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
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.
Whiteout
Fog and lying snow over the mountains, possibly with falling or blowing snow, very disorientating. Map and compass essential, beware of unseen hazards.
Chilly
Air temperature typically 0 to 5C on higher summits. Feeling distinctly chilly on tops when stationary or where exposed to wind. Take appropriate layers.
Snowdrifts
Considerable lying snow over the mountains, with substantial drifting in places.
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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.
Whiteout
Fog and lying snow over the mountains, possibly with falling or blowing snow, very disorientating. Map and compass essential, beware of unseen hazards.
Chilly
Air temperature typically 0 to 5C on higher summits. Feeling distinctly chilly on tops when stationary or where exposed to wind. Take appropriate layers.
Snowdrifts
Considerable lying snow over the mountains, with substantial drifting in places.
Viewing Forecast For
Cairngorms NP and Monadhliath
Sunday 1st February 2026
Last updated
Sat 31st Jan 26 at
4:30PM
Summary for all mountain areas
Extensive low cloud and patchy areas of rain, or snow on higher mountains, merging into more constant precipitation from the west over England, Wales and southwest Scotland. Driest conditions for the coastal northwest Highlands. Improving afternoon for Wales. Variable winds, dropping fairly light Highlands.
Headline for Cairngorms NP and Monadhliath
Strong wind easing. A little hill snow, low cloud fairly widely.
How windy? (On the Munros)
Southeasterly 30-40mph early morning, gusty with strongest winds toward northeast Cairngorms. Easing with time, 15-20mph, lowest near Drumochter afternoon, more widely less by dusk.
Effect of the wind on you?
Walking strenuous in exposure with uncomfortable gusts locally at first, but effects gradually easing to become small.
How Wet?
Patchy snow south and east, rain lower
Patches of snow affecting Cairngorms accessed from Deeside and easternmost hills, falling as rain below about 700m. Odd patches will reach Drumochter and Monadhliath, though largely dry here.
Cloud on the hills?
Fairly extensive
Cloud shrouds the Cairngorm plateau all day, slopes accessed by Deeside often shrouded to middle slopes as well. Higher bases and more variable Strathspey and west, may rise towards summits at times.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
20%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Little or no sunshine. Very poor visibility in snow, whiteout conditions on high terrain; better towards the west.
How Cold? (at 900m)
0C. Feeling like -10 to -15C in the wind.
Freezing Level
Around 800-900m, though some variability, generally higher on Monadhliath.
Viewing Forecast For
Cairngorms NP and Monadhliath
Monday 2nd February 2026
Last updated
Sat 31st Jan 26 at
4:30PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
Southeasterly 30-40mph, lowest speeds early morning. Gusty, top speeds to 50-55mph in places around high tops.
Effect of the wind on you?
Walking impeded from dawn, deteriorating to arduous walking with considerable buffeting and significant wind chill.
How Wet?
Snow south and east Cairngorms
Showery snow affecting the south and east Cairngorm plateau much of the day, falling as rain below 500-600m, though later snow starting to fall lower. Patches will reach Drumochter at times, driest Monadhliath.
Cloud on the hills?
Fairly extensive south and east
Fog over the Cairngorm plateau most high terrain south and east of high summits, lowering to middle slopes during snow. Bases reaching towards 700m around Drumochter sometimes too. Highest breaks north Monadhliath.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
20%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Some sunny moments in the Monadhliath where visibility good. Otherwise cloudy, whiteout conditions at times in fog over snow.
How Cold? (at 900m)
-1C, dropping to -3C by dusk. Feeling like -12 to -15C in the wind.
Freezing Level
800m tending to drop during daytime to 500-600m.
Viewing Forecast For
Cairngorms NP and Monadhliath
Tuesday 3rd February 2026
Last updated
Sat 31st Jan 26 at
4:30PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
Easterly 40 to 55mph, very gusty in places over high Cairngorms and on downslopes west of high terrain.
Effect of the wind on you?
Challenging walking conditions, more difficult in places, frequent buffeting affecting balance; significant wind chill.
How Wet?
Snow most continuous east
Frequent to persistent snow over the Cairngorms and areas to the south and east, falling to most lower slopes, sleet only lower Deeside. Patchier flurries westward, least toward Monadhliath.
Cloud on the hills?
Extensive
Shrouding higher terrain fairly widely, from 600 to 800m in eastern areas, 800 to 1000m west from Cairngorm plateau.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
20%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Overcast, dull in east. Hazy lower down, whiteout higher areas in snow and cloud.
How Cold? (at 900m)
-4C. Wind chill feeling like -15 to -20C.
Freezing Level
Most terrain frozen from glens upward, around 300-400m.
Planning Outlook
Southeast then easterly winds will prevail during the week ahead, strong to gale force over many hills for sustained periods. From Monday into Tuesday onward, colder air temperature and lower freezing level again, leaving mountain terrain widely frozen from mid-elevations upward, or to lower slopes in eastern Scotland. Further snow will affect eastern mountains, with additional accumulations and drifting. Some periods of hill snow for England and Wales into midweek. Cold easterly patterns are expected to continue onward into mid February, though higher pressure to the north may see reduced precipitation amounts, always driest with highest cloud in west.