Rain to be followed by snow…
21st February 2026
A dry morning preceded a wet afternoon on Creag Meagaidh. There was some avalanche activity, which most likely occurred overnight.
Rockfall was a constant feature of the day, and a brief clearing provided confirmation that large cornices remain. With further rain overnight there is the potential for cornice collapse and associated wet slab and wet loose avalanches reaching the coire floor. After this period of instability the freezing level is expected to fall, gradually firming up the snow surface.
Regardless of activity timing will be important tomorrow to avoid the greatest instability and find optimum snow conditions above 950 metres. For those on crampons, should temperatures fall as expected the snow surface should be that of firm Scottish névé. For linking those snow patches by ski, don’t leave it too late as firm slopes will be combined with paucity of runouts.
The avalanche hazard will be Moderate tomorrow.
Looking into Coire nan Gamhna from the ‘Inner Coire’. The snow cover has become much more patchy since yesterday, with the greatest cover above 600 metres.
More ice in the lochan than on the crags of Coire Ardair…? The big ice lines seem to be holding their own in the thaw conditions. But the sound of rockfall was pervasive in the coire, indicative of running water on these high crags.
A striking rock in the ‘Inner Coire’. I took a quick photo, not wishing to linger having seen a small volley of rocks bouncing past previously. Looks to me like pegmatite on the left and Appinite Suite-lamprophyre on the right. But please do let me know…
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