Cairngorms NP and Monadhliath
Cairngorms National Park and Monadhliath. Also includes the Ben Alder area hills between Loch Ericht and Loch Laggan.
Saturday's Forecast
Gale force, walking arduous
Considerable buffeting, walking into the wind will be strenuous on exposed terrain, stronger gusts may knock you off your feet. 40 to 55mph.
Patchy rain or drizzle
Rain on and off, or generally drizzly - total amounts small, but may be persistently damp, especially where hills are shrouded in cloud.
Cool to mild
Air temperature 5 to 10C on higher terrain. Comfortable temperatures on lower terrain, but feeling chilly if exposed to wind higher up, especially if stationary. Pack extra layers.
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Gale force, walking arduous
Considerable buffeting, walking into the wind will be strenuous on exposed terrain, stronger gusts may knock you off your feet. 40 to 55mph.
Patchy rain or drizzle
Rain on and off, or generally drizzly - total amounts small, but may be persistently damp, especially where hills are shrouded in cloud.
Cool to mild
Air temperature 5 to 10C on higher terrain. Comfortable temperatures on lower terrain, but feeling chilly if exposed to wind higher up, especially if stationary. Pack extra layers.
Viewing Forecast For
Cairngorms NP and Monadhliath
Saturday 12th September 2026
Last updated
Fri 11th Sep 26 at
4:29PM
Summary for all mountain areas
Severe gales from dawn on Scottish mountains ease during morning, moderate speeds by mid-afternoon, whilst gales continue on tops in England & Wales until later. An intense band of rain moves south, followed by still frequent rain, some showery bursts plus low cloud western hills. Drier later north Scotland.
Headline for Cairngorms NP and Monadhliath
Gales in morning lessening. Patchy rain, cloud breaks northeast.
How windy? (On the Munros)
Southwesterly 60 to 80mph early morning with peak speeds around dawn, lessening gradually during morning, to 30-40mph into early afternoon, shifting westerly 20-30mph mid-afternoon to evening.
Effect of the wind on you?
Very difficult conditions with powerful gusts to low levels for several hours, moderating into middle of day, but still challenging in exposure with considerable wind chill; smaller effects onward through afternoon.
How Wet?
Early rain, then patchier and drizzly; showery rain for a time afternoon
Rain fairly widely from before dawn, heavier falls toward Drumochter but soon fading to be patchy light rain and drizzle, tending to fade out for periods north and east areas. A band of showery rain moves southward during afternoon, then drier for all into evening.
Cloud on the hills?
Extensive higher areas
Shrouding most high terrain all day, lowest bases to mid-slopes in rain around south and southwest Cairngorms NP. Bases rise and some high breaks form in north and eastern Cairngorms with time.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
30%, rising to 50% northeast.
Sunshine and air clarity?
Overcast, some brighter skies develop, occasional sun north/east, mainly later. Visibility reducing in rain, locally poor, then improving to be good if dry.
How Cold? (at 900m)
7C, up to 10C for a time mainly east, slightly cooling toward evening. Feeling like -5 to -8C directly in wind in morning.
Freezing Level
Above the summits.
Viewing Forecast For
Cairngorms NP and Monadhliath
Sunday 13th September 2026
Last updated
Fri 11th Sep 26 at
4:29PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
West turning southwesterly 15 to 25mph, strongest in the morning. Starting to rise again onward into the night.
Effect of the wind on you?
Feeling chilly in a fresh breeze in the morning, then mostly small until night.
How Wet?
Substantially dry
Chance of a brief light shower.
Cloud on the hills?
Varied patches likely all clearing
Patchy cloud around mid to upper slopes from dawn into morning, mainly northwest, local mist also at first sheltered glens. Higher summits may start above the cloud, banks then drift higher up, but likely to clear most tops.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
50% rising to 90%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Variable sunshine and cloud. Early slight haze, then visibility excellent.
How Cold? (at 900m)
6C rising to 9C during day, tending to rise slightly further into evening and night. Feeling below freezing on tops in morning.
Freezing Level
Above the summits.
Viewing Forecast For
Cairngorms NP and Monadhliath
Monday 14th September 2026
Last updated
Fri 11th Sep 26 at
4:29PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
Southwesterly 30 to 50mph, speed tending to rise during the day, some notable strong gusts especially north/east Cairngorms.
Effect of the wind on you?
Frequent buffeting over the hills, very gusty in places affecting stability, not just highest terrain. Considerable wind chill.
How Wet?
Occasional rain, may set in from west
A little patchy rain spilling in from the southwest at times, but may amount to very little over several hours, especially in the east. Risk of more persistent rain setting in near and west of the A9.
Cloud on the hills?
Extensive higher areas
Shrouding most high terrain all day, lowest most persistent cloud bases near Drumochter to Glen Garry, at times to mid-slopes. Capping most of Cairngorm plateau, some breaks above 1000m north.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
20%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Glimpses of sun mostly toward Glenmore and locally Deeside. Visibility good below cloud, reducing in rain.
How Cold? (at 900m)
10C, slightly warmer east, little change all day, then lowering into night to 6C. Feeling near/below 0C directly in wind.
Freezing Level
Above the summits.
Planning Outlook
Staying unsettled with Atlantic lows dominating to the north; often windy, gale-force westerly winds for periods over higher terrain. Better weather this Sunday, then wind and rain returns into Monday, staying showery into Tuesday. A mixed outlook continues later next week with rain most frequent in western Scotland. Temperatures varying, some cooler days especially in Scotland, but often fairly mild further south, at times quite warm and humid. Higher pressure and better weather tends to expand further north later in month.