Much wetness
16th December 2024
(Above) It was very wet overnight in our area, as the photo attests. Kingussie shinty club ground beside the River Spey this morning. At this point the Spey receives runoff exclusively from the Monadliath mountains, the watersheds that empty in to the River Truim and the headwaters of the Spey behind Creag Meagaidh. There’d be even more water here if some of the Spey’s flow wasn’t captured and sent westwards toward Lochaber to power the aluminium smelter in Fort William. You can read more about it here: https://alvancebritishaluminium.com/delivering-cn30/lochaber-power-hydro-scheme/
(Above) The crags of upper Coire Ardair. Some well established waterfalls in full flow on the Post Face. Much reduced snow cover everywhere now due to the wet, mild conditions, though there is somewhat more old snow on SE to S aspects. A minor wet snow avalanche – possibly full depth – in Coire Chriochairein overnight when rainfall was at its heaviest. The debris was viewed from afar during very poor overhead conditions but should know after I’ve had a closer look tomorrow.
(Above) Badenoch, the aptly named ‘drowned lands’, this afternoon. Ruthven Barracks left Kingussie right of centre with traffic on the A9 just visible. ‘Loch Badenoch’ is an ephemeral feature that forms during periods of very heavy rain and can stretch 20+km from Laggan as far as Loch Insh.
Damp & mild again on Tuesday.
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KEITH HORNER
17th December 2024 1:51 pm
it’s still a vast catchment area despite water being abstracted to FW. This extent of flooding should help the RSPB in their process of restoring the area to a natural floodplain habitat which was lost due to historical land drainage and over-grazing.
meagaidhadmin
17th December 2024 4:32 pm
Sage comment.
Good to hear from you again, Keith.