Another day of gale to storm force South-Westerly winds.  A sunny morning preceded summit snow and rain for most of the afternoon.  Windy unsettled conditions are expected for the next couple of days with cooler temperatures and snow showers.  Although its been very spring like over the past few days, as it turns cooler the snowpack will become firm, and steep slopes will have serious run out potential in the even of a trip or fall. Blue sky was short lived, heavy rain arrived not long after. The main path in to Coire an t-Sneachda. Coire an Lochain. Cornice remnants over ..read more

Overnight the Freezing level remained above the summits. However, Cairngorm summit temperature did drop from 4.5 degrees to 1.6 degrees which is at least a positive trend towards consolidating the snow pack. Some point release avalanches caused by wet snow instabilities were observed on Northerly aspects around 1000 metres, most likely initiated during the first hours of the thaw yesterday. (Above) Northern coires from Loch Morlich.   (Above) Coire an Lochain.   (Above) Looking towards the Mess of Pottage. The burn lines were full due to yesterday’s rain and current thawing cond ..read more

A beautiful start to the day, before the arrival of Southerly gales and rising temperatures.  Snowfall turned to rain by midday at all but the highest levels.  Initially there was drifting snow above 900 metres and accumulations of unstable windslab were encountered in the most wind sheltered locations, notably North facing crag aprons above 1000 metres.  There was news of firm snow conditions on lower grade climbs and the plateau was becoming wild and scoured in the increasing winds.  Underfoot conditions in snow fields were generally hard work due to a breakable crust. A ..read more

Winter felt like it made a returned at higher levels today. Significant overnight snow continuing through the day and a strengthening North-Westerly wind made for poor visibility at higher levels. Looks like a wee bit of a break in the weather overnight before some more weather comes in from the West tomorrow. It will also turn significantly milder, with the freezing level rising well above the tops and rain falling at all levels. It was raining heavily at Loch Morlich this morning. Good weather for duck some might say. I am not so sure, do ducks really like the rain/ Do they prefer the sunsh ..read more

It was a pleasant sunny day in the Cairngorms today. The strong winds which were a major feature of the weather over the weekend finally started to ease. Summit temperatures were got down to amount -2.5°C overnight before rising above freezing during the day. This mean that the snowpack was pretty hard and icy first thing, but tended to soften through the day, particularly in locations exposed the sunshine. A significant change in the weather expected tomorrow with heavy snow and a strengthening wind. Another return to winter in what feels like it has been a very up and down season. The view ..read more

Another windy day with gusts of around 96mph recorded on the summit of Cairngorm. The temperature on the summit of Cairngorm dropped to -1.8°C last night before creeping up above freezing around midday. The cooler temperatures would have firmer up the snowpack at higher levels. There were a few light showers during the morning, but these did never really came to much. The spring snowpack is continuing to consolidate and is generally stable throughout. Little change is expected tomorrow. The view from Loch Morlich this morning. It was clearing going to be another windy day on the hill. The v ..read more

There has been a significant change in weather during last 36 hours or so. It has gone from well below freezing on the tops to well above. There has also been a fair bit of wind and rain thrown into the mix, it was gusting over 100 mph on the summit of Cairngorm this morning. A bit of avalanche activity noted on West to North aspects in Coire an t-Sneachda from yesterday evening or last night. Weather looks to be remaining unsettled the next few days. The summit temperature on Cairngorm over the past 36 hours or so. It rose from about minus five during the early hours of Friday to plus five t ..read more

A day of weather!  Gale force ESE winds with snowfall during the morning.  By the afternoon, the snow cleared, winds eased to moderate and the freezing level rose towards the highest summits by early afternoon.  Once above 800 metres skis became the best option for travel.   Snow conditions were a variety of deep drifts, soft and firm windslab, sastrugi (wind driven snow shapes) and icy wind exposed slopes. At this point the windslab became firm underski and it was a good time to keep the ice axe handy. Looking North towards the snow capped summit of Meall a Bhuacha ..read more

After several days of low cloud it finally lifted.  Over the past 24 hours there has been a few cm of fresh snow on all aspects, this was very superficial below 800 metres and didn’t last for very long.  Above this altitude the snow continues to lie and its looking like winter. Views looking up the Ski area, this was at around 650m. Looking across the Western slope of Cairngorm (Coronation Wall) at 1100m. The Fiacaill a Choire Chais ridge. Coire an t-Sneachda. Looking North-West towards the main path into Coire an t- Sneachda. And finally Coire an Lochain ..read more

Another day of poor visibility, the cloud base was between 600 and 700 metres for most of the day.  There was more or less continual light snowfall for most of the day above 900 metres on Easterly winds with a freezing level of around 1000 metres.  Remaining cool for the next 24 hours before milder unsettled weather arrives during Thursday evening. A group of 3 descend the Fiacaill a Choire Chais ridge. Boulder fields partially covered by unsupportive snow.   ..read more