New Year’s Day at Creag Meagaidh
1st January 2026
A step change in the conditions seems to be on the cards for the start of 2026. Snow showers were a feature throughout the period today, with some more persistent snow in the afternoon as some showers merged.
This showery North-Westerly flow creates a situation where it is challenging to reliably predict snow amounts. Coire Ardair itself is caught just a dusting, although a trip up and through ‘The Window’ tells a different story. It is very much winter on the north side of the Creag Meagaidh massif, with greater snow amounts and an abundance of rime ice.
Today’s windslab development has been largely confined to the coire rim, it is therefore isolated and avoidable for most with the exception of climbers. However, this cold snow was very sensitive and harbours multiple instabilities particularly where it overlies the older residual snow patches and in deeper deposits on bare ground. Over the next 24 hours the snow showers will continue and windslab accumulations are expected to become more widespread. Correspondingly, the Avalanche Hazard will be Moderate.
Ice starting to form on ‘The Wand’ V,5 and ‘Diadem’ V,4 – both far from in condition but good to see ice.
A small drift of soft windslab in ‘The Window’ at approximately 950 metres. These small cracks evidence of sensitive snow containing instabilities. Not surprising in the cold temperatures.
Visibility was generally poor today, although this image was snatched in a brief clearing around midday. Coire Ardair is still fairly devoid of snow. However isolated windslab around the coire rims and in the gully tops is sensitive and laden with instability. A very different picture awaits on the north side of ‘The window’ where there are greater amounts of snow, perhaps due to the altitude and the upslope orographic effect on the approaching North-Westerly flow?
Comments on this post
Got something to say? Leave a comment
