📷 Cairngorm Mountain
Europe
Cairngorm Mountain
Closed for the season
Season ended April 5, 2026
Conditions data updated Fri, Aug 21, 04:03 PM UTC · informational only
Scroll for happiness
Closed for the season — closed April 5
Weather data is still collected for informational purposes.
Last Snowfall
--
Past 24 Hours
0cm
Past 48 Hours
0cm
Past 10 Days
0cm
14-Day Forecast
0cm
Snow Depth
--
Powder Days
3
2026–27 season
Overview
Cairngorm Mountain is a ski resort in Europe, United Kingdom, currently closed for the season (Season ended April 5, 2026). Conditions last updated 2026-08-21 16:03 UTC.
Resort Guide
Cairngorm Mountain is located in the Scottish Highlands near Aviemore and offers skiing and snowboarding across a range of terrain suitable for all abilities. The resort features 30km of ski runs, a funicular railway for mountain access, equipment hire, and a mountain café with panoramic views. Cairngorm Mountain is known for its unique Highland setting, reliable snow conditions, and year-round mountain activities, making it a central hub for winter sports in Scotland.
Gallery
Click to expand • 3 total photos
Terrain & lifts
Resort-reported stats for Cairngorm Mountain
Lifts
13
Skiable area
195.5 ac
Longest run
3.3 km / 2.1 mi
Runs by difficulty(35 total)
Beginner
26
75% of terrain
Intermediate
7
19% of terrain
Advanced
2
6% of terrain
Run counts estimated from resort-reported totals and terrain mix.
Lift fleet
- Surface lift10
- Funicular1
Resort Info
Season dates
Future dates are operator estimates and may change.
Ski passes
No ski pass found
Access tiers change by season — confirm benefits on the pass operator's site.
Top Après Ski
The Ptarmigan Restaurant & Bar – Located at the top station of Cairngorm Mountain, this venue is renowned for its panoramic views, relaxed après-ski atmosphere, and selection of local whiskies and craft beers, making it a favorite spot for skiers to unwind after a day on the slopes.
Snow Summary
Updated Aug 21, 2026 at 4:03 PM
Historical data from Open-Meteo archive • Forecast from ECMWF IFS model
Snowfall Forecast Maps
Scotland region
Current Conditions
Reported Fri, Aug 21, 04:03 PM UTC
Base
640m
Temp
10.3°C
Wind
17.4km/h
Snow Depth
--
14-Day Forecast
0.1cm
Mid-Mountain
943m
Temp
--°C
Wind
19km/h
Snow Depth
--
14-Day Forecast
0cm
Summit
1245m
Temp
6.3°C
Wind
17.4km/h
Snow Depth
--
14-Day Forecast
0cm
Local Reports
0 reportsDaily Snowfall Forecast by Model
Black line = verified SnowSure™ blend (not a simple average). Weights update weekly from measured snowfall at SNOTEL stations and resort reports.
SnowSure™ blend — verified model weighting
The black line is not a simple average. For Cairngorm Mountain (alps), we combine seven global weather models using weights learned from daily forecast verification — comparing each model's prediction to measured snowfall (SNOTEL, resort reports, ERA5).
- 1.Horizon buckets: days 1–3, 4–7, and 8–14 each get separate weights — short-range skill differs from long-range.
- 2.Regional calibration: weights come from verified error in this geography (Rockies, Alps, Japan, etc.), recalculated weekly.
- 3.Ground truth only: we never grade a forecast against another model — only against measured snow.
Building verification history for this resort.
How we verify forecasts →Hourly Forecast Detail
AM / PM / Night breakdown with wind and freezing level
NWP models refresh up to 4× daily · Last synced Aug 21, 4:03 PM
Today 6 / 21.4mm | Sat, Aug 22 8 / 00.7mm | Sun, Aug 23 9 / 30.5mm | Mon, Aug 24 10 / 3 | Tue, Aug 25 9 / 41.3mm | Wed, Aug 26 13 / 61.1mm | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Period | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night |
| Snow (cm) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Precip (mm) | 0.6 | 0.2 | 0.6 | 0.3 | 0 | 0.4 | 0 | 0.3 | 0.2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.6 | 0.5 | 0.2 | 0.4 | 0.5 | 0.2 |
| Temp (°C) | 3 | 6 | 3 | 3 | 7 | 3 | 5 | 9 | 6 | 5 | 10 | 5 | 6 | 8 | 5 | 7 | 12 | 8 |
| Wind (km/h) | 14 | 16 | 14 | 13 | 17 | 11 | 9 | 9 | 6 | 12 | 15 | 7 | 15 | 18 | 13 | 17 | 25 | 18 |
| Gusts (km/h) | 31 | 33 | 29 | 27 | 34 | 24 | 20 | 21 | 14 | 23 | 30 | 16 | 32 | 55 | 41 | 34 | 39 | 45 |
14-Day Snow Forecast by Model
Summit elevation (1245m)
10-Day Forecast
Today
21
🌧️
6.4°
1.8°
18 km/h
Sat
22
🌧️
7.8°
0.4°
19 km/h
Sun
23
🌧️
9.3°
3.3°
11 km/h
Mon
24
☁️
9.9°
2.5°
16 km/h
Tue
25
🌧️
9.1°
4°
19 km/h
Wed
26
🌧️
12.6°
5.5°
26 km/h
Thu
27
🌧️
11.3°
8.6°
23 km/h
Fri
28
🌧️
11.8°
6.2°
18 km/h
Sat
29
🌧️
11.6°
4.5°
14 km/h
Sun
30
🌧️
8.7°
3°
18 km/h
Summit elevation (1245m) • ECMWF model
Season vs Historic
Updated Fri, Aug 21, 04:03 PM UTC
0cm
Season Total
This Season to Date
—
vs 5-Year Avg
Off-season · 180cm full-season avg
—
vs 30-Year Avg
Off-season · 203cm full-season avg
180cm
5-Yr Avg by Now
The last completed season totaled ~199.8 cm. That's 11% above the 5-year average (180 cm). Versus the 30-year baseline: near the 30-year average (203 cm).
Cairngorm Mountain Snow History
Average annual snowfall is 224cm with an average of 102 snowfall days per season. The table below shows monthly averages across 30 seasons of archive data (modeled snowpack at mid-elevation).
| Month | Avg Snowfall | Snowfall Days | Avg Base Depth | Max Base Depth | Biggest Snowfall |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| November | 21.7cm | 12 days | 2cm | 10cm | 7.5cm |
| December | 39.5cm | 17 days | 6cm | 18cm | 10.3cm |
| January | 48.6cm | 20 days | 11cm | 24cm | 9.2cm |
| February | 44.4cm | 18 days | 15cm | 28cm | 9.4cm |
| March | 34.9cm | 17 days | 10cm | 22cm | 8cm |
| April | 22cm | 10 days | 3cm | 13cm | 7.3cm |
| May | 6.5cm | 5 days | 0cm | 4cm | 3.1cm |
Source: SnowSure archive · Open-Meteo ERA5 reanalysis at mid-elevation. Depth is modeled, not resort-reported.
Season at a Glance
Next season(2026-27)
Opens Dec 18, 2026
Multi-season averages will appear once SnowSure has tracked more than one full season.
ENSO seasonal analog
History · not a forecastIn 10 past El Niño winters at Cairngorm Mountain, ERA5 season snowfall median was 212 cm (83 in), about 1% above this resort’s long-term median. This is a historical analog from reanalysis — not a prediction of this winter’s storm track.
Prevailing ONI
El Niño
MJJ 2026 · ANOM +1.39°C
Analog season median
212 cm
10 El Niño winters · 1% above median
All-season median
209 cm
Across 30 ERA5 seasons (2026-27)
| Phase | Seasons | Median | p25–p75 | Recent analogs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| El Niñocurrent | 10 | 212 cm | 173 cm – 263 cm | 2023, 2019, 2018, 2015, 2014, 2009 |
| La Niña | 12 | 238 cm | 197 cm – 273 cm | 2022, 2021, 2020, 2017, 2011, 2010 |
| ENSO-neutral | 8 | 198 cm | 190 cm – 257 cm | 2025, 2024, 2016, 2013, 2012, 2003 |
Season snowfall from Open-Meteo ERA5 reanalysis (~9 km). ENSO phase from NOAA CPC Oceanic Niño Index. Relative phase differences are more trustworthy than absolute cm totals. Source: NOAA CPC Oceanic Niño Index + Open-Meteo ERA5 via SnowSure season archive.
Best Months to Visit
February
Peak Season
January
Peak Season
March
Good
December
Good
Note: Based on typical ski season patterns for this region.
Frequently asked questions about Cairngorm Mountain
- Where is Cairngorm Mountain?
- Cairngorm Mountain is a ski resort in the United Kingdom.
- How high is Cairngorm Mountain?
- Cairngorm Mountain runs from a base elevation of 640 m (2,100 ft) to a summit of 1,245 m (4,085 ft), giving a vertical drop of 605 m (1,985 ft).
- How big is Cairngorm Mountain?
- Cairngorm Mountain has 483 acres (196 hectares) of skiable terrain, 35 marked runs and 13 lifts.
- Which ski pass covers Cairngorm Mountain?
- Cairngorm Mountain is on the No ski pass found. Access terms such as blackout dates and day limits vary by pass tier, so check the pass operator for the current season.
- When is ski season at Cairngorm Mountain?
- Cairngorm Mountain typically operates from December to April. Exact opening and closing dates shift each year with snowfall — check the resort's current season dates before booking.
- How much snow does Cairngorm Mountain get in a typical season?
- Cairngorm Mountain averages 22 inches / 56 cm of snowfall in a typical season. Any individual season can run well above or below that.
