Cairngorms National Park and Monadhliath. Also includes the Ben Alder area hills between Loch Ericht and Loch Laggan.
Cairngorms NP and Monadhliath
Saturday 29th February 2020
Last updated
Saturday 29th February 2020 at
7:34 AM
A complex weather situation. An early zone of rain and upland snow clears away eastwards, with cloud breaking widely. Then another area of heavy snow spreads in from the west into the afternoon. Wind speeds varied; least windy northern Scotland, but increasingly stormy across hills of England & Wales.
Dry following early snow/rain; winds varied.
Direction changing quickly, mostly southerly, briefly westerly; at dawn may be 40mph, then typically 25-40mph with brief lulls. Risk locally reaching 50mph again for periods.
Sometimes small, but beware of changing conditions giving periods of arduous walking conditions and significant wind chill.
Becoming dry in morning, then risk snow returning later afternoon.
Early snow & rain will break up during early morning, becoming generally dry for several hours through middle of day into afternoon. However, later in day, increasing risk of snow returning suddenly from the southwest, setting in giving whiteout, soonest around Ben Alder.
Clearing most summits
Extensive fog after dawn, in places, 'hanging' on some lower slopes. Will quickly improve markedly, as most summits clear for several hours. Risk sudden deterioration again late in day.
70%
A few hours of bright sunshine and excellent or superb visibility as cloud and precipitation clears northwards, and before the risk of next cloud and precipitation band late in day.
Temporarily near 0C post dawn, then dropping, to -4C by midday. Where exposed to strongest winds, feeling close to -15C.
Temporarily above 1000m post dawn. Dropping in stages to 400m by early afternoon.
Cairngorms NP and Monadhliath
Sunday 1st March 2020
Last updated
Saturday 29th February 2020 at
7:34 AM
Low confidence as a low centre passes close by: west or southwest 30 to 50mph, risk 70mph for a time.
Risk of walking being arduous or difficult for at least part of the day.
Intermittent snow
Bands or patches of snow around an area of low pressure may give some areas snow for several hours whilst nearby there is relatively little snow.
Some summits cloud free.
Cloud base likely to vary, perhaps widely within short distances. Away from precipitation breaks to higher tops, but areas where fog shrouds even lower slopes are probable.
20%
Areas of intermittent sun and very good visibility interspersed with areas of thick cloud and very poor or appalling visibility.
-2C
550m
Cairngorms NP and Monadhliath
Monday 2nd March 2020
Last updated
Saturday 29th February 2020 at
7:34 AM
Westerly or variable, speeds varied (detail uncertain), intermittent lulls, but for periods risk 30 to 50mph.
Expect buffeting and significant wind chill across the hills; conditions may vary through the day.
Snow showers
A few snow showers or flurries spreading from the west, may be locally frequent for a few hours, mostly areas west of the A9. Further east more often dry through the day. Rain lowest slopes.
Mostly higher slopes
Cloud bases varied, sometimes shrouding the mountains for periods above 900-1000m, and below 700m during snow. Some breaks to higher slopes, mostly toward Deeside & the Lecht.
40%
Occasional sun, most common eastern Cairngorms NP. Visibility often very good, but at times very poor if in snow.
-2C
Around 600m, may rise slightly through day.
Remaining cold into the start of March, with westerly winds generally prevailing. Scottish mountains staying sub-zero much of the time, whilst England & Wales will see periods of freeze and thaw, and snow more often confined to higher slopes. Precipitation remaining focused on western mountains. Lower terrain staying very wet underfoot. Wind speeds varied, occasional lulls, but also gales at times. Some indications of higher pressure into the second week of March.