Cairngorms NP and Monadhliath
Cairngorms National Park and Monadhliath. Also includes the Ben Alder area hills between Loch Ericht and Loch Laggan.
Tuesday's Forecast
Windy, walking impeded
Blustery conditions enough to give buffeting on higher terrain or affect balance on exposed ridges. 25 to 40mph.
Snow flurries
Occasional light snow flurries, sleet or rain lower elevations. Amounts little more than nuisance value, but locally more persistent and reducing visibility for periods.
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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Windy, walking impeded
Blustery conditions enough to give buffeting on higher terrain or affect balance on exposed ridges. 25 to 40mph.
Snow flurries
Occasional light snow flurries, sleet or rain lower elevations. Amounts little more than nuisance value, but locally more persistent and reducing visibility for periods.
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
Tuesday 13th January 2026
Last updated
Mon 12th Jan 26 at
1:27PM
Summary for all mountain areas
A cold front will move southeastwards brining a few hours of precipitation - although still some uncertainty in its exact shape and position. Snow and hail showers will affect W Scotland whilst most other areas will have a few hours of rain, in places finishing as snow, as the temperature drops.
Headline for Cairngorms NP and Monadhliath
Patches of snow, mainly toward Deeside. Wind tending to increase.
How windy? (On the Munros)
Possibly a lull to low speeds in morning; then westerly 20 to later 30 or 35mph.
Effect of the wind on you?
Likely to increasingly impede ease of walking higher up and give notable wind chill.
How Wet?
Occasional snow - may persist for a few hours toward Deeside
Frequently dry, although there may be steady but light snow for a couple of hours, probably only east of A9. Deeside at highest risk where the snow possibly falling for several hours.
Cloud on the hills?
May become confined to higher slopes, possibly clearing some summits
Confidence low: After dawn, patches of fog both valleys and lower slopes and also higher up. Through day, although fog frequent across the mountain and, in snow forming on some lower slopes, breaks possible to 900, possibly 1100m.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
20%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Little or perhaps no sunshine. Visibility sometimes excellent but in precipitation very poor.
How Cold? (at 900m)
-1C. Will feel as cold as minus 10C where exposed to the wind.
Freezing Level
700m. Frost many valleys after dawn.
Viewing Forecast For
Cairngorms NP and Monadhliath
Wednesday 14th January 2026
Last updated
Mon 12th Jan 26 at
1:27PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
Westerly 30mph morning. Then backing southerly and strengthening to 40-50mph by dusk.
Effect of the wind on you?
Fairly small particularly lower slopes morning. Walking then increasingly difficult and wind chill becoming significant.
How Wet?
Snow extending east afternoon
Extensively dry morning and early afternoon. Snow then extending east, persistent Ben Alder more patchy elsewhere. Mostly or perhaps completely dry Deeside.
Cloud on the hills?
Probably remaining extensive on most or all higher areas
Cloud generally widespread on higher areas, although as cloud base rises, breaks to 1000m may well occur, particularly toward Deeside. Will deteriorate in precipitation afternoon with cloud filling in across particularly Ben Alder and S Cairngorms NP.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
20%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Occasional sunshine, mainly toward Deeside. Cloud thickening later in day. Visibility very good or excellent but later appalling in snow..
How Cold? (at 900m)
-2C. Directly in wind will feel as cold as minus 14C.
Freezing Level
500m. Frost many valleys after dawn.
Viewing Forecast For
Cairngorms NP and Monadhliath
Thursday 15th January 2026
Last updated
Mon 12th Jan 26 at
1:27PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
Southwesterly 25 to perhaps 35mph
Effect of the wind on you?
Strong enough to make walking arduous where exposed and balance at times difficult. Considerable wind chill.
How Wet?
Occasional hail and snow showers
Hail and snow showers mainly west of A9; few if any reaching Ochils and Angus.
Cloud on the hills?
Persistently covering higher tops
Higher areas almost always cloud covered. Cloud base typically 600 to 1000m lowest southern Cairngorms NP west to Ben Alder. Highest cloud base near Cairngorm ski centre and Deeside where breaks to 1100m.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
10%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Glimpses of sunshine - most sun Deeside. Visibility excellent.
How Cold? (at 900m)
-1C
Freezing Level
750m.
Planning Outlook
Mostly cloudy with precipitation from time to time over the next few days - although total rainfall is now expected to be fairly small on most mountains, particularly N Scotland. Temperature wise, it is highly likely to remain colder than recent January's with the snow pack across the Scottish Highlands being enhanced by further snowfall, whilst further south snow accumulates on higher areas, and occasional falls reaching lower slopes.