Cairngorms NP and Monadhliath
Cairngorms National Park and Monadhliath. Also includes the Ben Alder area hills between Loch Ericht and Loch Laggan.
Monday'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 flurries
Occasional light snow flurries, sleet or rain lower elevations. Amounts little more than nuisance value, but locally more persistent and reducing visibility for periods.
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 flurries
Occasional light snow flurries, sleet or rain lower elevations. Amounts little more than nuisance value, but locally more persistent and reducing visibility for periods.
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
Monday 26th January 2026
Last updated
Sun 25th Jan 26 at
4:15PM
Summary for all mountain areas
Gale-force and very gusty southeasterly winds Scottish mountains, tending to strengthen. Patchy snow and low cloud affects the eastern Highlands; largely dry and clearer toward west/northwest. Some cloud breaks for the Lakes. Rain and upland gales moves into Wales from the west in the afternoon.
Headline for Cairngorms NP and Monadhliath
Upland gales, gusty. Light snow and low cloud.
How windy? (On the Munros)
East-southeasterly 35 to 45mph in morning, strongest over higher Cairngorms, local powerful gusts in passes and downslope, generally strengthening, sustained 55mph later afternoon, 60-65mph after dark.
Effect of the wind on you?
Walking challenging with buffeting gusts making balance difficult in exposure. Any mobility increasingly difficult on high terrain afternoon. Severe wind chill.
How Wet?
Light snow mostly south and east
Substantial lying snow and drifts from previous falls. Intermittent light snow continues on the Cairngorm plateau, frequent-to-persistent on south and eastern slopes, though total amounts small. Patchy toward Drumochter & Strathspey, only occasional light snow/sleet reaching northern Monadhliath, if any.
Cloud on the hills?
Fairly extensive
Blanket fog over the Cairngorm plateau and southern/eastern hills, toward 600m. Higher bases around Strathspey/Monadhliath, breaking to 900m at times.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
20%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Glimpses of sun toward and west of the A9, otherwise cloudy. Very poor visibility many hills, difficult navigation in fog over snow cover; locally good below cloud in west.
How Cold? (at 900m)
-3C. Feeling like -15 to -20C in direct wind.
Freezing Level
400-500m, slightly higher on some slopes to 600m or above near Strathspey.
Viewing Forecast For
Cairngorms NP and Monadhliath
Tuesday 27th January 2026
Last updated
Sun 25th Jan 26 at
4:15PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
East-southeasterly 50 to 70mph; speeds may reach up to 80mph higher Cairngorms, powerful gusts downslope.
Effect of the wind on you?
Widely difficult conditions - stability and mobility likely only achieved with crouching/crawling. Severe wind chill.
How Wet?
Often snowing east, more patchy west
Persistent snow over the Cairngorm plateau, towards Drumochter and Deeside, some heavier falls may set in. Only wind-blown snow reaching west of Strathspey, though snow may set in more widely afternoon.
Cloud on the hills?
High terrain shrouded, lower south
Shrouding the Cairngorm plateau all days, lowest bases towards Deeside which may reach lower slopes during heavier snowfalls. Best of cloud breaks over Drumochter and Monadhliath, up to 800-900m.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
20%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Mostly cloudy, though brighter around Strathspey/Monadhliath where visibility good. Whiteout conditions in blowing snow over much higher terrain.
How Cold? (at 900m)
-3C. Feeling like -18 to -23C in strongest wind.
Freezing Level
300-400m, locally above 600-700m some slopes toward N/W of Cairngorms; may start to rise variably into evening-night.
Viewing Forecast For
Cairngorms NP and Monadhliath
Wednesday 28th January 2026
Last updated
Sun 25th Jan 26 at
4:15PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
Southeasterly 40 to 60mph - some uncertainty, peak speeds may lessen for a time.
Effect of the wind on you?
Difficult conditions with powerful gusts to some lower slopes. Significant wind chill. Chance of some improvement with time.
How Wet?
Patchy snow / rain
Snow may be frequent or persistent, but amounts fairly small, rain lower slopes up to 600m; patchier toward Strathspey.
Cloud on the hills?
Extensive, lowest south
Shrouding much high terrain all day, to some mid-slopes Deeside to Glen Garry. Breaks to some tops Monadhliath.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
20%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Overcast and dull. Whiteout if in cloud over snow cover; visibility good below cloud in north.
How Cold? (at 900m)
0 or -1C. Wind chill feeling like -10 to -15C.
Freezing Level
700 to 800m, locally just above freezing on some higher slopes toward Strathspey.
Planning Outlook
Powerful southeasterlies prevail across Scotland this week and many indications favour strong east or southeasterly winds onward into the first half of February. Scottish mountains are expected stay below freezing in the extended range, fresh heavy snowfalls giving substantial depths and drifts across south and eastern areas, much less snow northwestward. Hills in England and Wales will see varying freezing levels, sub-zero for periods to 600m or lower, but intermittently lifting just above the tops - a mix of rain and upland snowfall. A generally unsettled pattern with Atlantic lows continuing to frequently circulate over Britain on a southerly track, whilst high pressure resides away to the north.