Mountain weather

South Grampian and Southeast Highlands

South Grampian and Southeast Highlands Mountain weather forecast table

Confidence

Low for timing of cloud clearance on Wednesday afternoon. High for colder and changeable weather for the next few days.

Sunrise:
Sunset:
Mountain hazards

Mountain weather hazards

Hazards apply at or above 300m, reflecting the more severe conditions which can occur at altitude.

hazard Gales
Gale force winds (gusts over 50mph) make walking difficult and strenuous with a potential to be blown over by gusts. There is often a marked increase in winds through cols or on exposed ridges and summits. Distances can take longer to cover and compass bearings become harder to follow accurately.
hazard Severe Chill Effect
Wind significantly lowers the ‘feels-like’ temperature relative to the actual temperature, with even moderate winds significantly adding to the chilling effect. Strong winds can result in a severe and debilitating wind chill many degrees below the actual temperature. This effect will be enhanced in rain or wet snow. Without protection, prolonged exposure could result in frost nip or frostbite on exposed parts of the body and/or hypothermia.
hazard Poor Visibility
Poor visibility presents challenging route finding conditions. Visibility could be significantly less than 50 metres in all directions with few or no visual references, especially on featureless moors or plateaux. Distances become hard to judge and cliff or cornice edges can be difficult to recognise. These conditions require good navigational skills. There is a risk of white-out conditions when mist or fog is combined with extensive snow cover.

hazard Storm Force Winds
Storm force winds (gusts over 70mph) make walking very strenuous with any mobility virtually impossible over exposed ground. Where these conditions occur there is a high risk of being blown over and even standing may be impossible at times with a risk of being blown off one’s feet. Basic tasks such as using a map, eating, putting on extra clothing or communication become extremely difficult away from any shelter.

Mountain weather forecast

Mainly dry, windy and cold. A little snow across the southern Cairngorms.

06:00 09:00 12:00 15:00 18:00 21:00
Weather
(at 800m)
Cloudy Cloudy Sunny intervals Sunny intervals Partly cloudy (night) Partly cloudy (night)
Chance of precipitation
(at 800m)
30% 30% 30% 30% 20% 20%

Wind direction and speed (mph)
Altitude above mean sea level
06:00 09:00 12:00 15:00 18:00 21:00
1100m N
39
NE
41
N
37
N
34
N
36
N
33
900m N
28
NE
30
N
27
N
26
N
25
N
22
600m N
17
N
19
N
17
N
16
N
15
N
14
300m N
13
N
15
N
15
N
15
N
12
N
10
Glen N
12
N
15
N
14
N
14
N
12
N
10
Wind gust (mph)
Altitude above mean sea level
06:00 09:00 12:00 15:00 18:00 21:00
1100m 45 48 46 43 45 43
900m 35 37 37 36 34 32
600m 27 30 29 29 27 26
300m 28 30 32 30 26 25
Glen 27 32 31 29 26 24

Altitude above mean sea level
06:00 09:00 12:00 15:00 18:00 21:00
1100m
-2°
-2°
-3°
-4°
900m
-1°
-2°
600m
300m
Glen
Freezing Level
1,300m
1,100m
900m
700m
600m
600m

Altitude above mean sea level
06:00 09:00 12:00 15:00 18:00 21:00
1100m
-7°
-9°
-11°
-12°
-13°
-14°
900m
-4°
-5°
-7°
-8°
-9°
-10°
600m
-2°
-3°
-4°
-5°
-5°
300m
-1°
Glen

Additional weather information

Met Office Aberdeen meteorologist's view

Be prepared for winter like conditions on the summits as the freezing level drops through the day

Weather

A few snow showers across the southern Cairngorms in the morning. Otherwise a dry and rather cloudy day, brightening up from the north from mid-afternoon.

Chance of cloud-free hill tops

60%, best chance away from the southern Cairngorms

Low cloud and visibility

Poor in areas of cloud down to 800 metres, this most extensive across the southern Cairngorms in the morning. Patchy cloud above 900 metres in the afternoon with very good visibility and great air clarity.

Sunrise:
Sunset:

Mountain weather information

Weather

A cold and bright day with a few snow showers across the southern Cairngorms. A lot of dry weather elsewhere.

Chance of cloud-free hill tops

80%

Maximum wind speed expected

Northwesterly average speeds of 20 mph with gusts to 30 mph on the summits

Temperature

  • At 800m Minus 1 rising to 2 Celsius
  • Glen Plus 1 rising to 8 Celsius
  • Freezing level 600 metres, rising to 1000 metres by early evening

Low cloud and visibility

Generally very good visibility with great air clarity. Some patchy cloud above 850 metres, and cloud down to 700 metres may spread from the west after dark

Mountain weather information

Fri 11 Oct

Sunrise:
Sunset:

A cloudy day with showers or some longer spells of rain, any snow confined to the tops. Freezing level rising to 1200 metres.

Sat 12 Oct

Sunrise:
Sunset:

Largely dry, cold and sunny with light winds. Freezing level 700 metres.

Sun 13 Oct

Sunrise:
Sunset:

A little rain possible in the afternoon otherwise dry and cloudy with strengthening winds. Freezing level rising above the tops.

Updated at:

Summit specific forecast

Mountain summit forecast map

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For snow and avalanche hazard forecasts please visit Scottish Avalanche Information Service