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
Light wind, negligible impact
Little wind or walking hardly affected by the wind, but feeling chilly if exposed on tops. 10-15mph or less.
Dry, Inversion
Banks of cloud or fog on lower or middle slopes, but higher terrain likely clear and sunny above an inversion.
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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Light wind, negligible impact
Little wind or walking hardly affected by the wind, but feeling chilly if exposed on tops. 10-15mph or less.
Dry, Inversion
Banks of cloud or fog on lower or middle slopes, but higher terrain likely clear and sunny above an inversion.
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 26th December 2025
Last updated
Thu 25th Dec 25 at
4:20PM
Summary for all mountain areas
Generally dry, apart from chance of odd light showers eastern Scotland. Sunshine over most Scottish mountains - the tops warmer than glens above an inversion; patchy low-level fog or cloud banks some slopes. Easterly winds remain strong and gusty England and Wales, feeling bitterly cold in exposure despite plenty of sun.
Headline for Cairngorms NP and Monadhliath
Sunshine, patchy cloud toward southeast, mostly light wind.
How windy? (On the Munros)
East to northeasterly or variable, 10mph or less most areas, local gusts 15-20mph southern Cairngorms NP. Increasing northeasterly 20-25mph into night.
Effect of the wind on you?
Mostly small.
How Wet?
Precipitation rare if any
Locally chance of brief snow grains on easternmost hills around Deeside, occasional drizzly spots lower slopes.
Cloud on the hills?
Many tops clear, some cloud banks south/east hills
Patchy fog mainly glens or lower slopes. Some cloud banks mostly around Deeside perhaps areas near Glen Garry on some slopes in range 600 to 1000m; higher tops likely above this cloud. Largely clear hills around Strathspey.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
80% (higher tops above cloud locally)
Sunshine and air clarity?
Sunshine best around Strathspey to Glenmore, and widely over higher tops, locally cloudier southeast. Visibility excellent, some mist lower down.
How Cold? (at 900m)
0 to 2C, small variation with height, some corries and glens stay colder, whilst highest tops up to 4 or 5C.
Freezing Level
Frost in many inland glens, all day out of sunlight; terrain at least partly frozen higher up, but air temperature above freezing on higher tops.
Viewing Forecast For
Cairngorms NP and Monadhliath
Saturday 27th December 2025
Last updated
Thu 25th Dec 25 at
4:20PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
East to northeasterly 20 to 25mph, stronger gusts around some slopes risk over 30mph, not just highest tops.
Effect of the wind on you?
Blustery in places, more noticeable locally and giving a distinct chill.
How Wet?
Rare light precipitation
Largely dry; a few brief spots of light rain, or snow grains on some slopes.
Cloud on the hills?
Covering some slopes, tops likely clear
Banks of cloud mostly between 700 and 1000m, most persistent northern Cairngorms, may tend to break up; higher tops generally above cloud.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
60%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Mix of cloud and sun, but high tops may be generally sunny. Visibility excellent out of cloud.
How Cold? (at 900m)
-1 to 2C, coolest north; slightly warmer on highest tops above an inversion. Feeling like -7 to -10C in stronger wind.
Freezing Level
Varied partly frozen terrain, including frost into the glens, but above freezing some mid-slopes and on highest tops.
Viewing Forecast For
Cairngorms NP and Monadhliath
Sunday 28th December 2025
Last updated
Thu 25th Dec 25 at
4:20PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
North to northeasterly or variable, 10mph or less.
Effect of the wind on you?
Small
How Wet?
Dry all day
Cloud on the hills?
None expected
Fog patches some glens, perhaps an odd pocket of mist in some corries. Otherwise the mountains clear.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
Above 90%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Widely sunny. Visibility excellent.
How Cold? (at 900m)
3C, inversion conditions - hills warmer than lower slopes all day - up to 5C highest summits.
Freezing Level
Frost in glens and lower slopes, also in some upland hollows and corries, all day out of sunlight; above freezing on tops.
Planning Outlook
Dry weather continues into the weekend as a strong area of high pressure resides near or north of Scotland. Inversion conditions Scottish mountains, high tops generally above freezing and above most patchy cloud, some frost and fog in glens. Gusty east-northeasterly wind increasing for Scotland by Saturday, easing again for Sunday. Strong and gusty winds prevail for England and Wales, often cloudy, a little light rain occasionally Pennines; some sun toward west.