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.
Dry and sunny
Extensive strong warm sunshine. The mountains free of cloud once any early mist patches disperse.
Clear
Excellent or superb visibility, no navigation issues.
Warm
Comfortable temperatures on the hills, rising above 10C on tops, feeling pleasantly warm especially on lower ground. Beware of feeling cooler if exposed to wind on higher terrain.
Strong warm sunshine
High UV levels, feeling very warm when ascending, beware of dehydration and sunburn.
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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.
Dry and sunny
Extensive strong warm sunshine. The mountains free of cloud once any early mist patches disperse.
Clear
Excellent or superb visibility, no navigation issues.
Warm
Comfortable temperatures on the hills, rising above 10C on tops, feeling pleasantly warm especially on lower ground. Beware of feeling cooler if exposed to wind on higher terrain.
Strong warm sunshine
High UV levels, feeling very warm when ascending, beware of dehydration and sunburn.
Viewing Forecast For
Cairngorms NP and Monadhliath
Tuesday 20th May 2025
Last updated
Mon 19th May 25 at
4:30PM
Summary for all mountain areas
Mostly sunny and warm in Scotland; some patchy low fog in the north at dawn. Sunny too in England and Wales, fair weather cloud building afternoon with localised showers. Local heavy bursts later in western areas (including Galloway) with chance of isolated lightning, showers more scattered across the Pennines. Fairly light wind for all.
Headline for Cairngorms NP and Monadhliath
Strong warm sunshine; some low cloud early northeast
How windy? (On the Munros)
Northerly 10 to 15mph or less, more northeasterly as dawn breaks. May reach 20mph on eastern tops and more widely as night falls.
Effect of the wind on you?
Fairly small
How Wet?
Rain not expected
Cloud on the hills?
Hills soon clear, some morning low and middle slope fog in the north
Low fog patches drifting onto northernmost slopes of Cairngorms and Monadhlaith. Some cloud banks may drift up towards mid-slopes in easternmost areas. Patchy fog in glens elsewhere. All soon dispersing for a cloud-free day.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
Becoming nearly certain
Sunshine and air clarity?
Strong sunshine, some fair-weather cloud building over high tops and southward. Visibility excellent or superb.
How Cold? (at 900m)
8C rising to 11 to 13C, warmest toward southwest Cairngorms. Some local areas north Cairngorms rising very little.
Freezing Level
Above the summits
Viewing Forecast For
Cairngorms NP and Monadhliath
Wednesday 21st May 2025
Last updated
Mon 19th May 25 at
4:30PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
Northerly 10 to 20mph, strongest toward east, may reach 25-30mph highest eastern tops. Northwesterly for a time afternoon.
Effect of the wind on you?
Fairly small, but risk becoming more blustery over higher Cairngorms, especially toward Deeside, feeling chilly.
How Wet?
Rain very unlikely
Cloud on the hills?
Mostly little
Patches around some slopes in the morning, mainly north Cairngorms, lifting above tops. Later afternoon, more banks of cloud arrive onto middle and upper slopes in the far east; highest tops may be out of cloud.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
80%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Patchwork of cloud and sun, cloud may fill in for periods. Visibility excellent.
How Cold? (at 900m)
5 to 8C, locally rising higher southern areas. Risk later dropping away toward 2 or 3C from north.
Freezing Level
Above the summits, but from dusk possibly dropping near freezing higher Cairngorms.
Viewing Forecast For
Cairngorms NP and Monadhliath
Thursday 22nd May 2025
Last updated
Mon 19th May 25 at
4:30PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
Northerly 15-25mph, strongest breezes easternmost mountains.
Effect of the wind on you?
Fairly small, comfortable walking starting to be affected on eastern slopes.
How Wet?
Substantially dry
Occasional light showers drift onto northern slopes of Cairngorm plateau,
Cloud on the hills?
Occasional banks high tops, north slopes
Patches drift over high terrain and tops of north Cairngorm plateau; mostly clear south of high terrain. Lifting and breaking for mostly cloud-free hills, occasional banks drifting over highest tops through the day.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
30% at dawn, rising to 80%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Frequent sunshine around the A9/west, more patchy north Cairngorms. Excellent or superb visibility.
How Cold? (at 900m)
0 or 1C at dawn, rising towards 6C south Cairngorms/Drumochter. Only slight chance north and east.
Freezing Level
900-1000m at dawn, lifting to the highest summits. May stay near 1100m on windward slopes north and east.
Planning Outlook
High pressure weakens into midweek. Some passing rain/showery bursts into Wales and England on Wednesday will lead to a mostly dry Thursday and Friday. A northerly breeze will lower temperatures; freezing levels will lower to high terrain of north and east Scotland for a time. In the short-term, ground conditions remain extensively dry, water courses are very low and the fire risk is very high. Weather turns very unsettled into the weekend as a strong frontal system arrives from the west on Friday night, bringing heavy rain and strong winds to all areas. Showers and a brisk wind will follow into the weekend.