Cairngorms NP and Monadhliath
Cairngorms National Park and Monadhliath. Also includes the Ben Alder area hills between Loch Ericht and Loch Laggan.
Wednesday's Forecast
Windy, walking impeded
Blustery conditions enough to give buffeting on higher terrain or affect balance on exposed ridges. 25 to 40mph.
Patchy rain or drizzle
Rain on and off, or generally drizzly - total amounts small, but may be persistently damp, especially where hills are shrouded in cloud.
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.
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.
Patchy rain or drizzle
Rain on and off, or generally drizzly - total amounts small, but may be persistently damp, especially where hills are shrouded in cloud.
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.
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
Wednesday 4th March 2026
Last updated
Tue 3rd Mar 26 at
4:09PM
Summary for all mountain areas
Windy in Scotland with gale-force gusts over high terrain. Much upper Highlands terrain in cloud, some rain and drizzle (most in the west); best breaks north of major hill groups. Varied cloud early in England and Wales, mostly clearing with increasing sun, though visibility limited by haze. Cool to mild England and Wales.
Headline for Cairngorms NP and Monadhliath
Windy, strong gusts; cloud and patchy rain/drizzle mostly south
How windy? (On the Munros)
Southerly 30 to 40mph, strongest over higher Cairngorms and very gusty in places including downslope toward north, risk gusts up to 50mph on high Cairngorms and to the north.
Effect of the wind on you?
Strenuous walking and balance affected with significant wind chill. More challenging in places, particularly in exposure and northern aspects with buffeting downslope gusts.
How Wet?
Chance light rain afternoon
The morning will be dry. Some light patchy rain drifts from the south afternoon, mostly confined to hills from Drumochter eastward to Deeside. Some fine drizzle drifts around the high tops in cloud too. Slopes to the north of Cairngorm plateau likely stay dry.
Cloud on the hills?
Covering summits and upper southern slopes
A layer of cloud soon arrives from the south, shrouding southern slopes above 800-900m, as well as the high Cairngorm plateau. Lowest bases likely around Drumochter, to 700m. Much less cloud northern Cairngorms and Monadhliath.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
30% south, to 60% north.
Sunshine and air clarity?
Sunshine most common toward the north of the Cairngorms where visibility very good; hazier southwards.
How Cold? (at 900m)
2C from dawn, rising to 4C, locally reaching 5C on slopes northwest of Ben Macdui, staying mild on upper slopes overnight. Directly in the wind feeling like -10C.
Freezing Level
Patchy frost in glens and sheltered higher areas from overnight, thawing largely above the summits after sunrise, locally freezing highest tops.
Viewing Forecast For
Cairngorms NP and Monadhliath
Thursday 5th March 2026
Last updated
Tue 3rd Mar 26 at
4:09PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
South-southwesterly 35-45mph, strong gusts early. Easing, perhaps 20mph or below for a time, later NW'ly 25-30mph.
Effect of the wind on you?
Walking arduous in exposure with buffeting gusts and significant wind chill. An easing trend, may be fairly small for a periods.
How Wet?
Drizzle early, more rain with time
Fine drizzle in cloud on high terrain from before dawn (starting damp on exposed rocks); rain arriving from the west, often light though a heavier band passes east. Turning to snow on tops with time.
Cloud on the hills?
Fairly extensive, particularly south
Cloud shrouds most terrain above 900m all day, lower on the southern slopes, often down to at least 600m. Slopes north of Cairngorm plateau will see the highest breaks, but through afternoon, cloud reaching middle slopes here too.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
20%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Some glimpses of sun on lower northern slopes of the Cairngorms. Variable visibility though often poor due to fog, rain, and haze to the east.
How Cold? (at 900m)
3 or 4C from dawn, gradually lowering, 0C into evening; milder longer far east. Feeling like -8 to -12C in the wind.
Freezing Level
Above the summits. Lowering with time to touch high summits, 800-900m into evening.
Viewing Forecast For
Cairngorms NP and Monadhliath
Friday 6th March 2026
Last updated
Tue 3rd Mar 26 at
4:09PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
Variable 10mph or less. Later, trending southwesterly 10-20mph, strengthening further overnight.
Effect of the wind on you?
Negligible during daylight.
How Wet?
Precipitation not expected
Cloud on the hills?
Little or none
Some ragged cloud at various elevations lingering from before dawn, including mist in sheltered glens and corries. Cloud lifts and dissipates after daybreak for clear hills.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
90%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Some early high cloud, this clearing for extensive sunshine. Excellent visibility.
How Cold? (at 900m)
-1C, rising a degree during daylight, rising further overnight.
Freezing Level
Around 800m, though frosts on sheltered low slopes and glens too; slightly rising during daylight and into night.
Planning Outlook
Thursday into Friday sees a band of rain pass east across most mountains, then a relatively settled weekend for England and Wales, and perhaps east Scotland too. Varying conditions over the next couple of weeks as areas of high pressure build across the British Isles then slip eastwards: dry and bright days with light winds mixed with periods of strengthening south/westerly winds bringing occasional rain from the west. Temperatures will vary, at times lifting just above freezing to high Munro tops, but typically lowering again to high terrain and briefly mid-slopes. Freezing levels will only briefly touch high England and Wales summits, but some frosts into valleys during clear-sky nights. Remaining old snow cover on Scottish mountains stays largely consolidated with little change, any remaining snow in England and Wales will thaw.