The Weather Outlook

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Frost Hollow
15 August 2014 10:56:02

Indeed. I would also argue that while not remotely unprecedented, it is also not the norm for snow to fall even on the highest peaks in August. What it does indicate is that the weather will be unusually cool for August for a few days.

It is noteworthy but not exceptional.

Originally Posted by: doctormog 

Agreed 

Solar Cycles
15 August 2014 15:51:54





Met Office going for snowon Ben Nevis and the highest Cairngormsby Monday UserPostedImage
http://www.metoffice.gov.uk/loutdoor/mountainsafety/westhighland/westhighland_latest_pressure.html
http://www.metoffice.gov.uk/loutdoor/mountainsafety/easthighland/easthighland_latest_pressure.html

Originally Posted by: Frost Hollow 



I did mention the possibility for next week in my mountain forecast issued earlier today.

It is only not unusual though.

Originally Posted by: Solar Cycles 


But unusual enough for it to snow there most Augusts!

Originally Posted by: Medlock Vale Weather 

I've been in a full blown blizzard in the highlands in July, so it's not that unsual but it's certainly not the norm.

Originally Posted by: Solar Cycles 


Well we all know you're a full blown wind up merchant.

Originally Posted by: Medlock Vale Weather 



Err that doesn't alter that facts that snow can fall on any given day in the highlands though.Wink

Originally Posted by: Essan 

'The Highlands' i don't think so, on the top of The Cairngorm peaks yes but not lower down, even here in Carrbridge at 900ft snow has not fallen in July/August according to locals.

People seem to forget The Highlands (my home) covers a vast area, with a fair bit of it being near sea level.

Originally Posted by: Medlock Vale Weather 

Lol, yes when I refer to the Highlands I actually mean high land in this case I was around 3200 feet in Glencoe when thsi occurred, but I've also seen snow fall in June and July with quite a covering albeit temporary in nature. Still it's not the norm as I pointed out in my post, but it can and does happen.

Norseman
15 August 2014 21:06:30

Three of the last five Augusts have had snow falling and lying on the Cairngorm plateau but none anything like this early in the month. I read somewhere that there are a couple of weeks from late July into August where there has historically been no recorded new snow lying [discounting the previous Winter patches].

Col
  • Col
  • Advanced Member
16 August 2014 11:55:14

Three of the last five Augusts have had snow falling and lying on the Cairngorm plateau but none anything like this early in the month. I read somewhere that there are a couple of weeks from late July into August where there has historically been no recorded new snow lying [discounting the previous Winter patches].

Originally Posted by: Norseman 

That would figure as late July/Early August is statistically the warmest time of the year. I wonder about Ben Nevis though. That is a few hundred feet higher still than Cairngorm. That height difference would be more than enough to give lying snow there, and just cold rain on Cairngorm. 

Col

Bolton, Lancashire

160m asl

Snow videos:

http://www.youtube.com/channel/UC3QvmL4UWBmHFMKWiwYm_gg

Norseman
16 August 2014 13:27:16

Three of the last five Augusts have had snow falling and lying on the Cairngorm plateau but none anything like this early in the month. I read somewhere that there are a couple of weeks from late July into August where there has historically been no recorded new snow lying [discounting the previous Winter patches].

Originally Posted by: Col 

That would figure as late July/Early August is statistically the warmest time of the year. I wonder about Ben Nevis though. That is a few hundred feet higher still than Cairngorm. That height difference would be more than enough to give lying snow there, and just cold rain on Cairngorm. 

Originally Posted by: Norseman 

Unlikely though as the high area in the Cairngorms is much more extensive and temps in a Northerly (needed for unseasonal snow) are usually lower further North East in the Highlands towards the Gorms.

Col
  • Col
  • Advanced Member
16 August 2014 15:24:46

Three of the last five Augusts have had snow falling and lying on the Cairngorm plateau but none anything like this early in the month. I read somewhere that there are a couple of weeks from late July into August where there has historically been no recorded new snow lying [discounting the previous Winter patches].

Originally Posted by: Norseman 

That would figure as late July/Early August is statistically the warmest time of the year. I wonder about Ben Nevis though. That is a few hundred feet higher still than Cairngorm. That height difference would be more than enough to give lying snow there, and just cold rain on Cairngorm. 

Originally Posted by: Col 



Unlikely though as the high area in the Cairngorms is much more extensive and temps in a Northerly (needed for unseasonal snow) are usually lower further North East in the Highlands towards the Gorms.

Originally Posted by: Norseman 

In winter I would certainly expect a northerly to be colder the further east you are, but I wonder how much difference it would make in summer.

The records of the old Ben Nevis observatory would be very interesting to see regarding this.

 

Col

Bolton, Lancashire

160m asl

Snow videos:

http://www.youtube.com/channel/UC3QvmL4UWBmHFMKWiwYm_gg

Norseman
16 August 2014 22:19:16

Three of the last five Augusts have had snow falling and lying on the Cairngorm plateau but none anything like this early in the month. I read somewhere that there are a couple of weeks from late July into August where there has historically been no recorded new snow lying [discounting the previous Winter patches].

Originally Posted by: Col 

That would figure as late July/Early August is statistically the warmest time of the year. I wonder about Ben Nevis though. That is a few hundred feet higher still than Cairngorm. That height difference would be more than enough to give lying snow there, and just cold rain on Cairngorm. 

Originally Posted by: Norseman 



Unlikely though as the high area in the Cairngorms is much more extensive and temps in a Northerly (needed for unseasonal snow) are usually lower further North East in the Highlands towards the Gorms.

Originally Posted by: Col 

In winter I would certainly expect a northerly to be colder the further east you are, but I wonder how much difference it would make in summer.

The records of the old Ben Nevis observatory would be very interesting to see regarding this.

Not sure how much difference in Summer Northerlies but lasting snow nearly always arrives in the Cairngorms before the Nevis range, sometimes by several weeks. In 1976 lasting snow arrived in the Cairngorms in the second week of September which is the earliest I am aware of.

The amount of snow falling over the Winter is usually greater in the West due to prevailing Westerly winds so depths around Nevis can be greater. Melt from rainfall is also greater though into the Summer.

 

Originally Posted by: Norseman 

Frost Hollow
18 August 2014 06:52:23

I would have semi expected to see some snow wet lying this morning up there but nothing on the cams, 6.9c and showers here at 900ft would have meant around 1c at the summit.

Close but no cigar!

The old patches remain though 

Solar Cycles
18 August 2014 08:19:51

I would have semi expected to see some snow wet lying this morning up there but nothing on the cams, 6.9c and showers here at 900ft would have meant around 1c at the summit.

Close by no cigar!

The old patches remain though 

Originally Posted by: Frost Hollow 

Most likely any precipitation falling as snow would have been of the wet variety at best.

Frost Hollow
18 August 2014 10:22:46

I would have semi expected to see some snow wet lying this morning up there but nothing on the cams, 6.9c and showers here at 900ft would have meant around 1c at the summit.

Close but no cigar!

The old patches remain though 

Originally Posted by: Solar Cycles 

Most likely any precipitation falling as snow would have been of the wet variety at best.

Originally Posted by: Frost Hollow 

Indeed

Norseman
19 August 2014 21:46:49

Just a touch of new snow in amongst the stones at the top of Ben Nevis today.

https://twitter.com/theiaincameron/status/501712048217419776

doctormog
21 August 2014 15:55:39
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-highlands-islands-28885119 

Quite a few of the snow patches on some of the other hills also seem to be surviving well this season...so far

Aberdeen

Current conditions (personal WS) 

Norseman
23 August 2014 17:44:24
Top of Cairngorm today. Just a skiff. From Winter Highland.

http://www.winterhighland.info/forum/file.php?2,file=10033 

The annual August snow patch survey took place yesterday.( 22nd) Looks like more than 200 patches surviving this year with many still extensive. Could be quite a few will make it through to Winter this year.

Essan
23 August 2014 17:55:06

Top of Cairngorm today. Just a skiff. From Winter Highland.

Originally Posted by: Norseman 

">http://www.winterhighland.info/forum/file.php?2,file=10033





Nice to see my forecast of a dusting up there today was correct

Andy

Evesham, Worcs, Albion - 35m asl

Weather & Earth Science News 

Look in the doubt we've wallowed, look at the leaders we've followed, look at the lies we've swallowed, and I don't want to hear no more

JHutch
24 August 2014 09:34:12

Not sure if anyone has posted about this already but a couple of the Glencoe skiing webcams still show a few snow patches (top left cameras on the diagram or scroll down to the alternating view).

http://www.glencoemountain.co.uk/webcams.html

 

 

Andy Woodcock
06 September 2014 15:38:29
With a dry September I reckon this could be a classic season for snow patch survival in Scotland, the cooler nights next week is going to help.

As I understand it warm rain removes these snow patches much quicker than warm sunshine and even that will be in short supply from now on.

Could 2014 be a record year for snow patch survival in late September which tends to be the minimum before high altitude snowfalls start again in October.

Anyone know which year holds the current record?

Andy

Andy Woodcock

Penrith

Cumbria

Altitude 535 feet

"Why are the British so worried about climate change? Any change to their climate can only be an improvement" John Daley 2001

four
  • four
  • Advanced Member
06 September 2014 15:58:16

In the comments here, Iain Cameron says snow has never survived until next winter at Glencoe.
There's a very large lump just 50m from the lifts, I'd be surprised if that goes considering it will be frozen most of next week.

https://www.facebook.com/GlencoeMountain/photos/a.112454045449052.13670.111429118884878/911391782221937/?type=1 








North York Moors weather 
ARTzeman
06 September 2014 16:23:08

Nice to see some of the white stuff......



Some people walk in the rain.

Others just get wet.

I Just Blow my horn or trumpet

Norseman
06 September 2014 21:42:10

With a dry September I reckon this could be a classic season for snow patch survival in Scotland, the cooler nights next week is going to help.

As I understand it warm rain removes these snow patches much quicker than warm sunshine and even that will be in short supply from now on.

Could 2014 be a record year for snow patch survival in late September which tends to be the minimum before high altitude snowfalls start again in October.

Anyone know which year holds the current record?

Andy

Originally Posted by: Andy Woodcock 



2000 has the best recent record but 1994 much surpassed that with 55 survivals including some away from the Nevis range and high Cairngorms. 1994 is also very unusual in that some patches melted as late as December with late mild muggy weather. If not for this and the mild Autumn even more would have survived.
I believe Geall Charn by Ben Alder and Creag Meagaidh were among those that did make it.
One of the fifties, 1951 if I recall, had the highest recorded number but I can't remember the details. 1955 was also a good year. There is a good chance that this year will be the best since 1994 assuming no drastically warm Autumn.

Edit. Just checked. There were 142 survivals in 1951 in North East Scotland alone including 9 under 900 mtrs asl. 

1967 was also a very good year with a large number of survivals.

Andy Woodcock
06 September 2014 23:12:36

With a dry September I reckon this could be a classic season for snow patch survival in Scotland, the cooler nights next week is going to help.

As I understand it warm rain removes these snow patches much quicker than warm sunshine and even that will be in short supply from now on.

Could 2014 be a record year for snow patch survival in late September which tends to be the minimum before high altitude snowfalls start again in October.

Anyone know which year holds the current record?

Andy

Originally Posted by: Norseman 



2000 has the best recent record but 1994 much surpassed that with 55 survivals including some away from the Nevis range and high Cairngorms. 1994 is also very unusual in that some patches melted as late as December with late mild muggy weather. If not for this and the mild Autumn even more would have survived.
I believe Geall Charn by Ben Alder and Creag Meagaidh were among those that did make it.
One of the fifties, 1951 if I recall, had the highest recorded number but I can't remember the details. 1955 was also a good year. There is a good chance that this year will be the best since 1994 assuming no drastically warm Autumn.

Edit. Just checked. There were 142 survivals in 1951 in North East Scotland alone including 9 under 900 mtrs asl. 

1967 was also a very good year with a large number of survivals.

Originally Posted by: Andy Woodcock 

1951 makes sense as it is widely recognised as the snowiest winter of the 20th Century above 400 meters, even in the Lake District snow patches on Helvelyn survived until July.

Andy

Andy Woodcock

Penrith

Cumbria

Altitude 535 feet

"Why are the British so worried about climate change? Any change to their climate can only be an improvement" John Daley 2001

four
  • four
  • Advanced Member
08 September 2014 10:15:33

Not quite on topic but an interesting read.
http://www.landforms.eu/cairngorms/protalus%20rampart.htm

A good site to look around, see also
http://www.landforms.eu/cairngorms/deglaciation.htm

North York Moors weather 
Andy Woodcock
13 September 2014 08:43:17
With such dry weather and cool nights those Scottish snow patches must be doing very well, not long now till the new snow season so could be a bumper year for patch survival.

Off to Aberdeen on Monday so might see a patch or two en-route.

Andy

Andy Woodcock

Penrith

Cumbria

Altitude 535 feet

"Why are the British so worried about climate change? Any change to their climate can only be an improvement" John Daley 2001

doctormog
13 September 2014 08:51:27

With such dry weather and cool nights those Scottish snow patches must be doing very well, not long now till the new snow season so could be a bumper year for patch survival.

Off to Aberdeen on Monday so might see a patch or two en-route.

Andy

Originally Posted by: Andy Woodcock 

Possibly not if you are going up the east coast? I'm not sure if any patches will be visible from the road/rail line.

I hope you enjoy Aberdeen (although it will probably be grey and dreich based on the model output).

http://www.winterhighland.info/forum/read.php?2,160696,page=27 

Aberdeen

Current conditions (personal WS) 

Andy Woodcock
14 September 2014 08:28:48
Thanks Michael, I am looking forward to my trip the Aberdeen, my boss who of course is London based has given me Aberdeen to cover as she said it's "just up the road from you"!

She was surprised when I told her it was 230 miles and nearly 5 hours away!

Southerners...........lol

Andy

Andy Woodcock

Penrith

Cumbria

Altitude 535 feet

"Why are the British so worried about climate change? Any change to their climate can only be an improvement" John Daley 2001

four
  • four
  • Advanced Member
14 September 2014 12:50:37

That's quite impressive for 11th September

North York Moors weather 

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