Southern Cairngorms Blog & Mountain Info

Thawing Snowpack…

16th December 2023

Very mild today with 4.9 degrees centigrade recorded at 930 metres at midday. With the freezing level way above the summits, light rain and strong winds were causing significant damage to the snow cover. With the SAIS team returning to Lochnagar corrie again today but using a different approach route it was highly apparent that there had been significant snow loss in the past 24 hour period.

Ice and rock fall will be an issue in the next period and any remaining cornice remnants will be prone to collapse as the freezing level remains well above the tops.

There is some relief in sight though as the airflow will turn North-Westerly on Monday evening with the freezing level lowering to around 700 metres. With wet snow in place, climbing conditions will hopefully improve as the colder air temperatures take effect.

Not much to show today – rain on the lens and wind blowing the photographer into the rocks!