Exceptional Circumstances
7th May 2021
It is not unknown for the SAIS to provide public forecasts in May but it is certainly unusual…. The weather for the past 10 days has been unseasonably cold and precipitation has been falling as snow right down to glen level at times. The decision has been made to provide a snow condition report and avalanche forecast for this weekend – Saturday 8th and Sunday 9th May. This is available at www.sais.gov.uk
If travelling into the higher mountains this weekend it is worth noting that Winter conditions prevail – Today I encountered everything from bare ground to water-ice, snow-ice and soft snow drifts above 800 metres. The main Cairngorm mountains look particularly white, as does Lochnagar. The photos below are all from the Glas Maol area.
Above 900m sheltered locations are holding soft fresh snow with very limited cover in exposed locations.
Some very deep accumulations in the most sheltered locations. Note the nearly bare ground in close proximity.
Plateau area at 990 metres North of Glas Maol summit.
View from Glas Maol to Cairn na Claise
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