SAIS Northern Cairngorms Blog » Freezing cold temperatures

Freezing cold temperatures

7th April 2021

Covid -19

The Scottish Avalanche Information Service issues information to support permitted activity under current Scottish Government guidance.

Please be aware of current mandatory travel restrictions in Local Authority areas within Scotland and respect local communities by referring to Scottish Government guidance and safe route choices for exercise. For further guidance please refer to the following information for hillwalkers and climbers and snowsports on ski and board.

This blog is intended to provide hazard and mountain condition information to help plan safer mountain trips.

Another very cold but mostly dry day. The old snowpack is extremely firm and icy and is most widespread on all aspects and plateau areas above 950 metres. Localised unstable windslab has accumulated around the top of some of these slopes. In these areas a small avalanche could be triggered; this could potentially lead to a serious outcome of being carried down a steep icy slope below. See the latest avalanche forecast for more information.

Probing for weak layers within windslab accumulations.

A shaft of sunlight over Beinn Mheadhoin.

Identifying all the different layers.

Looking for snowpack weakness

Ball bearing like graupel snow crystals promoting weakness at depth within the snowpack.

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