A Grapple with Graupel
4th January 2022
It was a particularly challenging day, both on the hill and on the road! I had to dig the car out of snow twice and hunker down a few times during some nasty graupel showers and gale force gusts. I gave up the struggle just below 600m elevation.
Unstable windslab has developed in sheltered terrain from mid levels upwards. Currently, the windslab is in isolated locations, but is gaining depth and extent and will become more associated with specific locations as the showers continue overnight and through tomorrow.
(Above) The northern Fannaichs of Beinn Liath Mhor Fannaich and Sgurr Mor. I managed to get this shot from the road during a brief clearing between showers. There is much scouring of wind exposed terrain in evidence and significant drifting of snow. Most snow is blown to sheltered lower elevations.
(Above) What it looked like at 350m during the passing of a shower. Generally, there was more snow settling at this elevation than at higher levels.
(Above) An exposed 600m summit is scoured of snow.
(Above 2 photos) Looking into the higher mountains. Areas of fresh windslab are patchy (isolated), but this is looking onto the more windward aspects.
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