A Dreich Fionn Bheinn
2nd January 2024
With a cloud base of around 450m, constant light rain/drizzle and a strong ESE wind it was a pretty miserable morning on Fionn Bheinn. However, by midday the precipitaion had eased and there was a touch of brightness. It looked like it was brighter on the more coastal mountains throughout. Most old snow exists on SW to NW aspects, generally above 650m. Some fresh snow this morning likely at higher summit levels, with localised windslab developing in wind sheltered W to NW aspects. The new snow will start to consolidate later as the freezing level rises.
(Above) At 450m, looking down over Achnasheen before heading into the cloud! Soft wet old snow here, rapidly thawing.
(Above) At 500m, looking up towards Creagan nan Laogh on the southern slopes of Fionn Beinn and the location for today’s observations. The wind was picking up here with driving light rain and relatively mild. Again, a thawing snowpack.
(Above) At 600m. Still thawing, strengthening winds now around 25mph and air temp +o.2C and still light rain! Thawing rime ice covering the rocks and vegetation and a slight surface crust.
(Above) At 700m on the summit of Creagan nan Laogh. Still drizzling and thawing – just, with an air temp of 0.0C. The snow here was old snow with thick rime covering the rocks and an old surface crust. The wind was around a mean of 38mph, gusting over 40mph, hence the blurred photo! Enough was enough, so I gathered some snowpack and weather data and headed down for a coffee!
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