Normal Service Resumes
9th January 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.
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This blog is intended to provide hazard and mountain condition information to help plan safer mountain trips.
A nice start to the day here in the Northern Cairngorms with some fantastic light. It was to be short lived as the winds increased from the South-West. As a result there has been extensive snow transport high up in the mountains, as the soft snow is stripped off the windward slopes and deposited on the sheltered (lee) aspects.
On North through East to South-east aspects new firm windslab overlies softer snow that has been deposited in light winds. This results in a weak layer on these aspects, as indicated by the cracks and the block of windslab in the images below.
Another windy day is in prospect for tomorrow, with more “normal” wind speeds and directions that we are familiar with in the Cairngorms.
The Northern Cairngorms just after dawn this morning. Red sky in the morning heralding a change in the weather ahead.
Evidence of snow transportation early in the day. This is actually the base station car park at Cairngorm Mountain (Altitude 630 metres).
An example of a shooting crack in windslab once again. Look carefully and you will see the crack extending away, before dropping down to the left. This was on a small test slope above a pisted track.
This block of windslab slid out easily while being isolated for a test. NE aspect 980m Coire Cas.
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