Cold and Sunny
13th February 2026
A stunning day in Lochaber today. It was feeling pretty chilly on the tops with the air temperature down to -9°C this morning, and looks to be peaking around -7°C early afternoon. Due to radiative cooling under the clear skies the snow surface temperature was even colder, -10.5°C where I measured it on a shady NW aspect. I suspect it would have been lower in locations more sheltered from the NE breeze. The low snow surface temperatures set up strong temperature gradients in the snowpack which can decrease the stability of the snowpack. This is starting to happen in the patches of slab that remain mainly on high SW through W to N aspects.
More of the same expected tomorrow before a a storm system arrives from the Atlantic on Saturday night and is expected to deposit a fair amount of fresh snow. This is likely to create a more complex and interesting snowpack than has been seen for a number of years.
Climbers preparing to abseil into Left Twin on Aonach Mor. The South Side of Coire an Lochan behind. It is a long time since I have seen the crags looking so buried, I can’t recall them looking like this since the winter of 2013-14 which was a very snowy winter at higher levels.
Lots of rime on everything.
The North side of Coire an Lochan. The crags are looking just as white. A team can be seen at the base of Left Twin.
Aonach Beag also looking pretty white.
Ben Nevis and Carn Mor Dearg looking rather fine.
Looking out over the Grey Coires with the Creag Meagaidh hills on the left and some cloud over the Cairngorms visible in the distance.
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Mark Figiel
13th February 2026 7:13 pm
Great information over the last few weeks and I hope the west gets some significant snow over the next few days. We can’t have the Cairngorms getting all the snow.
I do a lot of walking and I am always interested in the difference in the temperature on the summit compared to the valley. I am interested in purchasing a hand held weather station. Nothing fancy just one which gives temperature, wind chill and maximum wind gust. Can you advise what you use or anything similar you think will be suitable for me.
Thanks in advance
Mark
lochaberadmin
14th February 2026 4:50 pm
Although not as much snow as the Cairngorms, we have a lot more than last winter so no complaining on that front. In terms of devices I have wee anemometer made by silva, I think it does temperature as well. I don’t use it for temperature, I use a food thermometer bought online for fifteen pounds or similar. The spike on this is good for pushing into the snowpack to get snow temperatures. I calibrate it at the start of each season by mixing up snow and water for form a slush bath which will have a temperature of exactly zero degrees. Just having had a quick internet search there is quite alot of different quality available. In the past I have used a anemometer by Kestrel before, good quality but a bit more expensive.
Mark Figiel
14th February 2026 10:28 pm
Thanks for the information on the anemometer and Kestrel instruments, I shall check them out.
Nice to hear we have more snow than last winter , keep up the good work and enjoy the rest of the winter.
Mark