Warm & Windy
18th March 2021
Covid -19
The Scottish Avalanche Information Service issues information to support permitted activity under current Scottish Government guidance.
Please be aware of current mandatory travel restrictions in Local Authority areas within Scotland and respect local communities by referring to Scottish Government guidance and safe route choices for exercise. For further guidance please refer to the following information for hillwalkers and climbers and snowsports on ski and board.
This blog is intended to provide hazard and mountain condition information to help plan safer mountain trips.
Very mild conditions overnight with the air temperature reaching plus 7 degrees Celsius at 03:00 hours. The warm theme continued today with the temperature rising up to plus 9 degrees on The Cairnwell (930m) during the early afternoon. These are significant temperatures and their effect can be felt in the snowpack: What was seriously firm and icy yesterday has softened off considerably today. The buttresses are black in Lochnagar and the overhanging snow which is left over from the cornices was dripping water. There are a number of sections of snow at the top of the cliffs which are overhanging and will collapse at some point. No rockfall observed or heard while we were in the corrie but ice fall was observed at close quarters and small amounts of snow were constantly falling from the crags. The easy gully lines are still complete…..for now! More of the same tomorrow with the freezing level well above the summits and plus 7 degrees Celsius forecast for 930m in the afternoon.
Buttresses are now black but the easier gully lines are still complete in Lochnagar at the moment!
Soft dripping cornices are present at the top of the cliffs.
The snow has softened considerably in Black Spout from yesterday.
Overhanging and undercut snow remains at the top of Lochnagar: This was subject to very warm conditions today and gravity will dominate the situation at some point…
Softer snow at the top of Black Spout, Right hand branch.
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