Cairngorms NP and Monadhliath
Cairngorms National Park and Monadhliath. Also includes the Ben Alder area hills between Loch Ericht and Loch Laggan.
Saturday's Forecast
Windy, walking impeded
Blustery conditions enough to give buffeting on higher terrain or affect balance on exposed ridges. 25 to 40mph.
Sunshine and showers
A good amount of dry and bright weather, but scattered bursts of rain, some may be locally heavy.
Chilly
Air temperature typically 1 to 5C on higher summits. Feeling distinctly chilly on tops when stationary or where exposed to wind. Take appropriate layers.
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Windy, walking impeded
Blustery conditions enough to give buffeting on higher terrain or affect balance on exposed ridges. 25 to 40mph.
Sunshine and showers
A good amount of dry and bright weather, but scattered bursts of rain, some may be locally heavy.
Chilly
Air temperature typically 1 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
Saturday 13th September 2025
Last updated
Fri 12th Sep 25 at
4:29PM
Summary for all mountain areas
Showery south-westerly airflow across the mountains. Most frequent showers western hills, where they will band into prolonged rain for a time with heavy or even torrential bursts. Scattered heavy showers spreading to eastern mountains too. Risk of thunder. Cloud shrouding western hills, occasional further east.
Headline for Cairngorms NP and Monadhliath
Early rain, then dry slot before heavy showers develop. Risk thunder.
How windy? (On the Munros)
Southerly 25 to 30mph from dawn, risk 35mph some tops, but will ease toward and into the afternoon, veering southwesterly 10 to 20mph.
Effect of the wind on you?
Blustery winds from dawn, affecting ease of walking and balance in exposure; Marked wind chill. Becoming mostly small afternoon.
How Wet?
Scattered showers, mostly afternoon
Early band of showery rain clearing north in morning. Then a drier slot, before further scattered showers develop. Most widely by late afternoon, when risk of hail, isolated thunder. A few hours in morning may be dry.
Cloud on the hills?
Mostly high tops, some breaks
Banks some mid to upper slopes from dawn as band of showery rain moves though. Bases then lifting to tops where they will come and go, most persistent toward Ben Alder where frequently covering tops above 900m. North Cairngorm to Deeside hills may frequently clear.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
40%, but lifting to 70% in north and east.
Sunshine and air clarity?
Occasional sun, mostly in north/east. Visibility very good when dry, reduced to poor in showers.
How Cold? (at 900m)
5 or 6C. Feeling like -5C, to -8C on highest tops directly in the wind.
Freezing Level
Above the summits
Viewing Forecast For
Cairngorms NP and Monadhliath
Sunday 14th September 2025
Last updated
Fri 12th Sep 25 at
4:29PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
South-westerly, backing south then south-easterly, 15 to 25mph, lifting to 35-50mph late afternoon when very turbulent.
Effect of the wind on you?
Mostly small at first, but becoming arduous and then difficult later in the day, with significant buffeting and chill.
How Wet?
Dry morning, rain later in the day.
Dry morning, then in the afternoon, cloud will thicken and rain will increasingly move into southern areas from mid afternoon, later into N Cairngorms.
Cloud on the hills?
Patchy coverage southern hills.
Hills may be clear for several hours, or much of day in north, but increasingly in rain will lower onto upper slopes from Drumochter to Ben Alder.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
70%, but lowering to 40% in south later.
Sunshine and air clarity?
Patchy sun, turning hazy as high cloud moves in, later overcast especially in south. Visibility very good, poor in rain in south.
How Cold? (at 900m)
5C lifting to 7C
Freezing Level
Above the summits
Viewing Forecast For
Cairngorms NP and Monadhliath
Monday 15th September 2025
Last updated
Fri 12th Sep 25 at
4:29PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
Low confidence: West to southwesterly 20 to 45mph, but a marked lull possible for a time under rather complex low centre.
Effect of the wind on you?
Be prepared for periods of very blustery if not for a time arduous conditions with significant wind chill.
How Wet?
Increasingly showery
Perhaps some hills frequently dry morning, but a few showers around. Into afternoon, increasingly areas of showery rain will extend in across the area.
Cloud on the hills?
Often covering tops
Hill tops will likely often be covered in cloud through the day, especially as rain extends in from the west. Easternmost hills more frequently clear.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
40%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Glimpses of sun possible, but mostly cloudy. Visibility often very good, but poor in rain.
How Cold? (at 900m)
5 to 7C, chilliest early and late in the day.
Freezing Level
Above the summits
Planning Outlook
Staying unsettled and cyclonic through into next week with temperatures staying on the cool side, often feeling below freezing in exposure to wind on higher terrain. During Sunday and into Monday, a deeper Atlantic low is expected to move in, bringing more extensive heavy rain northwards and gales - the strongest wind probably focused on England & Wales. Some improvement expected for a time into middle of next week, but the longer range outlook into late September remains unsettled.