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
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.
Heavy snow and hail showers, isolated lightning
Showery precipitation, often heavy, may merge to become constant for periods. A mix of snow and hail often falling to lower slopes. Risk of very localised thunder and lightning.
Whiteout
Fog and lying snow over the mountains, possibly with falling or blowing snow, very disorientating. Map and compass essential, beware of unseen hazards.
Very cold
Significant wintry conditions - below freezing from lower elevations up all day, -7 or -8C highest summits, feeling like -20C or below on high tops due to wind chill. Frostbite and hypothermia risk. Substantial protective clothing is required.
Terrain widely frozen
All ground frozen from lower elevations upward, with hard frost or snow cover. Beware of icy surfaces on lower and higher terrain. Appropriate footwear needed, crampons may be necessary.
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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.
Heavy snow and hail showers, isolated lightning
Showery precipitation, often heavy, may merge to become constant for periods. A mix of snow and hail often falling to lower slopes. Risk of very localised thunder and lightning.
Whiteout
Fog and lying snow over the mountains, possibly with falling or blowing snow, very disorientating. Map and compass essential, beware of unseen hazards.
Very cold
Significant wintry conditions - below freezing from lower elevations up all day, -7 or -8C highest summits, feeling like -20C or below on high tops due to wind chill. Frostbite and hypothermia risk. Substantial protective clothing is required.
Terrain widely frozen
All ground frozen from lower elevations upward, with hard frost or snow cover. Beware of icy surfaces on lower and higher terrain. Appropriate footwear needed, crampons may be necessary.
Viewing Forecast For
Cairngorms NP and Monadhliath
Friday 2nd January 2026
Last updated
Thu 1st Jan 26 at
4:00PM
Summary for all mountain areas
Bitterly cold north-northwesterly winds, gale-force over many hills, typically strongest in morning, again late in day Scotland. Frequent snow and hail northern Scotland, blizzard conditions on mountains. Showers also affect Wales. Mostly dry, sunny and clear hills N England & S Scotland. Most terrain frozen.
Headline for Cairngorms NP and Monadhliath
Gales on tops, severe chill factor. Snow and hail persistent north.
How windy? (On the Munros)
Northerly 60-70mph for a few hours before dawn, tending to ease a little to 50mph by sunrise, then 35-40mph into middle of day, but then tending to strengthen again up to dusk, reaching 50mph again after dark.
Effect of the wind on you?
Severe wind chill over the mountains. Difficult conditions up to sunrise, some improvement, but ongoing strenuous walking with frequent buffeting in exposure. Deteriorating again into evening.
How Wet?
Near-constant snow and hail
Heavy showers merging into more persistent snow coming in from the north, snow and hail falling and accumulating to lowest slopes. Frequent whiteout over the mountains. Risk of isolated thunder.
Cloud on the hills?
Fairly extensive higher areas
Often covering the mountains above 800m, at times 600m in northern Cairngorms. Higher and more varied bases southward, some breaks above 1000m more often.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
20% north, to 40% south.
Sunshine and air clarity?
Brief bursts of sun, most often south. Visibility often appalling due to snow falling or blowing and where also in cloud; but intermittently very good.
How Cold? (at 900m)
-6C (to -8 or -9C at 1200-1300m). Wind chill feeling like -17 to -22C on tops.
Freezing Level
Terrain widely frozen, sub-zero all day glens upward.
Viewing Forecast For
Cairngorms NP and Monadhliath
Saturday 3rd January 2026
Last updated
Thu 1st Jan 26 at
4:00PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
North to northwesterly 40 to 60mph, strongest sustained speeds on Cairngorm high tops; squally gusts in showers.
Effect of the wind on you?
Continued severe wind chill over the mountains. Challenging conditions, walking difficult on exposed high terrain.
How Wet?
Near-constant snow and hail
Ongoing heavy showers merging into more persistent snow coming in from the north, snow and hail falling and accumulating into the glens. Frequent whiteout over the mountains. Risk of isolated thunder.
Cloud on the hills?
Fairly extensive higher areas
Often covering the mountains above 800m, at times 600m in northern Cairngorms. Higher and more varied bases southward, some breaks above 1000m more often.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
20% north, to 40% south.
Sunshine and air clarity?
Brief bursts of sun, more frequent south. Visibility often appalling due to snow falling or blowing and where also in cloud; but intermittently very good.
How Cold? (at 900m)
-6C (to -9C above 1200m). Wind chill feeling like -20C, nearer -25C higher Cairngorm plateau in exposure.
Freezing Level
Terrain widely frozen, staying sub-zero from glens upward.
Viewing Forecast For
Cairngorms NP and Monadhliath
Sunday 4th January 2026
Last updated
Thu 1st Jan 26 at
4:00PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
North-northwesterly 35 to 45mph, strongest sustained speeds eastern tops, locally 50mph; squally gusts in showers.
Effect of the wind on you?
Continued severe wind chill over the mountains. Challenging conditions, walking arduous in exposure.
How Wet?
Near-constant snow and hail
Ongoing heavy showers merging into more persistent snow coming in from the north, snow and hail falling and accumulating into the glens. Frequent whiteout over the mountains. Risk of isolated thunder.
Cloud on the hills?
Fairly extensive higher areas
Often covering the mountains above 800m, at times 600m in northern Cairngorms. Higher and more varied bases southward, some breaks above 1000m more often; high Cairngorms unlikely to clear.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
20% north, to 40% south.
Sunshine and air clarity?
Brief bursts of sun, more frequent south. Visibility often appalling due to snow falling or blowing and where also in cloud; but intermittently very good.
How Cold? (at 900m)
-6C (to -9C above 1200m). Wind chill feeling like -20C, nearer -25C higher Cairngorm plateau in exposure.
Freezing Level
Terrain widely frozen, staying sub-zero from glens upward.
Planning Outlook
Terrain extensively frozen this weekend and early next week; sub-zero temperatures from the glens upward in Scotland and some valleys inland in northern England. Substantial fresh snow accumulations in the North West Highlands and Cairngorms, heavy showers streaming in from the north also containing hail. Largely dry and sunny from central Scotland to northern England. Hail and snow showers will run into north and west Wales from the sea. Bitter northerly winds, up to gale force higher tops, lessening somewhat during Sunday. Some fluctuation of freezing level during next week, though most high terrain stays sub-zero, and as fronts come in from the west, upland snowfalls are possible more widely.