Scotland’s ‘unusual’ avalanche season due to a lack of snow

The Scottish Avalanche Information Service (SAIS) says a lack of snow has resulted in it having one of its most unusual winters in its almost 40-year history.

Six mountain areas – Lochaber, Glen Coe, Creag Meagaidh, Torridon and Northern and Southern Cairngorms – are monitored for avalanche risk from between mid-December to mid-April.

Usually by this stage in the season SAIS has recorded 100 to 150 avalanches which are gathered from its own teams’ observations and reports from the public – but it has gathered details of just over 20 so far.

Co-ordinator Mark Diggins also said that for the first time in nearly 20 years there had been periods this season when SAIS had issued no daily avalanche hazard reports because snow was so scarce.

Mr Diggins said: “The winter this season has been an unusual one.

“For the first time since I have been co-ordinator, now approaching 20 years, there have been periods when no public avalanche reports were produced.

“In January there was a period of a week or so we didn’t produce reports.”

On those occasions, SAIS still provided other information on what conditions were like in the mountains.

Mr Diggins said: “The snow has been quite thin this winter, quite cosmetic.

“As soon as it snows, a new warm period comes and it disappears quite quickly.

He said climate change was the likely cause.

SAIS has previously warned of the impact this was having on avalanches.

Mr Diggins said people should remain vigilant to avalanche and weather conditions.

SAIS was set up in 1988 and has grown from covering a couple of locations to six.

It covers the UK’s highest mountains, including Ben Nevis in Lochaber and Ben Macdui in the Cairngorms.

SAIS forecasts are used by hillwalkers, climbers and snowsports enthusiasts to plan their visits to the hills.

Mountain rescue teams also consult the forecasts when on callouts.

The daily reports provide assessments of potential avalanche risk, with the information provided in different formats including an online map rating the threat from “low” to “very high”.

Avalanches are usually “explosive” events involving a mass of snow sliding suddenly and rapidly down a mountainside.

They can occur naturally when cornices – snow overhanging a cliff or slope – collapse.

Human activity such as walking or skiing can also trigger avalanches.

A number of organisations offer information on how to stay safe in Scotland’s hills.

They include:

Mr Diggins said people should always be prepared for challenging and frequently unpredictable winter conditions in the hills.

He urged people to check weather and avalanche forecasts when planning a walk or climb, and to be adequately equipped for bad weather.

“It is still cold and often very windy,” he said.

“People should be sharp, be prepared.”

Mr Diggins said while he remembers winters when there was deep snow on the hills for long periods, for some of today’s walkers and climbers the current conditions was all they had experienced.

“People are still getting out and enjoying the hills.

“The mountains are still beautiful,” he said.