Wild conditions

Conditions were quite wild for our observations today. We found a fair bit of graupel within the snowpack. Graupel (or soft hail as it is sometimes called) is the name for firm, rounded pellets of snow/ice. These pellets are formed through the riming of individual snowflakes in humid, sub-zero conditions. Graupel can sometimes collect in certain areas. Windslab deposited on top of these areas can be very unstable as the graupel can act like ball bearings.

Blair

Fresh Snow

There was a fair bit of snow blowing about the hill today. A lot of this is being deposited on Easterly aspects, as seen in this picture looking North along the Nid/Lemmings Ridge on Aonach Mor at an altitude of about 1050 metres. Further down the ridge a couple of soft slab avalanches were released by hitting the cornice which collapsed and released the slope below. These avalanche were quite small, because the accumulation of fresh snow are not yet extensive.
Blair

A dusting of Fresh.

A light dusting of fresh snow fell in very light winds today. The snowflake did not get broken up or blown away before being observed. This meant that (if you are a snow geek like me) it was a good day for snowflake spotting. Today most were needles (see picture of the snow on my rucsac strap). The shape of a snow flake depends on the temperature and the humidity at which it forms. Irregular needles like these form at temperature of between about -4°C and -6°C. In comparison dendrites (classic Christmas card snow flakes) form at about -15°C.
Blair

Wet, mild and cloudy.

Wet, mild and cloudy (as picture shows), not much more worth saying about today. Forecast better for tomorrow.
Blair

Brief return of semi-winter

After a very wet and mild day yesterday, winter made a slight reapperance today. There was a bit of fresh snow above about 900m. However, below an icy crust the snowpack is very wet. Some winter skills groups were seen on Ben Nevis. A couple of climbers were also seen heading up Observatory Gully looking for some winter conditions. Back to very wet and mild conditions tomorrow.
Blair

What's left?

Bit windy and wet on the hill this morning so didn't get that high.

During a slight clearing this afternoon, managed to get a photo of Aonach Mor from the carpark just to give you an idea of what is happening.

Plus 3 degrees on the summits today with heavy rain. More of the same expected tomorrow after a brief cold spell overnight tonight

Here today, Gone tomorrow.

After some very warm temperatures yesterdya, winter made a reappearance today. It was snowing in the Nevis Range carpark this morning. When we got up the hill strong winds and heavy snow showers made detailed observation of the snowpack rather tricky. However, this is one of the challenges of working in Scotland. Unfortunately mild conditions and rain are expected to return this weekend.
Blair

Snowy at top

The freezing level being about 1000m today. There has been a fair bit of fresh snow blown on on high Easterl aspects. Near top of Left Twin on Aonach Mor we found nearly a meter of fresh snow. More snow was being rapidly deposited into our pit, making observing conditions quite tricky (espically when you wear glasses).
Blair

Well, it was a bit on the damp side up the Ben today. Freezing level rising quickly during this morning and evidence of fresh avalanche debris below No2 and No5 gullies. Looks like it should get better on Saturday.
Heres a picture looking up towards Carn Dearg buttress.
10 points for effort for the pair camping at the CIC hut!

Cascade de CIC

During a break in the snow, the CIC hut cascade was looking almost continental today. Although climbable, there was a lot of water running down it. However with a freezing level of 2500m and rain forecast for tomorrow, I suspect it is going to get a lot wetter. In fact Friday might be a good day to avoid the mountains, with rock fall, ice fall, avalanches and cornice collapse all being likely.
Blair

Isolated Instabilities

Today there was a little fresh snow. On a Westerly aspect we found the windslab to be poorly bonded to the existing snow pack, with big cracks running out from our boots (see picture). However on other locations with the same aspect there was no new snow. On vast majority of the hill the snow is stable and there is little avalanche risk. However, the avalanche report is written with respect to the area of greatest hazard, and why despite most of the hill being safe that I issued a Cat 3 today.

Flucuating Temperatures

The last two days have seen a nice flux in temperatures, firming up the snow and encouraging ice formation. There was a period of avalanche activity during the mild wet conditions experienced on Sunday. Yesterday we were on Ben Nevis. The photo shows Blair investigating the extensive debris beneath No. 5 Gully. Debirs was also observed beneath No. 2 Gully and in Coire an Lochain of Aonach Mor .
The other photo shows conditions this morning on Aonach Mor, with a team traversing the snow slope beneath the crags. Avalanche debris from Sunday can be seen in the background. Not as much snow fell overnight and through Tuesday as was expected. However, small drifts of fresh snow show poor bonding to the underlying neve with pressure from boots and skis making the new layer crack and slide in places.

Yesterday was a beautiful day with clear blue skies and great views over to Skye and Rum from the summit of Aonach Mor. There was some good skiing down the back corries.

However, today was not such a fun day at the office! Low cloud, rain, sleet and finally some snow meant that conditions were pretty miserable! Never mind, the weather is set to improve (Blair assures me!) Fingers crossed for some more of the white stuff!

Jenny

Up the Ben

View up No5 Gully. Loads of fairly deep snow but you will notice the lack of ice on the Curtain

CIC Hut in the snow

Proper winter in Lochaber.

Light and fluffy snow fell today. On Ben Nevis the crags are well rimed up but there is still not a great deal of ice around. On Aonach Mor the skiing looked great today.

Todays picture is the cornice at the top of Left Twin, Aonach Mor. Thereis plenty of fresh snow at the top of the crag and also plenty of evidence of recent avalanche activity

Winter is here

Winter has arrived on the hills of Lochaber. The freezing level was about 1000m today. Heavy snow showers and moderate South Westerly winds meant that there was plenty of snow being transported over the hill and deposited in sheltered locations. The pattern of snow transport can be seen in this picture of snow blowing over a log in the Nevis range ski area.

New snow at last!

Finally the snow has reached the west coast. Accumulations are not huge but fresh windslab is forming in sheltered locations.
On Aonach Mor, there were several teams out today, reporting good climbing conditions. The Strong SE wind is helping to keep the fresh snow off the crags and out of Easy Gully.
That will all change tomorrow as the wind will go back to the West and start building unstable snow on Easterly aspects.

If anybody knows the where abouts of our big map case from the North Face carpark, please return it!

Snow showers today on Ben Nevis

It was a nice wintry day on Ben Nevis today with snow showers, gusty variable wind and spindrift.

Sheep up mountains

The freezing level was creeping back down the hill during Wednesday. Above about 900m the snow is developing an icy crust. However these sheep were seen happily eating grass (as sheep do) at about 750m. Sheep observed high up mountains generally indicates poor winter climbing conditions.