Cold and Clear
6th February 2025
It was a particularly fine day in the Northern Cairngorms today, with excellent visibility. Cold South-Westerly winds, and very firm conditions underfoot maintained the fresh wintry feel.
The strong wind has also resulted in some small pockets of windslab developing in steep wind sheltered locations.
These shallow accumulations are sensitive and cracked easily, often with clean shears suggestive of propagation. As is often the case, these were sensitive but very isolated patches and although they may be redeposited tomorrow they will remain avoidable.
Notable at the moment is the presence of a generally stable airmass which has resulted in low level inversion conditions. This gives a complicated picture with different freezing levels. The key thing to take away from this, is that the snow surface will remain sub zero at all elevations above 500 metres. Firm and icy snow is expected with poor run outs into boulders in some locations.
The avalanche hazard will be Low.
A small deposit of new windslab behind a boulder. These were sensitive, cracking easily. However, they are very isolated and remain avoidable.
Looking across to the small bluffs to the north of Garbh Uisage Beag. These give a good indication of the current snow accumulation from recent weeks. The snow slopes here are predominately of an East aspect. Note the scoured plateau areas above.
The Angel’s Ridge of Sgor an Lochain Uaine.
The Fiacaill Buttress in Coire an t-Sneachda, pictured from close to the summit of Cairn Gorm. If you zoom in you might be able to spot 14 people in this image…?
In other news James Reason died yesterday. An Emeritus Professor from the University of Manchester he is most well known for the “Swiss Cheese Model” of active and latent failures. This model, and associated work has had a huge impact in many sectors including that of avalanches. Where many still work to understand accidents that have resulted in unwanted consequences, harm to people, or infrastructure. Wikipedia CC BY SA 4.0
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