Mountain weather
South Grampian and Southeast Highlands Mountain weather forecast table
Confidence
High for changeable, low for details and snow levels
Mountain weather hazards
Hazards apply at or above 300m, reflecting the more severe conditions which can occur at altitude.
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.
Heavy Persistent Snow
Heavy snow can lead to rapid changes in underfoot conditions and paths may become treacherous or hidden. It also brings very poor visibility and often makes navigation much more challenging. When deep snow accumulates progress is often time consuming and strenuous, significantly affecting the distance one can travel on foot. Deep drifts can develop if snow is combined with strong winds. A heightened avalanche risk is possible and avalanche reports should be consulted where available.
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.
Heavy Persistent Rain
Heavy and persistent rain can lead to drenched clothing and footwear with waterproofs often becoming soaked through, especially if accompanied by strong winds. This can lead to significant loss of body heat and an increased likelihood of hypothermia. Terrain may turn increasingly boggy underfoot while streams can flood and become impassable. There may also be a risk of flooding in valleys or glens. If there is snow cover, a heightened avalanche hazard is possible and avalanche reports should be consulted where available.
Mountain weather forecast
Cloudy with hill fog and occasional rain, increasingly turning to snow at higher elevations.
| 06:00 | 09:00 | 12:00 | 15:00 | 18:00 | 21:00 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Weather (at 800m) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Chance of precipitation (at 800m) |
30% | 30% | 20% | 40% | 70% | 70% |
Wind direction and speed (mph)
Altitude above mean sea level
| 06:00 | 09:00 | 12:00 | 15:00 | 18:00 | 21:00 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1100m |
S
15
|
S
15
|
SE
17
|
SE
20
|
E
15
|
E
15
|
| 900m |
S
14
|
S
13
|
SE
12
|
SE
14
|
E
9
|
E
9
|
| 600m |
SW
4
|
S
8
|
SE
7
|
SE
7
|
E
7
|
E
5
|
| 300m |
E
2
|
E
4
|
E
3
|
E
4
|
E
3
|
NE
4
|
| Glen |
NE
2
|
E
4
|
SE
4
|
E
5
|
NE
3
|
NE
6
|
Wind gust (mph)
Altitude above mean sea level
| 06:00 | 09:00 | 12:00 | 15:00 | 18:00 | 21:00 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1100m | 18 | 20 | 21 | 24 | 19 | 19 |
| 900m | 17 | 18 | 16 | 19 | 14 | 13 |
| 600m | 9 | 16 | 13 | 14 | 11 | 9 |
| 300m | 3 | 10 | 9 | 9 | 8 | 11 |
| Glen | 3 | 7 | 11 | 8 | 6 | 13 |
Altitude above mean sea level
| 06:00 | 09:00 | 12:00 | 15:00 | 18:00 | 21:00 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1100m |
1°
|
0°
|
0°
|
-1°
|
-2°
|
-2°
|
| 900m |
3°
|
2°
|
2°
|
1°
|
0°
|
0°
|
| 600m |
4°
|
3°
|
3°
|
3°
|
1°
|
1°
|
| 300m |
5°
|
5°
|
5°
|
5°
|
4°
|
4°
|
| Glen |
6°
|
6°
|
6°
|
6°
|
5°
|
4°
|
| Freezing Level |
1,300m
|
1,200m
|
1,200m
|
900m
|
800m
|
800m
|
Altitude above mean sea level
| 06:00 | 09:00 | 12:00 | 15:00 | 18:00 | 21:00 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1100m |
-4°
|
-5°
|
-6°
|
-7°
|
-8°
|
-8°
|
| 900m |
-2°
|
-3°
|
-3°
|
-4°
|
-5°
|
-5°
|
| 600m |
2°
|
0°
|
0°
|
0°
|
-2°
|
-1°
|
| 300m |
4°
|
4°
|
4°
|
4°
|
2°
|
2°
|
| Glen |
5°
|
4°
|
4°
|
4°
|
3°
|
2°
|
Additional weather information
Met Office Aberdeen meteorologist's view
Note the falling freezing levels and increasing snow risk in afternoon, but freezing level likely to remain around 1100m across northern Aberdeenshire hills.
Weather
Mostly cloudy with occasional rain and summit snow though a drier brighter spell around midday over the Ochils and perhaps Perthshire. However these areas will also become cloudier with a band of rain and, increasingly, mountain snow, in the afternoon, spreading north across all areas. The rain turning to snow down to 750m, perhaps 600m in heavier outbreaks, late afternoon. The rain and snow will turn light and patchy in the evening.
Chance of cloud-free hill tops
10% generally but 50% for a time in Perthshire late morning.
Low cloud and visibility
Extensive cloud 500-800m, with poor visibility in drizzly rain and in snow, but cloud more patchy for a time late morning across Ochils and perhaps Perthshire.
Mountain weather information
Weather
Mostly cloudy with occasional, mainly light rain, with sleet or snow above 800m. This mostly across the Aberdeenshire and eastern Angus hills. Drier across Perthshire. Patchy rain and snow increasing across all ranges in the evening.
Chance of cloud-free hill tops
20%, best chance in the south.
Maximum wind speed expected
North becoming East 15 gusting 25mph.
Temperature
- At 800m 0 Celsius falling Minus 2 in evening.
- Glen Plus 6 Celsius
- Freezing level 800m falling 600m in evening.
Low cloud and visibility
Generally cloudy with bases 500-750m. Visibility variable, occasionally poor in rain and hill snow.
Mountain weather information
Tue 12 Dec
Sunrise:
Sunset:
Cloudy with outbreaks of heavy rain, mountain snow and hill fog, stronger northeast winds. Low confidence in freezing levels, but probably 700-900m
Wed 13 Dec
Sunrise:
Sunset:
A drier brighter day with sunny spells, lighter winds. Freezing level 500m. Rain, hill snow possible late evening.
Thu 14 Dec
Sunrise:
Sunset:
Overnight rain and higher freezing levels for a time then the day drier, a few light showers, strong westerly winds, freezing level 800m.
Updated at:
Summit specific forecast
Mountain summit forecast map
Loading map…
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
This weather forecast area covers much of the southern and eastern Cairngorm National Park, the Aberdeenshire hills and Angus hills and includes the Balmoral Estate, Scottish home of the Royal Family since 1852. Lochnagar, with its magnificent northern corrie, is very popular among walkers and climbers and Mount Keen is the most easterly of all Munros (Scottish mountains over 3000 feet).
The Perthshire hills offer a rich variety of heather-clad hills and mighty pine forests. The River Tay flows 120 miles from its source to the North Sea and is the longest and largest river in Scotland. Loch Tay is a freshwater loch and at around 150 metres deep it is one of the deepest in Scotland. At 1,214 metres Ben Lawers is the highest point along the ridge near the north shore of the loch that includes seven Munros.
The Ochil Hills are a long range of steep-sided, round topped hills, stretching 25 miles from the Firth of Tay to Stirling. There are many peaks over 600 metres offering splendid views across central Scotland and to the north, with Ben Cleuch the highest at 721 metres.
For snow and avalanche hazard forecasts please visit Scottish Avalanche Information Service