Tropical!
7th April 2026
Has Spring finally now arrived? Well certainly it had today. The temperature at the Met Office summit weather station on Aonach Mor recorded a tropical +9 degrees. Lochaber was also enjoying predominately blue skies and plenty of sunshine. All of which was having a significant thawing effect on the snowpack; with the snow at lower elevations quickly turning to ‘slush’ before disappearing all together and higher elevations becoming increasing moist and sticky. The hills however still look very wintery with the majority of the remaining snow located on NW through N to East facing aspects. Any sun affected slopes were visibly turning less white as the day went on.
Tomorrow we can expect lighter winds with overnight light rain showers and winds easing a little from the gale force Southerlies experienced today. The freezing level will remain well above the summit, but lowers throughout the afternoon, which will increase stability within the snowpack.
Weaknesses remain within the existing snowpack at higher elevations and there are plenty of ‘beefy’ cornices ‘drooping’ above, ready to collapse and trigger a potentially sizable avalanche below. The avalanche hazard remains at a Moderate.
Some photos below to give you a flavour of conditions today.
Looking across from the summit plateau of Aonach Mor towards Carn Mor Dearg in the foreground and the north face of Ben Nevis in the background. The Carn Mor Dearg arete linking the two.
Looking South from the plateau of Aonach Mor towards Aonach Beag (1234m) Note the cornice on the NE aspect.
Decidedly sketchy cornices ‘hanging on’ above NW through N to E aspects. Here above Coire Dhubh, Aonach Mor.
More drooping cornices, defying heat and gravity… but for how long?
Looking North across the summit plateau of Aonach Mor. Significant snow loss here.
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