Variable
3rd January 2024
Variable conditions in the Northern Cairngorms today. We had a mix of snow conditions from very hard and icy, too deep, soft and wet. Something different with each step.
A temperature inversion in the glens re-froze the lower slopes giving some tricky walking conditions on icy paths and slopes. The snowpack began to soften around 800 metres and is quite moist and well consolidated. Windslab is present on steep wind sheltered slopes above 1000 metres on West through North to North-East aspects.
Some additional snowfall is expected overnight with the freezing level hovering around 1000 metres, with fresh Southerly winds.
A sizeable avalanche on a Westerly aspect was reported yesterday – details are on the SAIS website.
Icy footpaths due to the overnight temperature inversion.
Melt-freeze crust. The crust isn’t as widespread as previous days but is still there and ready to catch out a skier or walker.
The fence to nowhere. The rime ice has fallen off in the milder temperatures and the wood is wet, at around 950 metres.
A brighter spell in the afternoon. Looking across to the Fiacaill Coire an t’Sneachda
Aladdin’s buttress and the Trident area in Coire an t’Sneachda.
Coire an t’Sneachda
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