A Brighter Day
20th December 2025
The freezing level rose quite notably last night above the summits, only slightly recovering back to the highest summit levels before dawn. Given that a lot of the existing snowpack was already thawing and diminishing, by first light there had been a notable loss, only patches with deeper accumulations remaining. Exploring closer to the coast it was evident that the ‘majority’ of any remaining snow was more inland, on the high summit of Spidean a Choire Leith on Liathach and the eastern end of Beinn Eighe (though possibly other isolated and high, north to east aspects, out of view also).
The day remained dry and cloudy, with the summits remaining mainly clear. At times there were bright intervals and even some sunny spells though it felt cool in the light South-Easterly breeze. With the freezing level around the highest summits, only rising higher for a few hours this afternoon, the rate of thaw has slowed with seemingly little change through the day. Snow patches generally remain soft, thawing and slowly diminishing.
Overnight the freezing level will drop to around 800 metres. Any remaining snow patches are expected to become frozen. During the day it will remain dry, once again the freezing level rising above the summits though it will feel cool in strong or very strong South-Easterly winds. Overall some further thawing and diminishing of the remaining snow patches is expected tomorrow.
Not long after first light and the notable loss of snow was evident on Sgurr nan Fhir Duibhe and Creag Dhubh
South Torridon summits, Maol Chean-dearg east towards Sgorr Ruadh and Beinn Liath Mhor
From Annat, looking across to Beinn Aligin
Eastern aspects of Liathach, some snow remaining high on Spidean a Choire Leith above 900 metres
Looking east along Beinn Eighe
Distant views to Fionn Bheinn
Slioch
Not in area but distant views to the south-east, the Glen Carron and Glen Uig Forest summits with remaining patchy snow
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