Mountain weather
South Grampian and Southeast Highlands Mountain weather forecast table
Confidence
High confidence in continuing unsettled weather with showers or longer spells of rain at times and occasionally strong winds.
This evening forecast
The odd shower at first will soon clear northeast leaving an increasingly dry and clear evening. Feeling bitterly cold on the summits with strong southerly winds, gusting over 50mph over the Cairngorm plateau.
Mountain weather hazards
Hazards apply at or above 300m, reflecting the more severe conditions which can occur at altitude.
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.
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.
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.
Thunderstorms
Lightning is a significant mountain hazard which can result in serious injury or death. Mountain terrain often leaves one highly exposed to lightning strikes. Hail may give unpleasant conditions with torrential rain and localised flash flooding also possible, mainly in Summer months.
Mountain weather forecast
Rain in the morning. A few showers in west later, wintry on summits. Feeling bitterly cold. Strong winds.
| Time | 00:00 | 03:00 | 06:00 | 09:00 | 12:00 | 15:00 | 18:00 | 21:00 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Weather (at 800m) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Chance of precipitation (at 800m) |
<05% | 90% | 60% | 70% | 40% | 20% | 30% | 30% |
Wind direction and speed (mph)
Altitude above mean sea level
| Time | 00:00 | 03:00 | 06:00 | 09:00 | 12:00 | 15:00 | 18:00 | 21:00 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1100m |
S
41
|
SE
33
|
S
35
|
SW
29
|
W
42
|
SW
43
|
SW
38
|
SW
41
|
| 900m |
S
27
|
SE
21
|
S
24
|
SW
21
|
W
30
|
SW
30
|
SW
27
|
SW
29
|
| 600m |
S
14
|
SE
11
|
S
14
|
SW
14
|
W
21
|
SW
20
|
SW
18
|
SW
20
|
| 300m |
SE
5
|
SE
4
|
S
6
|
SW
4
|
W
14
|
SW
13
|
SW
9
|
SW
9
|
| Glen |
S
9
|
E
7
|
S
8
|
SW
6
|
W
14
|
SW
13
|
SW
8
|
SW
8
|
Wind gust (mph)
Altitude above mean sea level
| Time | 00:00 | 03:00 | 06:00 | 09:00 | 12:00 | 15:00 | 18:00 | 21:00 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1100m | 48 | 39 | 41 | 35 | 51 | 52 | 47 | 50 |
| 900m | 34 | 27 | 30 | 27 | 39 | 39 | 35 | 38 |
| 600m | 28 | 21 | 26 | 24 | 36 | 35 | 32 | 35 |
| 300m | 11 | 15 | 17 | 14 | 29 | 28 | 22 | 23 |
| Glen | 23 | 14 | 21 | 17 | 28 | 26 | 21 | 20 |
Altitude above mean sea level
| Time | 00:00 | 03:00 | 06:00 | 09:00 | 12:00 | 15:00 | 18:00 | 21:00 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1100m |
3°
|
3°
|
1°
|
1°
|
1°
|
0°
|
-2°
|
-2°
|
| 900m |
4°
|
5°
|
3°
|
3°
|
3°
|
2°
|
1°
|
0°
|
| 600m |
7°
|
6°
|
5°
|
5°
|
5°
|
4°
|
3°
|
3°
|
| 300m |
9°
|
8°
|
7°
|
7°
|
8°
|
7°
|
5°
|
4°
|
| Glen |
9°
|
9°
|
8°
|
8°
|
8°
|
8°
|
6°
|
5°
|
| Freezing Level |
1,400m
|
1,600m
|
1,400m
|
1,400m
|
1,300m
|
1,000m
|
900m
|
900m
|
Altitude above mean sea level
| Time | 00:00 | 03:00 | 06:00 | 09:00 | 12:00 | 15:00 | 18:00 | 21:00 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1100m |
-5°
|
-4°
|
-6°
|
-6°
|
-8°
|
-10°
|
-11°
|
-11°
|
| 900m |
-2°
|
-1°
|
-3°
|
-3°
|
-4°
|
-6°
|
-7°
|
-7°
|
| 600m |
3°
|
3°
|
1°
|
1°
|
0°
|
-1°
|
-2°
|
-3°
|
| 300m |
7°
|
7°
|
5°
|
6°
|
4°
|
4°
|
2°
|
1°
|
| Glen |
7°
|
7°
|
6°
|
6°
|
5°
|
5°
|
3°
|
2°
|
Additional weather information
Met Office Aberdeen meteorologist's view
Feeling bitterly cold. Gusts of 40-50mph will give difficult walking conditions with a risk of being blown off balance. Navigation could be challenging with energy output significantly increased when walking into the wind.
Weather
Clear summits at first, but clouding over through the early hours as rain spreads north, heavy at times with a small chance of lightning. This clears away in early afternoon allowing for some bright spells and a few showers from the west, these turning wintry above 800-900m. Showers become more frequent through the evening. Staying largely dry later in the sheltered northeast.
Chance of cloud-free hill tops
Falling to 25% or less through the early hours. Rising through the afternoon to 40% in west, 75% in northeast
Low cloud and visibility
Often clear skies at first will cloud over in the early hours, cloud becoming fairly extensive down to 500-700m and visibilities dropping poor in heavy rain and hill fog. Some clearer breaks developing through the morning at times and rain turns more showery, summits becoming often clear from early afternoon onwards. Thereafter visibilities generally good, but conditions deteriorating rapidly as any showers pass through.
Mountain weather information
Weather
Scattered or frequent showers feed in from the west, wintry above 900-1000m. Staying largely dry with bright spells for the sheltered northeast. These showers largely easing off for a time in the afternoon before more widespread rain, preceded by sleet or snow on the highest peaks, spreads east through the evening.
Chance of cloud-free hill tops
40% southwest, 75% northeast much of the day, falling to little chance in evening.
Maximum wind speed expected
Southwesterly, gusting 40-50mph over the highest summits.
Temperature
- At 800m Minus 1 rising to plus 3 Celsius.
- Glen Plus 3 rising to plus 8 Celsius.
- Freezing level 900m rising to 1100m by day, then above summits in evening.
Low cloud and visibility
Fairly frequent showers from the west in the morning will bring areas of cloud down to 700-900m and visibilities falling poor. Often dry with clearer summits in the more sheltered northeast. Longer clearer spells develop through the afternoon, before widespread cloud down to 700-900m spreads east with poor visibilities in rain and hill fog.
Mountain weather information
Mon 3 Nov
Sunrise:
Sunset:
Rain followed by showers, perhaps heavy at times. Freezing level above summits. Strong southwest winds.
Tue 4 Nov
Sunrise:
Sunset:
Some showers, perhaps longer spells of rain, heavy at times. Freezing level above summits. Strong southwest winds.
Wed 5 Nov
Sunrise:
Sunset:
Further showers or longer spells of rain, heavy at times. Freezing level above summits. Strong southwest winds.
Updated at:
Summit specific forecast
Mountain summit forecast map
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Key
Mountain summits
Other points of interest
Cluster of multiple stations
Including South and East Cairngorms National Park, Aberdeenshire and Angus Hills, Ben Vrackie, Ben Lawers, Loch Tay and Ochils
For snow and avalanche hazard forecasts please visit Scottish Avalanche Information Service