Wintry Showers on Fionn Bheinn
10th December 2021
Mountain tops largely obscured by cloud most of the morning, especially during the more intense wintry showers. Feeling cold in the fresh West wind with temps of -1.5C at 700m. However, both the wind and showers eased through the afternoon to give some bright intervals. Areas of unstable windslab have formed on lee aspects, particularly at height. Elsewhere, the snow remains relatively shallow and even scoured on exposed ridges and summits and icy in places.
Above. Looking SE from the lower slopes of Fionn Bheinn, above Achnasheen, onto the Sgurr a’ Mhuilinn (879m.) hills. There was an obvious fresh snowline early morning around 300m., but this rose to around 500m. by midday as the freezing level climbed. Plenty fresh snow covering most aspects, albeit rather shallow.
Above. Snow transportation (spindrift) at 600m., particularly intense ahead and during wintry showers as the wind strengthened.
Above. A fleeting glimpse through the clouds and oncoming wintry shower to sunlit Slioch on the right, Meall a’ Ghiuthais (sunlit centre) and Creag Dhubh of Beinn Eighe to its left. Meall a’ Choarainn (705m.) foreground.
Above. Snow distribution on Creag Dhubh and Sgurr nan Fhir Duibhe of Beinn Eighe. Greatest accumulations of fresh windslab are on steep sheltered NE to SE aspects above 750m.
Comments on this post
Got something to say? Leave a comment
