Cairngorms NP and Monadhliath
Cairngorms National Park and Monadhliath. Also includes the Ben Alder area hills between Loch Ericht and Loch Laggan.
Today'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.
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.
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.
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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.
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.
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.
Viewing Forecast For
Cairngorms NP and Monadhliath
Tuesday 23rd December 2025
Last updated
Mon 22nd Dec 25 at
4:08PM
Summary for all mountain areas
A fairly extensive sheet of cloud cloaks eastern Scotland southward down the Pennines and east Wales; some mist and haze, fine drizzle on eastern slopes. Cloud more broken on slopes and summits near west coasts, substantially dry here. An easterly wind south Pennines and Wales, strengthening into night.
Headline for Cairngorms NP and Monadhliath
Cloud shrouds summits and south slopes; misty/drizzly east
How windy? (On the Munros)
A gusty south to southeasterly, 15 to 25mph, perhaps stronger far east. Local lulls possible west of Strathspey.
Effect of the wind on you?
Fairly small, though some uncomfortable gusty areas around tops and some corries.
How Wet?
Patchy light rain
Patches of light rain here and there, risk more frequent in the far east. Some mountains may stay substantially dry.
Cloud on the hills?
Shrouding most high tops, lowest bases south
Shrouding the high Cairngorms most of the day, cloud most extensive to mid slopes Drumochter to Deeside; some fog into glens. Some higher breaks toward north of Cairngorm plateau and over Monadhliath.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
30%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Some glimpses of weak sun north of the Cairngorm plateau. Good visibility around Strathspey but elsewhere limited by haze and mist on southern hills.
How Cold? (at 900m)
2 or 3C, little change with added height; slightly lowering into nighttime, mainly east and southern slopes.
Freezing Level
Near or just above freezing point on some slopes above 1000m, mainly eastern areas, lowering into nighttime here.
Viewing Forecast For
Cairngorms NP and Monadhliath
Wednesday 24th December 2025
Last updated
Mon 22nd Dec 25 at
4:08PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
Generally easterly with some variability, 10-15mph, some gustiness.
Effect of the wind on you?
Fairly small.
How Wet?
Substantially dry
Some odd spots of light rain may drift around early in the day, soon dry.
Cloud on the hills?
Fairly extensive east, best breaks west
Cloud banks variably covering many slopes from 700m up, perhaps multiple layers; some fog in sheltered glens too. The cloud more extensive in the east.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
50%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Patchy sun increasingly prevalent west, little in the east. Good visibility though a haze.
How Cold? (at 900m)
0 or +1C on most slopes; locally cooler southern/eastern areas.
Freezing Level
900-1100m, some frosts in sheltered glens/corries.
Viewing Forecast For
Cairngorms NP and Monadhliath
Thursday 25th December 2025
Last updated
Mon 22nd Dec 25 at
4:08PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
Southeasterly 15-20mph, some gustiness.
Effect of the wind on you?
Fairly small though turbulent gusts likely at all elevations.
How Wet?
Most hills dry
Some fine drizzle where in cloud Deeside/east Cairngorms.
Cloud on the hills?
Middle slopes south and east
Banks of cloud between 600-1000m on southern Cairngorms slopes, may be more sheet-like east Cairngorms and Deeside. High tops will be above the cloud layer, little cloud near/northwest of Aviemore.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
80% (tops above cloud layer)
Sunshine and air clarity?
Sunny on the summits in very clear air. Least sun lower east slopes though visibility remains good out of cloud.
How Cold? (at 900m)
-1C, slight rise in temperature with added height; a few degrees warmer north and west, up to +1C north Monadhliath.
Freezing Level
600-700m, though poorly defined north and west of Cairngorm plateau due to milder downslope winds.
Planning Outlook
Christmas Eve and Christmas Day will be dry: easterly winds are dominant with the strongest winds in England and Wales. Cloud may be fairly sheet-like in the east sometimes, though variably more extensive or broken, best of breaks in western areas. Turning colder too, the coldest air in England and Wales with freezing levels reaching as low as 400-600m in east Wales. Staying slightly warmer in northern Scotland with some inversion conditions likely over higher terrain; frost into glens and poorly defined freezing levels. High pressure stays put to the north into the weekend, maintaining dry weather, easterly winds, and most cloud in eastern areas. Temperatures will stay chilly.