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.
Snow and hail showers
Periods of bright or sunny conditions mixed with showers or flurries of snow and hail. Visibility may change rapidly from excellent to very poor.
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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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.
Snow and hail showers
Periods of bright or sunny conditions mixed with showers or flurries of snow and hail. Visibility may change rapidly from excellent to very poor.
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
Friday 16th October 2026
Last updated
Thu 15th Oct 26 at
4:18PM
Summary for all mountain areas
Bright sun and showers, mostly chilly temperatures. Showers cluster for steady falls and heavy bursts with hail, first in Scotland (snow on high Munros), then into England and Wales afternoon. Showers tend to scatter into evening, though sometimes returning to north parts of Scotland and Wales.
Headline for Cairngorms NP and Monadhliath
Scattered showers with hail, snow on tops
How windy? (On the Munros)
Westerly shifting northwesterly, sustained 20-25mph, will vary but quite gusty, approaching up to 30-35mph.
Effect of the wind on you?
Quite blustery at times on the high Cairngorms, notable buffeting when strongest gusts form but also fairly small in places.
How Wet?
Clusters of showers; some hail, snow on high terrain
A few showers drift onto the hills from the north and west, a little hail mixed in with snow above 900-1000m; often dry to the east, least precipitation Deeside. Showers will tend to group into clusters with time, coming and going into evening with snow as low as 800m on northern Cairngorms, dry windows too.
Cloud on the hills?
Mostly high terrain, clear windows
Varied cloud mostly above 700-800m near and west of A9 in showers, a few caps above 1000m affect the Cairngorms but also breaking to or above summits during dry windows. A general breaking tendency, but returning as low as 900-1000m during showers, lowest north Cairngorms.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
70%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Often sunny, particularly south and east Cairngorm plateau; a few cloudier periods when showers return. Very good visibility, though poor in showers, very poor in snow on tops.
How Cold? (at 900m)
2 or 3C, lowering to 1C into evening and further dropping overnight.
Freezing Level
1300m at dawn, some patchy light frosts in sheltered glens/corries around dawn. Will lower slightly, to around 1100m into evening, further lowering overnight.
Viewing Forecast For
Cairngorms NP and Monadhliath
Saturday 17th October 2026
Last updated
Thu 15th Oct 26 at
4:18PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
North-northwesterly 10-15mph, and may lessen with direction becoming variable.
Effect of the wind on you?
Negligible.
How Wet?
Any precipitation unlikely
Small chance an odd spot of rain/sleet into the northern Cairngorms early in the day, but more likely entirely dry.
Cloud on the hills?
Largely clearing
Patches at varied heights to start, some mist in sheltered glens. Will lift and begin to dissipate after sunrise, a layer of cloud rolling over the high Cairngorms from the north for a few hours, but will tend to further break up for clear summits.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
Gradually rising to 70%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Sun increasingly breaking out, mostly sunny afternoon. Very good visibility.
How Cold? (at 900m)
1 or 2C, rising a degree, to locally 4C on sun-exposed slopes.
Freezing Level
Poorly defined: around high Cairngorms, dawn frosts on sheltered low slopes/glens, thawing through morning.
Viewing Forecast For
Cairngorms NP and Monadhliath
Sunday 18th October 2026
Last updated
Thu 15th Oct 26 at
4:18PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
South-southwesterly 10-15mph, though variable in both direction and speed.
Effect of the wind on you?
Mostly small.
How Wet?
No rain expected
Cloud on the hills?
Little or none
Patchy mist in sheltered glens and corries at dawn will soon begin to lift and largely dissipate. Some chance a little ragged cloud drifting around higher slopes (perhaps below highest summits), though may well be entirely clear.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
80%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Likely extensive sun. Very good visibility.
How Cold? (at 900m)
2 or 3C, rising to 4C north Cairngorms; little change with added height.
Freezing Level
Above the summits, but frosts in many glens/sheltered low slopes at dawn.
Planning Outlook
A window of more settled weather this weekend as a core of high pressure builds over Scotland. Clear night skies allow for chilly mornings with ground frosts, some valley mist particularly in Scotland. Mostly sunny, though locally a little cloud lingering on some high slopes; an easterly breeze will keep the skies a touch cloudier in England and Wales, chance a little rain for England on Sunday with building cloud, though detail currently uncertain. The following week starts with some rain and wind in Wales, more settled to the north but with strengthening wind and building cloud as well. Forecast confidence is low into the week: a general trend towards unsettled conditions is indicated, soonest in the southeast. Scotland may stay largely dry into mid-week, northernmost areas clearest of cloud.