Cairngorms NP and Monadhliath
Cairngorms National Park and Monadhliath. Also includes the Ben Alder area hills between Loch Ericht and Loch Laggan.
Thursday's Forecast
Gale force, walking arduous
Considerable buffeting, walking into the wind will be strenuous on exposed terrain, stronger gusts may knock you off your feet. 40 to 55mph.
Snow and rain mix
Precipitation falling mostly as snow on higher terrain, rain on low-to-middle elevations, may turn to sleet or rain higher up.
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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Gale force, walking arduous
Considerable buffeting, walking into the wind will be strenuous on exposed terrain, stronger gusts may knock you off your feet. 40 to 55mph.
Snow and rain mix
Precipitation falling mostly as snow on higher terrain, rain on low-to-middle elevations, may turn to sleet or rain higher up.
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
Thursday 18th December 2025
Last updated
Wed 17th Dec 25 at
4:35PM
Summary for all mountain areas
Scotland: South to south-west gales bringing hill fog and showers, before band of heavy, perhaps squally, rain moves up from the southwest in afternoon, snow tops. England and Wales: Heavy rain spreading north with hill fog becoming extensive with strong to gale force southerly winds.
Headline for Cairngorms NP and Monadhliath
Southerly gales, significant wind chill. Band of heavy rain, snow tops, later.
How windy? (On the Munros)
South to southwesterly 40 to 60mph, powerful gusts downslope from northern Cairngorms corries.
Effect of the wind on you?
Ongoing arduous conditions over higher terrain, walking often difficult in exposure, significant wind chill.
How Wet?
Rain / snow tops developing later
Rare showers, but likely often dry well into afternoon. Band of heavy perhaps squally rain moving in from southwest later; falling as snow on higher terrain. Showery onward into the night with hail.
Cloud on the hills?
Most persistent south, breaks north
Varied cloud banks, often covering southern Cairngorms NP above 800m, higher and better breaks northward, but lowering widely later.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
30%, to 60% north.
Sunshine and air clarity?
Some sun and very good visibility mostly north, varied high cloud. Mistier southern hills, reducing to poor if in rain.
How Cold? (at 900m)
1 to 3C, then lowering just below 0C into night. Wind chill feeling like -12 to -15C on tops.
Freezing Level
1000 to 1200m, highest toward north; tending to rise a little during daytime, then dropping into night to 800-900m.
Viewing Forecast For
Cairngorms NP and Monadhliath
Friday 19th December 2025
Last updated
Wed 17th Dec 25 at
4:35PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
Southwesterly 50 to 70mph.
Effect of the wind on you?
Difficult conditions over the mountains, frequent buffeting from modest elevations upward. Significant wind chill.
How Wet?
Showers mostly west, hail, snow tops
Showery precipitation most common in areas near and west of the A9, with hail, also falling as snow above 800m. Becoming more scattered later in the day. Few showers reaching eastern hills.
Cloud on the hills?
Mostly higher tops, breaks east
Frequently on higher slopes toward western Cairngorms NP and Monadhliath, base mostly above 800m. Often above 1000-1100m east, good breaks likely.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
50%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Occasional sun, best toward east. Visibility often very good, but at times very poor in showers in west.
How Cold? (at 900m)
0 to 1C, slight rise later. Feeling like -15C directly in the wind.
Freezing Level
900 to 1000m, may then rise a little to 1200m onward into the night.
Viewing Forecast For
Cairngorms NP and Monadhliath
Saturday 20th December 2025
Last updated
Wed 17th Dec 25 at
4:35PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
South to south-easterly 25 to 40mph, perhaps touching 50mph at times over Cairngorm Plateau.
Effect of the wind on you?
Walking very likely arduous for periods with a very gusty and turbulent airflow. Significant wind chill and buffeting.
How Wet?
Mostly dry
Very likely staying dry, with just scope for the odd spot of light rain or drizzle for hills near and west of the A9.
Cloud on the hills?
Breaks in north, covering hills in south.
Banks of low cloud covering the Drumochter hills and over to Ben Alder across upper slopes above 700m. Further north, caps of cloud mainly over tops.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
30% south, 60% north
Sunshine and air clarity?
Little or no sun Visibility good, but poor in any rain or drizzle. General haze west coast.
How Cold? (at 900m)
2 or 3C, small rate of change in temperature with height.
Freezing Level
Around 1200m
Planning Outlook
South-southwesterly winds widely remain gale force over the mountains later this week and through into Saturday, severe upland gales for periods. Showery on Friday, most frequent in western Scotland with hail, also snow over tops. Another belt of persistent rain likely arrives onto western hills into Saturday, snow only highest Scottish tops. A switch to east-southeasterly winds by Sunday into early next week, some residual rain and high-level snow, but a drier theme develops and favouring chillier conditions into the Christmas period.