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
Severe gale or storm, mobility very difficult
Severe conditions on the mountains, any movement very challenging, you may be blown over. 55-70mph+
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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Distant views reduced by haze, locally foggy for a time in valleys and some hill slopes.
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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Severe gale or storm, mobility very difficult
Severe conditions on the mountains, any movement very challenging, you may be blown over. 55-70mph+
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
Distant views reduced by haze, locally foggy for a time in valleys and some hill slopes.
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
Friday 2nd October 2026
Last updated
Thu 1st Oct 26 at
3:22PM
Summary for all mountain areas
Continuing mild, but gales - or in the north severe gales on many mountains - will make it feel cold due to wind chill. A weakening front will bring a little rain eastwards before a further front brings heavier rain in from the southwest later in the day.
Headline for Cairngorms NP and Monadhliath
Upland gales developing, becoming severe; occasional rain.
How windy? (On the Munros)
Southerly, ranging from 30-45mph morning, strongest higher tops. In afternoon progressively strengthening to 40-55mph.
Effect of the wind on you?
Increasingly difficult conditions. Into afternoon mobility where exposed very strenuous and wind chill becoming severe.
How Wet?
Occasional rain
Rain on and off after dawn will clear later morning. Rain returning from southwest mid to late afternoon; very little all day toward and north of Deeside.
Cloud on the hills?
Extensive generally on higher areas; lowest cloud more southern ranges
Cloud base rising morning, though slowly more southern mountains. Typically in early afternoon around 750-900m from Ben Alder to and east of Drumochter; but will lower again late on in rain. Further north, most cloud above 1050-1200m int the afternoon.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
10% southern mountains to 60% into afternoon more northern areas.
Sunshine and air clarity?
Glimpses of sun, mainly lower slopes near and east of A9. Intermittently poor visibility in rain. Otherwise mostly excellent visibility.
How Cold? (at 900m)
9C, but increasingly feeling as cold as minus 6C directly in the wind.
Freezing Level
Above the summits.
Viewing Forecast For
Cairngorms NP and Monadhliath
Saturday 3rd October 2026
Last updated
Thu 1st Oct 26 at
3:22PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
West backing southwesterly 30mph, perhaps sometimes 40mph Cairngorm plateau (most likely at first and late on).
Effect of the wind on you?
Fairly small most of the day, deteriorating rapidly from evening into night to challenging conditions.
How Wet?
A few showers
A few showers, mainly afternoon.
Cloud on the hills?
Extensive higher areas, cloud base higher progressively eastwards
By midday, most cloud above 650m with breaks to 900m, perhaps 1050m west of A9. Eastwards across Cairngorms NP, the cloud base rising further, by mid afternoon, mostly 1050-1200m.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
40%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Intermittent sun, particularly more eastern hills. Very good visibility.
How Cold? (at 900m)
4C, rising a degree. Feeling like -0C in direct wind, later colder.
Freezing Level
Above the summits.
Viewing Forecast For
Cairngorms NP and Monadhliath
Sunday 4th October 2026
Last updated
Thu 1st Oct 26 at
3:22PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
Southwesterly, increasing markedly with height to 50mph or on Cairngorm plateau 60mph.
Effect of the wind on you?
Severe wind chill and walking extensively difficult. General mobility may be a challenge in places.
How Wet?
Isolated drizzly rain.
Drizzly rain now and again, mainly west of A9. Substantially or completely dry coming eastwards toward eastern mountains in Cairngorms NP.
Cloud on the hills?
Foggy across nearly all mountains all day
Persistent low cloud soon forming across most mountains, typically above 600 to 750m west of A9 and 900 to 1050m elsewhere. May sometimes clear Lochnagar area.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
10%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Pockets of sunshine lower slopes particularly east of A9, possibly widely Deeside. Very good visibility
How Cold? (at 900m)
10C. Will feel as cold as minus 6C directly in the wind.
Freezing Level
Above the summits.
Planning Outlook
Rain at some stage more or less daily on most mountain areas through the coming week. However, frequently dry E & S Wales and S Pennines. Frequently windy Scottish Highlands, whilst progressively further south, periods of strong winds will be increasingly infrequent. A hint of a brief period of much colder weather around the middle of next week.