Cairngorms NP and Monadhliath
Cairngorms National Park and Monadhliath. Also includes the Ben Alder area hills between Loch Ericht and Loch Laggan.
Monday's Forecast
Windy, walking impeded
Blustery conditions enough to give buffeting on higher terrain or affect balance on exposed ridges. 25 to 40mph.
Moderate rain
Steady rain fairly persistent, occasionally heavy, rather wet underfoot.
Cold
Near or below freezing on highest terrain all day. Considerable or significant chill factor if exposed to strong winds. Prepare for winter conditions - suitable protective clothing required.
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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.
Moderate rain
Steady rain fairly persistent, occasionally heavy, rather wet underfoot.
Cold
Near or below freezing on highest terrain all day. Considerable or significant chill factor if exposed to strong winds. Prepare for winter conditions - suitable protective clothing required.
Viewing Forecast For
Cairngorms NP and Monadhliath
Monday 29th April 2024
Last updated
Sun 28th Apr 24 at
2:45PM
Summary for all mountain areas
Deteriorating - early in the day on many more western areas - as strengthening winds, rain and low cloud associated with a front extends slowly eastwards. The rain will amount to little southern Pennines, and largely dry until later in the day northern Scotland (where precipitation initially snow on the Munros).
Headline for Cairngorms NP and Monadhliath
Increasingly windy; rain, mainly more southern summits.
How windy? (On the Munros)
South to southeasterly between 10 and 20mph morning but slowly strengthening to between 20 and sometimes 30mph afternoon.
Effect of the wind on you?
Small morning, before base of walking increasingly impeded by the wind and notable wind chill develops.
How Wet?
Increasingly wet; particularly southern Cairngorms NP
Substantially dry at first, but from the south, rain, or initially above 750m snow, becoming extensive and for periods heavy, particularly west of A9. Least rainfall northern Cairngorms and particularly north and east from Braemar.
Cloud on the hills?
Becoming extensive across higher areas in rain
Monadhliath east to Cairngorms and Lochnagar: Summits extensively cloud free before in rain, cloud base drop to between 750 and 1000m. West from southern summits in Cairngorms NP: cloud soon extensive above 600m, and patches nearer 450m at times.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
60% dropping to almost nil south and 20% more northern summits
Sunshine and air clarity?
Extensively sunless - but a few glimpses lower slopes Cairngorms and Deeside. Visibility deteriorating to become extensively poor in rain.
How Cold? (at 900m)
0C rising to 4C. Will feel as cold as minus 9C directly in the wind.
Freezing Level
900m, gradually lifting above the summits from the south. Frost in many valleys post dawn.
Viewing Forecast For
Cairngorms NP and Monadhliath
Tuesday 30th April 2024
Last updated
Sun 28th Apr 24 at
2:45PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
Southeasterly 30 to 40mph.
Effect of the wind on you?
Walking widely arduous on higher areas, and wind chill considerable.
How Wet?
Rain on and off, mainly toward south
Rain now and again, amounting to little in total east from Monadhliath to Cairngorms and Lochnagar. Elsewhere, rain on and off throughout the day
Cloud on the hills?
Little if any by late morning
Generally extensive above 750 to 900m although from Monadhliath to Cairngorms and Lochnagar, cloud frequently confined above 1050m.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
30%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Patches of sun often through layers of high level cloud, mainly lower slopes Monadhliath to Cairngorms and Lochnagar. Very good or excellent visibility.
How Cold? (at 900m)
4 rising to 9C. Will feel as cold as minus 8C directly in the wind.
Freezing Level
Above the summits,
Viewing Forecast For
Cairngorms NP and Monadhliath
Wednesday 1st May 2024
Last updated
Sun 28th Apr 24 at
2:45PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
Southeasterly between 10 and 20mph: generally strongest in the morning.
Effect of the wind on you?
Small
How Wet?
Little or no rain
Risk of one or two showers, but most or all areas dry.
Cloud on the hills?
Mostly very little
From dawn very varied cloud base, in places covering lowest slopes (sometimes higher slopes between cloud layers). Slowly the cloud will break up; by early afternoon, nearly all summits cloud free.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
30% rising to 80%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Cloud layers gradually thinning and breaking to give a patchwork of sun. Excellent visibility.
How Cold? (at 900m)
6C rising toward 10C
Freezing Level
Above the summits.
Planning Outlook
Considerably warmer this week. Rain from time to time, although from Wednesday largely dry in Scotland and perhaps N England - although the risk of bursts of rain, perhaps thunder. Wales will be most prone to further rain. As yet, considerable uncertainty in the detail next weekend, although ensemble of forecast models suggest light wind, fairly warm with some sunshine. Most uncertain is the extent and locations of possible showery rain or thunderstorms.