Northern Cairngorms Blog & Mountain Info

Storm force winds

21st December 2024

Another day characterised by storm force winds in the Northern Cairngorms. Although Coire Cas and the ski area are relatively sheltered, high elevations were exposed to the brunt of the West-South-Westerly winds.

109 mph was the maximum gust recorded on the summit of Cairn Gorm at 1245m, while 105 mph was recorded at the entrance to the funicular tunnel. Although c200 metres lower, the wind does seem to accelerate across the shoulder below the Ptarmigan Station giving some interesting readings.

In contrast to some of the other forecast areas, snow showers in the Northern Cairngorms have arrived in the later part of the day as the freezing level has fallen. This has resulted in sleet and snow above 700-800 metres. Isolated patches of moist windslab have started to build in steep wind sheltered locations.

Although the picture from the north is again one of limited snow cover, windslab is present on East and to a lesser extent North-East aspects above 1000 metres. Further snowfall is anticipated tomorrow, the avalanche hazard will be Moderate.

Outwith these areas the snow is being transported by the wind, and very little is sticking on windward slopes that are exposed to the wind. Bare ground abounds, and older snow patches are now very firm under foot.

An older snow patch, although limited in extent what remains is very firm in the colder temperatures.

Lairig Ghru and the March Burn pictured from Whitewell this morning. Note this and the following images were taken at 0900 this morning, and a *slightly* snowier picture now prevails.

A fleeting look into Coire an Lochain (Braeriach) this morning. Limited accumulations here, but the NE facing slopes of the neighbouring Coire Ruadh had appeared to have caught more.

Glenmore Lodge appears to have a new windsock on top of the building, or I simply haven’t noticed it before. It was certainly in action today. Regular visitors to the blog will know that the CAA spec windsock, on the UKSAR fuel container, here at Glenmore Lodge has regularly featured. That one is a 15 knot sock so about 17mph or 28 km/hr when full inflated. I am unsure of the specification of the one on the roof – more investigation is required!