Temperature Inversion
19th January 2025
Very limited snow patches remain, mainly on North through East to South-East aspects above 1000m. These will continue to consolidate and are stable. There is currently insufficient snow to warrant an avalanche forecast and no forecast will be published until conditions change.
It was a cold and frosty start in the glens, with morning temperatures around -3. On the summit of Cairngorm the temperature overnight remained well above freezing, topping at a +7 at midnight. The remaining snow patches were very firm, only softening slightly on sun exposed slopes.
Tomorrow brings little change to the current unusual conditions with no precipitation forecast. Perhaps there is a glimmer of hope as the freezing level lowers to summit levels by mid-day onwards on Monday?
Some icy patches and verglas on shady North facing aspects.
A general view into Coire an Lochan showing left to right Number 1 to Number 4 buttresses.
Photo taken from The Miadan (1080m) looking East across the Fiacaill Coire an t-Sneachda to the West face of Cairngorm – no snow here.
Looking South through the Lairig Ghru and across to Cairn Toul. We were treated to a fantastic temperature inversion which rolled Northwards and poured over the Pools of Dee and flowed towards the site of the old Sinclair Hut.
The summit of Creag an Leth-choin (1053m) aka Lurchers Crag. No snow here either.
Really pleased to spot this little fella. Ptarmigan used to be a regular sight in the Northern Corries, now you rarely see them. Given our current climatic conditions, their winter plumage makes them more vulnerable to predation as they ‘stand out’ starkly against the granite backdrop in their lovely white winter coats. Anecdotal evidence from locals suggests that the reduction in numbers is due to an increased prevalence of Corvids (crows, ravens, rooks) predating on the eggs and chicks of the Ptarmigan. Attracted to the Northern Corries area scavenging on food scraps left over by humans.
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