Violent winter Storm Henry: the Beauty & the Beast.
2nd February 2016
(Above) Nothing lyrical to say about the driving rain below 550m. Short, snappy video clip tells you everything you need to know about conditions on the lower approaches today.
(Above) Sought shelter from the ferocious wind behind this boulder at around 600m. Beautiful russet coloured lichens caught my eye.
(Above) The mature and now quite old birch trees in Coire Ardair plastered with new sleet and snow on their windward sides. Conversely, most windward slopes blasted clear of snow above 650m.
(Above) Widespread rollerball activity on a steep SE facing slope below Balloon Gully in Coire Ardair. Most of it emanating from about 720m. Wierd, ‘cheese-like’ snow around this altitude today.
(Above) Far end of Coire Ardair and the Post Face consumed by billowing spindrift.
(Above) Brief break in the clouds brings some light relief and momentary glamour to Sron a Ghoire. There was a lot of wind transport of snow above 650m right through the day. Note the clouds of airborne snow on the lee side of the hill. Heavy loading of new snow on all sheltered lee slopes.
(Above) Coire Dubh, photographed from the A86 this afternoon, enveloped in spindrift. Top of the far (and indistinct!) skyline is around 900m.
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Grant Duff
2nd February 2016 7:48 pm
A great shot of Sron a Ghoire.
Louis
3rd February 2016 7:19 am
Another interesting & informative post. Part of our breakfast ritual down here in Yorkshire, thanks.
meagaidhadmin
3rd February 2016 8:58 am
Many thanks for your kind comment, Louis. Correct me if I’m wrong, but did we meet on the Coire Ardair path recently?
Part of my breakfast-time ritual on a work day is a perusal of the Met Office’s summit temperatures/wind speeds and precip radar….which recently has resulted in much undignified spluttering and indigestion!
Glad you enjoy the blog.
Mark Fagg
3rd February 2016 6:23 pm
Was that you we passed as we were on our way up yesterday (2nd) afternoon. Went into Coire Ardair, a wee bit higher than the Lochan. The wind blown snow clouds pouring off the summit rim were truly impressive as were the balls of ice on the Lochan. Never seen that before. I have video and pics if interested.
meagaidhadmin
3rd February 2016 10:21 pm
Thanks for your comment, Mark. Yes, we did meet briefly on the path. It certainly was a pretty wild day up high!