Cairngorms NP and Monadhliath
Cairngorms National Park and Monadhliath. Also includes the Ben Alder area hills between Loch Ericht and Loch Laggan.
Friday's Forecast
Windy, walking impeded
Blustery conditions enough to give buffeting on higher terrain or affect balance on exposed ridges. 25 to 40mph.
Snow
Snowfall continuous or frequent over the mountains, beware of conditions becoming challenging on higher terrain. At lower elevations falling as rain.
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.
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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
Snowfall continuous or frequent over the mountains, beware of conditions becoming challenging on higher terrain. At lower elevations falling as rain.
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.
Viewing Forecast For
Cairngorms NP and Monadhliath
Friday 14th November 2025
Last updated
Thu 13th Nov 25 at
3:00PM
Summary for all mountain areas
Cold across Scotland and northern England, below freezing on Scottish mountains all day. Snow flurries toward north/east Highlands. Significant chill factor from strengthening easterly winds, gale-force all day southern Scotland and northern England. Severe gales and incessant heavy rain Wales and Peak District.
Headline for Cairngorms NP and Monadhliath
Windy and gusty, increasingly gales. Snow most frequent north.
How windy? (On the Munros)
East-northeasterly, 25 to 35mph, to increasingly 40mph higher Cairngorms middle of day into afternoon, gusty in places; by evening 50mph.
Effect of the wind on you?
Challenging walking conditions, frequent buffeting making balance difficult on higher terrain. Significant wind chill.
How Wet?
Frequent snow flurries north & east
Fresh snow lying across most higher slopes. Showers and snow flurries most frequent north and eastern Cairngorms and into Monadhliath, possibly merging to near-continuous light snow. Patchier flurries toward Drumochter. Spots of rain into glens below 400m.
Cloud on the hills?
Fairly extensive, lowest cloud north
Shrouding the mountains most of the time above 700-900m, lowest and most persistent north & east. Breaking above 900-1000m near Glen Garry.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
20%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Little or no sun, most glimpses southwest. Visibility poor toward north in snow, difficult navigation where in fog on hills; but very good visibility below cloud and where often dry toward western side of Cairngorms.
How Cold? (at 900m)
-2 or -3C (to -5C higher Cairngorms). Wind chill feeling like -15C over higher terrain, or colder late in day.
Freezing Level
600-700m, but near to freezing on some lower slopes early morning.
Viewing Forecast For
Cairngorms NP and Monadhliath
Saturday 15th November 2025
Last updated
Thu 13th Nov 25 at
3:00PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
Easterly 30 to 50mph from dawn, strongest higher southern Cairngorms NP. Slowly decreasing, later in day to 20mph or less.
Effect of the wind on you?
Expect challenging conditions and significant wind chill in morning, risk much of day in south, but generally improving.
How Wet?
Occasional flurries
Often dry, but a few light snow flurries mainly over eastern hills.
Cloud on the hills?
Mostly higher eastern areas
Patchy cloud mostly above 800-900m, most common toward eastern half of Cairngorms NP. Typically only brief patches on upper slopes near/west of A9.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
30% east, up to 70% toward Ben Alder.
Sunshine and air clarity?
A little sun mostly west of the Cairngorms, cloudier east. Visibility very good, some haze in east.
How Cold? (at 900m)
-1C (to -4C on Ben Macdui in morning). Wind chill feeling like -15C in morning, improving.
Freezing Level
Around 800m, local variations - some lower slopes near freezing in morning. May rise a little during day.
Viewing Forecast For
Cairngorms NP and Monadhliath
Sunday 16th November 2025
Last updated
Thu 13th Nov 25 at
3:00PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
Northerly 20 to 25mph, or slightly less early morning; up to 30mph higher Cairngorms at times mainly afternoon.
Effect of the wind on you?
Prepare for considerable wind chill; fairly small effect on walking, but increasingly blustery exposed high tops.
How Wet?
Snow flurries develop from north
Occasional snow flurries northernmost areas in morning, then into afternoon a more frequent band of snow flurries above 700-800m coming in from north; rain lower elevations.
Cloud on the hills?
Most high Cairngorms, later more widely
Patchy cloud mostly over higher northern slopes of Cairngorms above 1000m in morning, elsewhere largely clear, bar local fragments. Cloud may fill in above 900m from north in afternoon precipitation.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
50% north, to 80% south; later 40%.
Sunshine and air clarity?
Sunshine mostly morning and best toward south. Clouding over from north with time. Visibility mostly excellent, but reducing in showers, risk locally poor later.
How Cold? (at 900m)
0 or -1C, rising to +1C afternoon. Feeling like -7C, to nearer -10C on higher Cairngorms in exposure to wind.
Freezing Level
Frost in glens, near or just below freezing most elevations early in day; typical freezing level 900-1000m by midday.
Planning Outlook
Colder air extends to all areas, staying below freezing over higher mountains most likely throughout the next week to 10 days. In the short-term, for Wales and south Pennines expect ongoing flooding from high rainfall on Friday, the rain eases into Saturday here. A lot of dry weather for Scotland this weekend, but some snow flurries move in from the north on Sunday. Areas of showery snow over the hills into next week coming in on often strong northerly winds, gale force into midweek. Snow most frequent toward north of the Highlands with some locally more substantial accumulations over higher terrain; some accumulating upland snow possible more widely during Tuesday as a front drifts southward.