Storm force winds
27th January 2026
The Torridon region was battered today with storm force easterly winds. Vehicles were literally ‘rocking’ in the glen car parks and suffice as to say, very few folk were around. For those who are nautically minded it was a good Force 9 on Loch Torridon, with sheets of sea water being picked up and blown down the loch.
Temperature in the glen was around +5 degrees but it felt much colder with extreme wind chill. And yet again, there was almost no precipitation. Just an isolated very light shower which would have been falling as snow above around 600m. There are likely small accumulations of windslab in steep wind sheltered locations on the leeward side of the mountains (SW-N aspects) but it was impossible to reach those locations today to confirm.
A calmer day is expected tomorrow, but the South-Easterly airflow continues, so any precipitation is expected to be very light and intermittent. Very little change is expected in the snowpack. The historical snow continues to consolidate and is stable. Increasing in firmness and extent with height. Axe and crampons are essential for travel on the high tops.
Photos below give a flavour of conditions.
Liathach with an ‘Everest like’ banner cloud streaming off the summit ridge. Patchy snow cover on the south aspect, but on the north aspect there is much greater coverage.
Looking up into Coire an Laoigh on the south side of Beinn Eighe. The snow patches start around 500m and increase in coverage and firmness with height. The main track up Beinn Eighe runs up the headwall of this corrie. From an avalanche perspective it will currently be safe. However, firm/icy snow and serious run outs, present a hazard for the poorly equipped.
Beinn Damh (903m) A spectacular Corbett on the south side of Glen Torridon. Here we are looking at the north aspect.
Beinn Eighe south east aspect above Kinlochewe village.
Outdoor kirk close to Torridon Village. Beinn Damh in the background. Stone seats are laid out in rows, and a cleft in a rock face forms a natural platform, or pulpit. The outdoor preaching place was one of several set up in the north-west Highlands following the so-called Disruption of 1843. This was when the Church of Scotland split over the rights of parishioners, rather than landowners, to choose their ministers. The deep divide led to the creation of the Free Church of Scotland. Further info can be viewed at Torridon Open Air Church, 100m ESE of Am Ploc, Wester Ross, Strathpeffer and Lochalsh, Highland Well worth a wee walk on a storm bound day.
Comments on this post
Got something to say? Leave a comment
