MOUNTAIN WEATHER INFORMATION SERVICE www.mwis.org.uk Cairngorms NP and Monadhliath Cairngorms National Park and Monadhliath. Also includes the Ben Alder area hills between Loch Ericht and Loch Laggan. General Summary for Thursday, 29 January, 2015 British Mountain Summary: Based on forecast chart for noon 29 January, 2015 Widespread upland gales and snow. Most snow will fall on western mountains where there will be lengthy whiteout as showers follow one after another. Fewest showers easternmost mountains in Scotland and across east and south Wales. Headline for Cairngorms NP and Monadhliath Periods of upland gales. Snow, mostly toward west. Detailed Forecast for Thursday, 29 January, 2015 How windy? (On the Munros) Westerly 35 to 45mph, but there may be a lull for a few hours in the afternoon. Effect of wind on you? Considerable buffeting across the hills, making walking/skiing difficult on higher areas. Severe wind chill. How wet? Snow showers, most frequent west of A9 Clusters of snow and hail showers, particularly west of A9. East of the A9, showers occasional, but still the risk of 1 or 2 hours of almost constant precipitation, giving whiteout and small risk thunder. Cloud on the hills? Occasionally clearing Higher summits rarely clearing, but cloud frequent above 800 to 1050m, and near precipitation typically 500 to 700m - the lowest bases in these ranges toward the west. Chance of cloud free Munros? 30% Sunshine and air clarity? Bright sunshine from time to time, most often Deeside. Visibility sometimes excellent, but frequently appalling or near zero where in snow and cloud. How Cold? (at 900m) -6C, tending to rise slowly through day. Freezing Level Close to or below freezing from glen level up; slight thawing lowest slopes afternoon. Visit us at www.mwis.org.uk Page 1 of 2 Live EH 2015-01-29 2015-01-31 www.mwis.org.uk MOUNTAIN WEATHER INFORMATION SERVICE Cairngorms NP and Monadhliath - Looking Ahead Friday 30 January Saturday 31 January How windy? (On the Munros) North or northwesterly, in the range 25 to 40mph. Northerly; in the range 40 to 60mph; although there may be a lull for a few hours. Effect of wind on you? May well result in considerable buffeting and wind chill, particularly afternoon. Very difficult walking across the hills and severe wind chill. How wet? Intermittent snow Frequent snow and hail Areas of snow showers and perhaps, particularly on Cairngorms, snow constant over 2 to 4 hours (giving whiteout). Snow and hail showers, sometimes one after another giving (together with blowing snow) periods of whiteout - extensive Cairngorms and Lochnagar. Least precipitation southernmost Cairngorms NP (north of Glen Garry). Extensive, particularly Cairngorms Extensive Cloud base will vary, and may break off some summits, particularly southern Cairngorms NP. But often covering higher areas, and in precipitation as low as 500m - perhaps widely so northern Cairngorms. Rapid changes in cloud base. Few glimpses of the summits (mostly likely southern Cairngorms NP; intermittently cloud below 400-700m, lowest Cairngorms and Lochnagar. Chance of cloud free Munros? 20% 20% Sunshine and air clarity? Occasional sun, mainly southern summits in Cairngorms NP. Visibility often very good but appalling, perhaps near zero where in snow and cloud. Glimpses of sun, mainly southern Cairngorms NP. Sometimes the air very clear, but sudden changes to appalling or near zero where in snow and cloud. How Cold? (at 900m) -3C -5C Freezing Level 400m. 200m to 400m; dropping through the day. Cloud on the hills? Planning Outlook All mountain areas of Britain from Friday, 30 January, 2015 Frequent upland gales and on most mountain areas snow through until the end of the weekend. On Sunday most snow will become confined to N Scotland and N Wales. Next week, relatively little precipitation, and later in the week from the northwest, freezing levels will rise slowly. Nevertheless, it may well be late in the week before there is significant thaw. Forecast issued at 12:10 on Wednesday, 28 January, 2015 The production of the Scottish forecasts is fully funded by the Scottish Government through the Mountaineering Council of Scotland with the support of sportscotland. Forecasts are issued daily by 16:30 and are kept under review and amended as necessary. However, expected conditions can still change after issue. © Copyright Geoff Monk & Associates, 2015. Visit us at www.mwis.org.uk Page 2 of 2 Live EH 2015-01-29 2015-01-31