Ben Nevis in the Rain
23rd February 2025
A wet and windy day in Lochaber. It was raining to summit level, and was very windy. The photos below should give a good idea how things have changed on Ben Nevis in the past few days.
Fortunately (for those who like winter that is), it looks like colder more wintry conditions will be returning tomorrow and building through the week. Hopefully in a few days time things will be looking at least a bit whiter than they are at the moment. The avalanche hazard is also expected to rise over the next few days. This process will start tomorrow, although the hazard is expected to remain low as not much snow is forecast. However, if more snow that expected falls, it could be a moderate. The hazard forecast is just that, a forecast, and if the weather does something unexpected it could have a significant effect on the avalanche hazard.
North East Buttress and Tower Ridge. Todays picture above, and below a similar view last Thursday. There is a bit of a loss of snow and ice, but not as great a change as might be expected given how mild and wet it has been.
Not today, the view last Thursday for comparison.
Looking into the back of Coire ne Ciste today (above), with the same view last Thursday (below). The difference between Thursday and today in greater in this set of photos, particularly at lower levels.
Not today, the view into Coire na Cist last Thursday for comparison.
Above not much ice but plenty of water on Carn Dearg Buttress today. This picture gives a sense of how windy it was today with the waterfall in the in the foreground not reading the ground. Compared with a picture from last Thursday below. Almost all the water ice which had formed over the cold spell mid mountain level has now gone.
Not today, a picture from Thursday for comparison.
This is where all that snow and ice has gone. No shortage of water in the Allt a Mhullin today.
Water Levels in the River Nevis at Claggan over the past 5 days from the SEPA website. The spikes in river level corresponding to periods of heavy rain are very obvious.
Comments on this post
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Ross MacRae
24th February 2025 10:14 am
Not been much of a winter this year but SAIS details are essential viewing for those of us who venture out every weekend. I have learnt a lot from the SAIS postings and it helps so much with safety, planning and risk management. Thank you for your work each winter.
lochaberadmin
24th February 2025 4:12 pm
Glad that you are enjoying the blogs, and despite the poor conditions this winter, there is always something interesting to think about in the hills in winter.
Ray Treadwell
25th February 2025 8:44 am
Where are the good old days? being able to climb your first winter route on the Ben in October !!!!!