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
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 cloud and winter sun
Mostly dry with a mix of cloud and sun, patchy cloud occasionally covering some mountain slopes.
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.
Patchy cloud and winter sun
Mostly dry with a mix of cloud and sun, patchy cloud occasionally covering some mountain slopes.
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
Friday 16th January 2026
Last updated
Thu 15th Jan 26 at
4:00PM
Summary for all mountain areas
Dry for much of the Highlands, many northern mountains clear, in places above patchy valley fog, some weak sun through high-level cloud above the mountains. Breezy toward the west, some showers southwest coasts of Scotland, also S/W Wales. Areas of low cloud over Pennines and S Lakes may linger.
Headline for Cairngorms NP and Monadhliath
Light wind, increasing with time. Patchy fog, many hills clear.
How windy? (On the Munros)
Variable or southerly 10-15mph or less in morning, increasing into afternoon to 20mph.
Effect of the wind on you?
Mostly small, but feeling chilly where breeze picks up.
How Wet?
Precipitation unlikely
Cloud on the hills?
Mostly little, patchy valley fog
Hills fairly clear, although some caps of cloud across the tops at times, mainly more southern hills, which may become more often covered in afternoon. Likely ribbons of fog through some of the glens in the morning at least.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
70% dropping to 40% later south.
Sunshine and air clarity?
Patchwork of sunshine; occasional high-level cloud. Visibility very good, away from any fog in the glens.
How Cold? (at 900m)
-1C.
Freezing Level
700-800m, but also frost in many glens from dawn.
Viewing Forecast For
Cairngorms NP and Monadhliath
Saturday 17th January 2026
Last updated
Thu 15th Jan 26 at
4:00PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
Southeasterly 10 to 20mph, in places 25mph through some cols, passes and summits, risk 30mph NE Cairngorms.
Effect of the wind on you?
Fairly small, but wind chill still significant where exposed to the strongest breeze, locally more blustery.
How Wet?
Mostly dry
Local fine spots of drizzle or snow grains possible across southern and eastern hills. Otherwise dry.
Cloud on the hills?
Varying banks, fog patches some glens.
Banks or patches of cloud at varying heights from mid to upper slopes, with ribbons of fog some glens. Best breaks across the north Cairngorms.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
20% south, to 40% north
Sunshine and air clarity?
Mainly dull, little or no sun. Visibility suppressed in low cloud but mainly very good in north.
How Cold? (at 900m)
-1 to 0C, but feeling closer to -10C in the strongest breeze.
Freezing Level
Varied across the area, 600-900m, highest in the north. Also sub-zero with frost into glens in morning.
Viewing Forecast For
Cairngorms NP and Monadhliath
Sunday 18th January 2026
Last updated
Thu 15th Jan 26 at
4:00PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
South to southeasterly 25 to 35mph, suddenly gusty in places, particularly downslope from northern corries.
Effect of the wind on you?
Affecting ease of walking and balance on tops. Varied lower down, but in places very blustery. Considerable wind chill.
How Wet?
Precipitation unlikely
Cloud on the hills?
Low cloud most persistent south
Risk an extensive sheet of low cloud over southern Cairngorms NP from mid-slopes up, but also banks of cloud rolling across higher Cairngorm plateau; best breaks toward Strathspey into Monadhliath.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
20% south, to 50% Monadhliath.
Sunshine and air clarity?
Sunshine mostly toward Glenmore. Visibility very good out of cloud, but mistier to some mid-slopes toward south.
How Cold? (at 900m)
-1C, but in places just above 0C on some upper-mid slopes. Feeling like -10 to -13C in the wind.
Freezing Level
Small variation with height, near or just below freezing from many glens upward, terrain frozen or part-frozen.
Planning Outlook
Often dry and chilly conditions into the weekend with a south to south-easterly airflow developing, gusty wind in places. General patterns into the second half of January favour a colder continental influence. The snow pack across the Scottish Highlands will be enhanced by further spells of snowfall where where fronts edge in from the west, whilst for England and Wales snow accumulating on the hills at times, perhaps in the form of showers from the east.