Mountain weather
South Grampian and Southeast Highlands Mountain weather forecast table
Confidence
High confidence for turning colder with stronger winds midweek, bringing some wintry precipitation together with a significant windchill to higher summits. Turning more settled over the weekend. Lower confidence for the rainfall timings on Wednesday and Thursday.
This evening forecast
After a few early evening showers, conditions will become dry with clear spells for a time. The wind will strengthen and cloud will begin to thicken towards midnight.
Mountain weather hazards
Hazards apply at or above 300m, reflecting the more severe conditions which can occur at altitude.
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.
Strong Sunlight
Harmful UV levels from sunlight increase with altitude giving a greater risk of sunburn and eye damage, even on some overcast days. On breezy days, the cooling effect of wind on exposed skin may disguise any feeling of sunburn until it is too late. If there is snow cover, glare increases the effect of UV rays especially on the eyes. It is advisable to wear sun block, protective clothing such as a long-sleeved top and hat and have good quality eye protection.
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.
Mountain weather forecast
Cold and windy with widespread rain then showers becoming drier and brighter towards evening.
| 00:00 | 03:00 | 06:00 | 09:00 | 12:00 | 15:00 | 18:00 | 21:00 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Weather (at 800m) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Chance of precipitation (at 800m) |
30% | 40% | 40% | 60% | 60% | 60% | 60% | 20% |
Wind direction and speed (mph)
Altitude above mean sea level
| 00:00 | 03:00 | 06:00 | 09:00 | 12:00 | 15:00 | 18:00 | 21:00 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1100m |
SW
22
|
SW
35
|
S
39
|
SW
34
|
W
36
|
W
40
|
W
37
|
W
38
|
| 900m |
SW
16
|
SW
23
|
S
27
|
SW
26
|
W
28
|
W
31
|
W
29
|
W
27
|
| 600m |
SW
12
|
SW
14
|
S
18
|
SW
19
|
W
22
|
W
24
|
W
22
|
W
19
|
| 300m |
SW
6
|
SW
6
|
SW
12
|
SW
12
|
W
16
|
W
19
|
W
15
|
W
11
|
| Glen |
W
4
|
SW
6
|
SW
11
|
SW
13
|
W
17
|
W
19
|
W
17
|
W
13
|
Wind gust (mph)
Altitude above mean sea level
| 00:00 | 03:00 | 06:00 | 09:00 | 12:00 | 15:00 | 18:00 | 21:00 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1100m | 27 | 43 | 48 | 44 | 48 | 54 | 50 | 50 |
| 900m | 22 | 31 | 36 | 35 | 40 | 46 | 42 | 39 |
| 600m | 22 | 26 | 32 | 32 | 38 | 43 | 39 | 35 |
| 300m | 15 | 16 | 25 | 25 | 33 | 38 | 32 | 26 |
| Glen | 12 | 16 | 24 | 25 | 34 | 37 | 34 | 27 |
Altitude above mean sea level
| 00:00 | 03:00 | 06:00 | 09:00 | 12:00 | 15:00 | 18:00 | 21:00 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1100m |
1°
|
1°
|
2°
|
3°
|
4°
|
3°
|
2°
|
0°
|
| 900m |
3°
|
3°
|
4°
|
5°
|
6°
|
6°
|
4°
|
2°
|
| 600m |
5°
|
5°
|
6°
|
8°
|
9°
|
9°
|
7°
|
4°
|
| 300m |
7°
|
8°
|
9°
|
11°
|
13°
|
13°
|
10°
|
7°
|
| Glen |
7°
|
8°
|
9°
|
11°
|
14°
|
14°
|
11°
|
8°
|
| Freezing Level |
1,300m
|
1,400m
|
1,600m
|
1,800m
|
1,600m
|
1,400m
|
1,200m
|
1,100m
|
Altitude above mean sea level
| 00:00 | 03:00 | 06:00 | 09:00 | 12:00 | 15:00 | 18:00 | 21:00 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1100m |
-5°
|
-7°
|
-6°
|
-4°
|
-3°
|
-4°
|
-6°
|
-9°
|
| 900m |
-2°
|
-3°
|
-2°
|
0°
|
1°
|
0°
|
-2°
|
-5°
|
| 600m |
2°
|
1°
|
2°
|
4°
|
6°
|
5°
|
2°
|
-1°
|
| 300m |
6°
|
6°
|
6°
|
8°
|
10°
|
9°
|
7°
|
4°
|
| Glen |
6°
|
6°
|
7°
|
9°
|
11°
|
10°
|
8°
|
5°
|
Additional weather information
Met Office Aberdeen meteorologist's view
Feeling chilly on the summits with southwesterly winds reaching gale force.
Weather
Overcast skies and widespread rain as a front moves east in the early morning. This rain will turn showery and heavy at times during the morning becoming blustery in strong westerly winds on the hills during the afternoon, gales likely. Showers turn to sleet on higher summits by late afternoon before dying out as clear spells develop in the evening.
Chance of cloud-free hill tops
40% increasing to 60% as low cloud associated with morning rain lifts and clears from late afternoon.
Low cloud and visibility
Broken low cloud in the morning with bases 4-500m. During the afternoon and evening cloud bases will rise above most summits with patches of low cloud around 6-700m. Moderate visibility in rain may turn poor in heavier showers. Later in the day visibility will become very good with some fine late evening conditions.
Mountain weather information
Weather
Showers will be interspersed with sunny intervalss throughout the day. These showers will be locally heavy in the afternoon with snow on the Munro tops. Westerly gales will continue and it will feel bitterly cold.
Chance of cloud-free hill tops
60%
Maximum wind speed expected
West or southwesterly 30mph with gusts 60-70mph.
Temperature
- At 800m Plus 2 rising to 5 Celsius in sunnier spells.
- Glen Plus 6 rising to 12 Celsius.
- Freezing level 1000m.
Low cloud and visibility
Broken cloud with bases around 6-700m in the morning will gradually rise above summits by the afternoon with patches of low cloud associated with showers at 7-800m. The visibility will be moderate in showers but poor in heavier falls becoming good between showers.
Mountain weather information
Fri 27 May
Sunrise:
Sunset:
Continuing blustery showers with a risk of thunder and a slight risk of hail in strong northwesterly winds. Showers ease and bright spells increase as the wind eases from Friday afternoon.
Sat 28 May
Sunrise:
Sunset:
Mainly dry with a risk of the occasional light shower in moderate northwesterly winds.
Sun 29 May
Sunrise:
Sunset:
Bright or sunny spells with occasional showers building in moderate northerly 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
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