Avalanche
The number of avalanches recorded in the Scottish mountains so far this winter has surpassed the total for the whole of the last one, reports the BBC.
The Scottish Avalanche Information Service (SAIS) records the snow slides during its forecasting seasons, which run from December to April. The last forecasting season, 2016-17, involved the service’s lowest number of recorded avalanches in almost 10 years. There were 90 avalanches then, and provisionally 94 so far this season.
Unlike last winter, this 2017-18 winter has seen heavy snowfalls and much longer periods of freezing temperatures. The conditions have resulted in busy spells for Scotland’s mountain rescue teams, with Lochaber and Cairngorm MRTs among the teams being called out the most frequently.
This winter, mountain rescue, and avalanche forecast teams have reported regularly experiencing “full-on Scottish winter conditions”, which can include blizzards, white-out conditions, and gale force winds.
Previous avalanche numbers
- 2016-17 – 90
- 2015-16 – 207
- 2014-15 – 305
- 2013-14 – 350
- 2012-13 – 129
- 2011-12 – 154
- 2010-11 – 178
- 2009-10 – 220
