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
Moderate breeze, locally gusty
A noticeable breeze, feeling cool where exposed on tops. Locally may be gusty, but unlikely to affect walking progress. 15-25mph.
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.
Terrain widely frozen
All ground frozen from lower elevations upward, with hard frost or snow cover. Beware of icy surfaces on lower and higher terrain. Appropriate footwear needed, crampons may be necessary.
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Moderate breeze, locally gusty
A noticeable breeze, feeling cool where exposed on tops. Locally may be gusty, but unlikely to affect walking progress. 15-25mph.
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.
Terrain widely frozen
All ground frozen from lower elevations upward, with hard frost or snow cover. Beware of icy surfaces on lower and higher terrain. Appropriate footwear needed, crampons may be necessary.
Viewing Forecast For
Cairngorms NP and Monadhliath
Friday 9th January 2026
Last updated
Thu 8th Jan 26 at
4:10PM
Summary for all mountain areas
Patchy snowfall and low cloud over the eastern Highlands & N/E Pennines, little if any reaching western Scotland where hills will be clearer, some low-level fog. Extensive fresh snow cover for Wales and Peak District, residual flurries fade, but wind remains strong; showers with hail near west coast of Wales.
Headline for Cairngorms NP and Monadhliath
Fairly light wind. Mostly light snow, low cloud in east.
How windy? (On the Munros)
Variable or east to southeasterly, 10 to 15mph, at times little wind near and west of Strathspey, but in places 20mph more eastern hills, perhaps gusts extending westwards during afternoon.
Effect of the wind on you?
Mostly small, but noticeably cold if exposed to stronger speeds on some slopes.
How Wet?
Snow flurries pushing west
Snow flurries mostly over eastern hills, tending to advance gradually westwards during the daytime, may fall as sleet some lower slopes; amounts mostly small, but snow may fall over a few hours in east.
Cloud on the hills?
Varied patches, becoming more extensive east
Patchy cloud clinging to some upper slopes and corries, but often clearer spells over mountains toward/west of A9. Risk of cloud filling in from the east across higher slopes above 700-900m.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
60% dropping to 30% from east
Sunshine and air clarity?
Any sun weak due to a veil of high cloud, cloud thickening from east. Visibility very good toward west, some haze or mist in glens; beware difficult navigation if in fog over snow cover.
How Cold? (at 900m)
-2 or -3C. Feeling nearer -10C on high tops if breeze increases.
Freezing Level
Terrain frozen into the glens, some slopes around 300-500m just above freezing point.
Viewing Forecast For
Cairngorms NP and Monadhliath
Saturday 10th January 2026
Last updated
Thu 8th Jan 26 at
4:10PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
Southerly or variable 15 to 30mph, risk gusty in places on some downslopes from northern corries and higher tops.
Effect of the wind on you?
Noticeably blustery in places, locally buffeting gusts not just on tops; considerable wind chill.
How Wet?
Rare flurries
Often dry, scattered snow flurries, falling to lower slopes, possibly sleety in places.
Cloud on the hills?
Varied patches
Patches or fragments of cloud around some slopes and tops, may linger around corries. Some mist possible into glens.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
60%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Occasional sun. Visibility mostly very good.
How Cold? (at 900m)
-2 or -3C. Feeling like -10 to -13C if in gusty wind.
Freezing Level
Terrain widely frozen from glens upward, some slopes around 400-500m just above freezing point.
Viewing Forecast For
Cairngorms NP and Monadhliath
Sunday 11th January 2026
Last updated
Thu 8th Jan 26 at
4:10PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
Southerly, strengthening rapidly up to dawn, in range 50 to 70mph much of daytime.
Effect of the wind on you?
Difficult conditions with frequent buffeting and powerful gusts to some lower slopes, significant wind chill.
How Wet?
Snow setting in, rain later
Snow developing perhaps quickly from the southwest, setting in heavy particularly southern Cairngorms NP. Turning to sleet on lower slopes, may become freezing rain; after dark may become rain higher up.
Cloud on the hills?
Increasingly extensive
Varied banks over higher terrain, but filling in widely, lowest bases southern Cairngorms NP.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
30%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Overcast and mostly dull. Visibility generally very poor, appalling if in cloud and blowing snow on hills.
How Cold? (at 900m)
-2C, rising later to 0 or +1C, small variation of temperature with height. Wind chill feeling like -15 to -18C.
Freezing Level
Terrain frozen to lower slopes from dawn into morning; rising variably during day above freezing toward high tops.
Planning Outlook
Terrain stays widely frozen away from coastal slopes this weekend, fresh extensive snow for Wales and Peak District, whilst substantial snow remains across Scottish mountains. By Sunday, southerly winds strengthen to gales - as a frontal system approaches, snow then freezing rain is likely. A rise of freezing level from the southwest - thawing develops, rising just above freezing toward all higher slopes; in England and Wales much snow will thaw - here only occasionally near freezing on highest tops in the week ahead. In Scotland next week, higher mountains often near or below freezing at 800-1000m upward. A mix of rain and high-level snowfall, often windy through mid-month.