Local effects.
3rd January 2015
Typical distribution of snow at ‘Meggie at the moment.
(Above) More drifting again today. The shot above is fairly typical of the distribution of snow: heavily scoured on the windward side with newest accumulations in most sheltered areas, then more scouring below that.
Snow drift patterns on Sron a Ghoire. Right to left: NW to SE
(Above) Local topographical features make for a wide variety of snow distribution patterns on our patch. The prevailing wind has been Westerly but the wind-patterned snow above has been pushed NW to SE on Sron a Ghoire due to the complicated undulating shape of the mountain. Meanwhile 1500m away……..
The Min Window on the Carn Liath plateau. Drift pattern: left to right – WSW to ENE
(Above, contd) …….drift patterns show a WSW to ENE general drift pattern. This in part is due to the ‘corridor’ effect of Coire Ardair funneling wind more or less West to East. Actually, the wind in Coire Ardair always seems to be blowing West-East whatever the prevailing wind direction!
Snow drift vortices on the Carn Liath plateau.
(Above) ‘Dancing’ vortices of spindrift being lifted up off the surface in a low pressure zone just in the lee area of the plateau. Saw quite a lot of these today.
Drifting off the Stob Poite Coire Ardair plateau.
(Above) Today’s primary observations took place just below the rocky shoulder at the end of the ridge. (Coire Chriochairein is to the right of shot.) Clouded over around lunchtime after a cold, bright but very pleasant morning. Winds picked up and became more North Westerly.
Minor triangular-shaped piles of sluff debris on some very steep East aspects after overnight drifting.
The Post Face of Coire Ardair today.
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Grant Duff
3rd January 2015 6:42 pm
Lovely fresh snow.