Cairngorms NP and Monadhliath
Cairngorms National Park and Monadhliath. Also includes the Ben Alder area hills between Loch Ericht and Loch Laggan.
Thursday's Forecast
Severe gale or storm, mobility very difficult
Severe conditions on the mountains, any movement very challenging, you may be blown over. 55-70mph+
Frequent or persistent rain
Steady rain fairly persistent, occasionally heavy, rather wet underfoot.
Hazy, some fog banks
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Visibility reduced around cloud banks, hazier on some lower slopes. Locally some improvements possible out of cloud.
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.
Winter kit required on higher terrain
Snow cover over higher mountains. Safe progress over some terrain will require suitable footwear - possibly crampons and ice-axe where necessary.
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Severe gale or storm, mobility very difficult
Severe conditions on the mountains, any movement very challenging, you may be blown over. 55-70mph+
Frequent or persistent rain
Steady rain fairly persistent, occasionally heavy, rather wet underfoot.
Hazy, some fog banks
Visibility reduced around cloud banks, hazier on some lower slopes. Locally some improvements possible out of cloud.
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.
Winter kit required on higher terrain
Snow cover over higher mountains. Safe progress over some terrain will require suitable footwear - possibly crampons and ice-axe where necessary.
Viewing Forecast For
Cairngorms NP and Monadhliath
Thursday 26th February 2026
Last updated
Wed 25th Feb 26 at
4:27PM
Summary for all mountain areas
Gale-force southwesterlies, strengthening to be severe on higher mountains. Rain increasingly persistent from the west, some heavier falls setting in for periods combined with lowering cloud over the hills. Near freezing on higher Scottish tops, where some snow falls for a time.
Headline for Cairngorms NP and Monadhliath
Upland gales, severe high tops. Rain becomes persistent.
How windy? (On the Munros)
Southwesterly 40 to 50mph, strengthening into middle of day to 60mph, gusts 70mph higher mountains onward through afternoon.
Effect of the wind on you?
Difficult conditions over the mountains, any mobility challenging on exposed terrain into middle of day, gusts could knock you over. Significant wind chill.
How Wet?
Pulses of rain, snow high terrain; wetter middle of day.
Bands of showery rain sweep west-to-east, snow falling above 900-1000m for a time in morning, then mostly rain. Drier at times in north/east in morning. More persistent rain develops from west with time, some heavier bursts.
Cloud on the hills?
Variable, lowering during rain
During pulses of rain, cloud shrouds much of the high Cairngorm plateau, the lowest bases reaching 800m towards Drumochter during heaviest rain. Dry periods see cloud clearing, briefly to the summits mainly northeastern areas.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
40%, dropping to 20% southwest.
Sunshine and air clarity?
Variable cloud, likely bright with some sun through high cloud mainly morning. Very good visibility, though very poor in precipitation.
How Cold? (at 900m)
2C, some local variability by a degree, more widely 3C for a time. Feeling like -12 to -15C in direct wind.
Freezing Level
Near freezing above 1100-1200m for a time up to middle of day, then lifting above tops; lowering again overnight to 1100m.
Viewing Forecast For
Cairngorms NP and Monadhliath
Friday 27th February 2026
Last updated
Wed 25th Feb 26 at
4:27PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
Westerly 25 to 35mph, strongest wind north, speed may vary during day locally.
Effect of the wind on you?
Blustery wind impedes comfortable walking particularly higher Cairngorms with marked wind chill and some buffeting.
How Wet?
Scattered showers
Often dry, but occasional showers, mostly north and western areas, falling as snow above 800m, later lowering.
Cloud on the hills?
Mostly high tops with breaks
Cloud mostly confined to the high Cairngorm plateau, with breaks above the tops at times, best in east.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
50%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Mix of cloud and occasional sun. Very good visibility.
How Cold? (at 900m)
+1C from dawn, a lowering trend during day to -1C, or -2C by night. Feeling near -10C directly in the wind.
Freezing Level
1000 to 1200m in morning, lowering trend toward 800m, or lower after dark.
Viewing Forecast For
Cairngorms NP and Monadhliath
Saturday 28th February 2026
Last updated
Wed 25th Feb 26 at
4:27PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
Southerly, strengthening during day from 15-20mph or less, to 35-40mph afternoon, risk later 50mph from dusk.
Effect of the wind on you?
Fairly small early in day, but increasingly blustery, later afternoon affecting comfortable walking.
How Wet?
Precipitation unlikely during day
Rare if any brief flurries. Onward into night, some rain preceded by hill snow may move in from west.
Cloud on the hills?
Mostly little
May drift onto some higher southern slopes at times, but often clear most northern areas.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
70%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Mostly sunny, some patchy cloud south. High cloud may start to develop from west later. Visibility excellent.
How Cold? (at 900m)
-1 or -2C. As wind increases, feeling like -10C, risk nearer -15C by dusk.
Freezing Level
700 to 800m, plus frost some sheltered lower areas early morning.
Planning Outlook
A changeable southwesterly regime continues through the weekend into early next week. Colder for a time with a drop of freezing level Friday into Saturday allowing some refreezing of higher mountain terrain mainly in Scotland, the snowpack on high mountains consolidating following recent thawing. Milder air and thawing returns into Sunday, accompanied by rain and upland gales. During next week, higher pressure is expected to develop around the British Isles, bringing quieter weather, drier for most with lighter winds. Some fronts may continue to graze northwest Scotland with rain and stronger winds locally for a few more days. Temperatures tending to be on the milder side during early March, but some frosts into valleys at times.