP and Monadhliath
Sunday 30th November 2025
Last updated
Thu 27th Nov 25 at
4:30PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
Northeasterly 10 to 20mph, but may drop light and variable. Then likely to strengthen southerly into night, risk 40-50mph.
Effect of the wind on you?
Marked wind chill in exposure for a time, but likely becoming small. Risk deteriorating onward into night.
How Wet?
Local flurries
Occasional snow flurries mostly northern Cairngorms to areas north from Deeside.
Cloud on the hills?
Risk cloud banks slow to clear N/E
Cloud banks may shroud higher and northern Cairngorms above 800-1000m in the morning at least. Cloud more broken south & westwards. Tending to break up, but some patches may cling all day.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
50%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Cloudy northern areas, some sun toward south, may become sunnier widely. Visibility excellent out of cloud.
How Cold? (at 900m)
-2 or -3C, small variation with height. Feeling nearer -10C if exposed to breeze.
Freezing Level
Much terrain frozen with frost into glens, only partial thawing lowest sunlit slopes up to around 400-500m.
Planning Outlook
Colder over the weekend with the mountains near or below freezing point, including frost into glens in Scotland by Saturday night. A small scale low on Saturday most likely affects England and Wales bringing rain, upland snow and a core of strong winds for a time. Sunday then mostly dry, bright and cold. Next week, Atlantic lows passing across or just north of Britain will bring frequent rainfall to western mountains together with upland gales. A mix of chilly westerly air and some milder southwesterlies. Freeze-thaw cycles, with periods of fresh snow mostly for Scottish hills, briefly high tops elsewhere.