White Caps and Spray
30th March 2025
A day of two halves starting in the south of the area with blue skies and minimal cloud, the notable weather in the morning being the very strong, gale to storm force, North-Westerly winds, such that even at lower levels the birds preferred awkwardly walking away rather than taking to flight. Reaching the 917m col over Lochnagar standing was near impossible, eye lids feeling like that would invert. Mariners would have been at home watching the gusts sweep across the loch, creating white caps and spray. The temperature at this high vantage point being around 2.4c. Snow patches remain and comparing pictures from several days ago, cover has changed very little, maybe lower patches having thawed away.
Heading north for views to the northern boundary the weather unfortunately was cloudier though mainly dry with occasional very light showers. Glimpses towards Derry Cairngorm and Beinn Bhuird showed no evidence of new overnight snow though obviously the northern summits have the greater patchy snow cover of the forecast area.
Tomorrow looks like being dry and milder during the day with the freezing level well above the summits. Moderate to fresh South-Westerly winds.
Blue skies but obviously some cloud around in the south of the area at the start of day, cloudier to the north throughout.
Little snow loss on Lochnagar through the last few days but also no gains from the overnight precipitation. Note the white caps on the loch, the only clue of the gale to storm force North-Westerly winds blowing when this picture was taken, about 10am.
A close up of the typical remaining snow patches around coire rims and gully tops.
Distant views towards Derry Cairngorm occluded by low cloud and light showers, no signs of any fresh overnight snow but possibly some overall gains from the previous days dustings, now thawing .
Views across to the Southern aspects of Beinn a Bhuird.
A view into Coire Fionn on the way home.
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