Arctic Blast Day2
1st March 2018
Coldest temperatures for 25 years courtesy of the Met Office
Some interesting reading: Â https://www.metoffice.gov.uk/climate/uk/interesting/february2018-snow
blizzards and whiteout conditions – got to 1060 metres to check out the snowpack structure. Very deep new snow 60-70 cm in places. Good snow but it is pretty spooky  as it overlies a weak layer – see clips below. Therefore great care is required with regard to navigation and being completely confident of your position, and not being exposed to avalanche terrain especially.
The clips illustrate the delicate nature of the current snowpack. This is fairly widespread above 1000m on West to North aspects, especially where it starts to gets steep above 20 degrees or so. The situation is developing in terms of sensitivity and extent, as the snow amounts continue to increase the load on the pack and cold temperatures preserve any weaknesses.
Shear failures ‘whoomping sound’ also noted on these aspects.
Sais forecaster and a Meerkat at the snowpack obs area at 1060m today!
Picnic tables at Cairngorm Mountain car park
Comments on this post
Got something to say? Leave a comment
That Guy from the Internet
2nd March 2018 12:18 am
Great videos, Mark.
(A Meerkat and a ‘Star Wars’ Stormtrooper unflinching in the face of the Beast from the East?)
ncairngormsadmin
2nd March 2018 2:51 pm
may the force be with you too
Craig
2nd March 2018 9:03 am
Thanks for the videos. Very helpful!
ncairngormsadmin
2nd March 2018 2:49 pm
Thank you very much appreciated