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
Moderate breeze, locally gusty
A noticeable breeze, feeling cool where exposed on tops. Locally may be gusty, but unlikely to affect walking progress. 15-25mph.
Winter sunshine
Bright sunshine most of the day with the mountains generally free of cloud. Snow cover on higher terrain.
Cold
Air temperature below 0C all day on higher mountains. Significant chill factor if exposed to strong winds. Suitable protective clothing required.
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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Moderate breeze, locally gusty
A noticeable breeze, feeling cool where exposed on tops. Locally may be gusty, but unlikely to affect walking progress. 15-25mph.
Winter sunshine
Bright sunshine most of the day with the mountains generally free of cloud. Snow cover on higher terrain.
Cold
Air temperature below 0C all day on higher mountains. Significant chill factor if exposed to strong winds. Suitable protective clothing required.
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
Saturday 28th February 2026
Last updated
Fri 27th Feb 26 at
4:03PM
Summary for all mountain areas
Fine and chilly for the Highlands, frosty morning; sunshine giving way to building cloud from southwest. Remnants of a front over England brings cloud, some rain, local showers with snow on hills. Much of Wales dry and bright. Light winds widely, then increasing S-SW'ly later, ahead of rain / hill snow into night.
Headline for Cairngorms NP and Monadhliath
Light wind, increasing later. Dry and sunny, hills largely clear.
How windy? (On the Munros)
Variable below 10mph in morning, becoming southerly 10-15mph in west toward midday. During afternoon increasing to 20-25mph, soonest near/west of the A9. After dark up to 30-35mph.
Effect of the wind on you?
Mostly small effect on walking, but feeling chilly on higher terrain. Becoming more blustery from west into afternoon.
How Wet?
Precipitation unlikely during day
Onward into night, patchy snow flurries may move onto southwestern hills.
Cloud on the hills?
Mostly little
Fragments may drift onto some higher southern slopes at times, but largely clear most northern areas. Caps begin affecting tops more often late in the day.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
90%
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, chill factor later feeling closer to -10C.
Freezing Level
400 to 700m, highest toward north, rising slightly during day; frost widely in glens plus some sheltered lower slopes early morning.
Viewing Forecast For
Cairngorms NP and Monadhliath
Sunday 1st March 2026
Last updated
Fri 27th Feb 26 at
4:03PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
Southerly 35 to 45mph, strong downslope gusts to the north. Increasing further later, 60-70mph evening-night.
Effect of the wind on you?
Strenuous walking with chaotic gusts all day, in places difficult at times. Significant wind chill. Deteriorating further later.
How Wet?
Patchy rain/snow, snowfall level lifting
Patchy rain/snow in the morning, mostly south and west; snow falling to 700m and up early, though this level rising. Later, a rising risk of patches further east towards Deeside. Rain by evening from southwest.
Cloud on the hills?
Most extensive south and west
Variable banks of cloud affect Drumochter and nearby slopes, as well as eastward to Deeside, fairly consistently to 800m, sometimes lower, though odd higher breaks possible too. Slopes northeast of Ben Macdui will be often clear.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
20%, to 50% north.
Sunshine and air clarity?
Best sunshine on low northern slopes in the morning, otherwise cloudy. Very good visibility away from fog/rain.
How Cold? (at 900m)
-2C, lifting to +4C afternoon onward. Feeling as cold as -10C in direct wind.
Freezing Level
500-700m from dawn, local variability at first. Lifting with time to above the summits afternoon.
Viewing Forecast For
Cairngorms NP and Monadhliath
Monday 2nd March 2026
Last updated
Fri 27th Feb 26 at
4:03PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
South turning southwest later westerly; speed likely to vary during day, mostly in range 25 to 40mph, risk stronger at first.
Effect of the wind on you?
Risk of blustery conditions affecting ease of walking for periods, possibly more difficult around dawn.
How Wet?
Early rain fading, possible showers later
A band of rain early in day, patchy in north, likely breaking up, some uncertainty of timing, to leave increasingly dry conditions. By late in day, risk another area of showery rain arriving from west, snow above 800m.
Cloud on the hills?
Lifting and breaking, best north
Covering many higher areas for several hours, lowest southern Cairngorms NP. Lifting with time, best breaks forming toward tops near Glenmore and over Monadhliath, perhaps more widely.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
40%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Cloudy start, some sun breaking through, soonest in north. Visibility becoming very good or excellent.
How Cold? (at 900m)
2 or 3C, dropping later toward 0C. If exposed to stronger wind, risk feeling like -10 to -13C.
Freezing Level
Above summits from overnight into morning, likely to lower during day, toward 1000m afternoon, 800m after dark.
Planning Outlook
A changeable southwesterly regime onward into early next week. Milder air and thawing into Sunday, accompanied by rain and upland gales. A drop of freezing level onto higher mountains develops during Monday into Monday night; weakening fronts bringing some precipitation, but fading. Higher pressure nearby and commonly drier conditions during early March, though an occasional front coming in from the west may bring some rain later in the week ahead. Varied wind speeds, extensive lulls mixed with some windier days. Milder air is likely to return from the south more often.