No surprise
10th February 2016
(Above) Persistent snow overnight and some quite large new drifts across the main Coire Ardair path.
(Above) A lot of snow on the move this morning (though drifting eased in the afternoon).
(Above) Heavy lee slope loading: ominous for stability.
(Above) Collapsing cornices above all recent lee slopes: often a significant trigger for avalanches.
(Above) No surprise given the amount of new snow, drifting and collapsing cornices. Size 2 cornice triggered dry slab avalanche on a steep SE aspect in Coire Chriochairein. Start zone at 990m. Another slightly smaller event in the same coire, this time on an East aspect.
(Above) Coire Chriochairein today. Photo puts the larger avalanche in context. The smaller avalanche is out of shot to the left.
Very cold near summits today but definite warmth in the sun when it comes out. Even brief exposure to the sun at lower altitudes brought rapid consolidation. Too much heat though and we’ll be into wet snow instability on steeper ground at lower elevations.
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Grant Duff
10th February 2016 8:08 pm
I love the use of the graphics this season as it only helps to educate and ultimately enable people to make safer choices. Nice one!