Drifting snow and ‘white out’
2nd February 2026
More snow than expected arrived from mid-morning onwards on increasingly strong South-Easterly winds. Yesterday’s avalanche forecast for today was a ‘moderate hazard’ based on the predicted arrival of very light afternoon snow showers. By late morning heavy snow showers arrived and continued throughout the afternoon, developing deep and fragile drifts of windslab on leeward aspects. The observed avalanche hazard for today is ‘Considerable’.
Gale force East-South-Easterlies are forecast for tomorrow with up to 15cm of fresh snow arriving on easterly aspects. Expect blizzard conditions and challenging visibility high up. The avalanche hazard will be considerable with fragile accumulations of windslab in steep wind sheltered locations above 900m. Gully tops, corrie rims and crag aprons will be particularly affected. The freezing level is also lowering down to around 400m so burn lines and steep banks will also accumulate wind blown snow down to lower elevations.
Limited photo opportunities today…
This was ‘the view’ heading across to Ciste Mhearad at 1150m.
Deep drifts along the snow fences on a NW aspect around 1000m on Cairngorm.
A very snowy Ptarmigan building (1095m) This is the upwind side of the building… By early afternoon all the upper surface lifts had closed due to strong winds, poor visibility and drifting snow.
Propagation aka ‘cracking’ in the fresh deposits of windslab at 1000m. A strong sign of instability.
‘Every cloud and all that’ – a glimmer of light from this lovely rainbow on the descent back down from the ski area. Even though down in the glen the weather was pretty benign, the cloud cap holding over the Northern Cairngorms is a sure sign of the harsh conditions up high.
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