Start of Season 2019/20 - Be Alert to Early Winter Snowpack Instabilities
Early season snows during November and December often present snowpack instabilities in localised places at higher elevations. During this time with a low sun providing little warmth and cold temperatures in the mountains, instabilities will often persist. Accumulations of deeper snow in wind sheltered places around gully tops, corrie rims and slopes can be especially affected. Here, deeper accumulations can be triggered by human activity and avalanches may be released. When planning your trips check the weather forecasts for snow fall and wind directions, especially note lee aspects where winds will deposit snow. When travelling in the mountains, be alert to colder temperatures and its effect on the snowpack, and areas of deeper snow accumulation.
Daily Avalanche Information Reports for the 6 operational areas of Lochaber, Glencoe, Creag Meagaidh, Southern Cairngorms , Northern Cairngorms and Torridon regions will be issued from Friday 13th Dec 2019.
Reporting an avalanche, especially if witnessed, provides valuable stability information which can be used to help all mountain users with their decision making process and, which also provides essential data for avalanche research. We encourage anyone who sees an avalanche to help the SAIS by Reporting an Avalanche using our on-line form.
Scottish Avalanche Information Service is managed by sportscotland and sportscotland's privacy policy governs this website and the work of Scottish Avalanche Information Service. Please see the Privacy Policy at https://sportscotland.org.uk/generalprivacynotice for more information.
