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
Windy, walking impeded
Blustery conditions enough to give buffeting on higher terrain or affect balance on exposed ridges. 25 to 40mph.
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.
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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Windy, walking impeded
Blustery conditions enough to give buffeting on higher terrain or affect balance on exposed ridges. 25 to 40mph.
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.
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
Monday 17th November 2025
Last updated
Sun 16th Nov 25 at
3:00PM
Summary for all mountain areas
Cold everywhere, staying sub-zero over high terrain, plus some frost lower down in morning; considerable chill factor if exposed to wind, but speeds tending to lessen all areas. Largely dry, local snow flurries moving in northern Scotland. Some patchy cloud mostly northern half of the Highlands, sunnier elsewhere.
Headline for Cairngorms NP and Monadhliath
Breezy over tops. Brief flurries north, patchy cloud.
How windy? (On the Munros)
Northwesterly 20 to 30mph, strongest in northeastern Cairngorms, briefly 35mph with stronger gusts just around dawn. Tending to lessen a little during afternoon.
Effect of the wind on you?
Starting to affect comfortable walking on some slopes, more strenuous at times higher eastern Cairngorms; significant wind chill in exposure.
How Wet?
Snow flurries mostly north
Occasional snow flurries or brief showers will drift onto the northern Cairngorms and Monadhliath, falling toward lower slopes. Rare brief flurries passing further southeast.
Cloud on the hills?
Coming and going over tops and northern slopes
Cloud comes and goes above 800m on and over the northern Cairngorms throughout the day, sometimes higher Monadhliath. A few patches will pass further south, but more often clear hills accessed around Glen Garry.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
50%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Patchy sun over high tops and northern slopes, sunnier south but high cloud builds. Mostly excellent visibility, briefly reducing to poor if in snow flurries.
How Cold? (at 900m)
-3C (to -6C highest tops). Feeling as cold as -15C in strongest wind on higher terrain; tending to improve.
Freezing Level
600m; frost in glens in morning, particularly toward south where skies are clear from overnight.
Viewing Forecast For
Cairngorms NP and Monadhliath
Tuesday 18th November 2025
Last updated
Sun 16th Nov 25 at
3:00PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
Uncertain detail: perhaps variable well into the day, locally light; trending northeasterly 30-40mph or higher.
Effect of the wind on you?
Effects may be fairly small at times but beware sudden strengthening speeds and direction changes.
How Wet?
Persistent snow
Snow likely widespread from morning well into the day - falling as rain on lower slopes. A few breaks may form but with sudden returns to snow as well.
Cloud on the hills?
Extensive, possibly some variability
Hills shrouded above 500-600m all day, perhaps much lower where snow falls heavy. A small chance of odd higher breaks.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
Less than 10%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Likely overcast with near-zero visibility if snow sets in extensively and prolonged.
How Cold? (at 900m)
-3C, may drop to -4C later.
Freezing Level
Freezing level poorly defined but most areas above 400-500m stay frozen, with lower frosts at dawn.
Viewing Forecast For
Cairngorms NP and Monadhliath
Wednesday 19th November 2025
Last updated
Sun 16th Nov 25 at
3:00PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
Northerly 35 to 50mph, strongest higher Cairngorms.
Effect of the wind on you?
Often challenging walking conditions on exposed terrain, severe wind chill.
How Wet?
Frequent snow and hail north
Succession of snow and hail showers coming in from north, merging to be near constant at times north Cairngorms. Fewer showers southwards toward Glen Garry. Snow lying into glens.
Cloud on the hills?
Fairly extensive higher areas
Shrouding the higher Cairngorms above 900-1000m most or all day, at times banks of cloud to 700m or lower in showers. Patches will come and go over higher Monadhliath. Further south, higher bases, breaks at times to tops.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
30%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Brief bursts of sun, mostly southern areas. Visibility at times appalling when in cloud and snow, but intermittently very good.
How Cold? (at 900m)
-4 or -5C. Wind chill feeling like -15 to -20C.
Freezing Level
Terrain widely frozen from glens upward, only slight rise above freezing point on some lower slopes.
Planning Outlook
A cold week ahead, staying below freezing across all mountains, much terrain will be frozen from valleys upward. An area of low pressure and associated fronts will pass southeastward during Tuesday, bringing some persistent snowfalls, including to lower slopes particularly inland across the Highlands, some substantial accumulations over higher terrain. Strong to gale force northerlies Wednesday-Thursday, bringing snow and hail showers focused on northern Scotland and onto north-facing coastal districts elsewhere. By Friday into next weekend, winds shift back westerly and freezing levels rise to upper slopes - some rain likely, snow on high tops at times.