PS... I put a like on the Loch Avon images....

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14C at the top of the Cairngorms today, 15C on Aonach Mor. That's some inversion - not only warmer than Aviemore but warmer than Aberdeen!

No need to move to Sheppey, just head up the mountains.

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And 15C on the tops today. Doesn't happen very often, there is some very warm upper air up there.

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And 15C on the tops today. Doesn't happen very often, there is some very warm upper air up there.

You'd be surprised Tim. Most Septembers have temperatures up to the midteens at some stage at Cairngorm's WS.

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Well, the first proper snow fall fell in the Highlands yesterday (with a little wet stuff in the Pennines too) - bit later than some recent years but round about normal

UK gets first snow in early sign that winter is coming

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Still some snow patches visible on the tops from my office but rapidly melting now.

Like the snow patches going down...

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Going rapidly now. This could be one of the worst ever years for the Scottish ski industry if it continues in the same vein. Mid January is not that rare for skiing to get going but there is no immediate prospect of change from the mostly dry and mild or dry and cold weather this season so far. (A couple of brief pm / northerly outbreaks excepted.)
Even a zonal spell will give some hope if temps stay not that far from average.

Big change in last couple of days with four out of the five Scottish ski resorts due to open tomorrow. Cairngorm opening to join Glencoe, Glenshee and Aonach Mor. Not enough cover at the Lecht yet though. Glenshee and Aonach Mor have done particularly well with more snow due at Glenshee with Easterly winds prevailing.

Here is the link to Glenshee webcam.

http://www.ski-glenshee.co.uk/Webcam

 

plenty snow in parts of Highland Scotland today down to valley level. Gone in a couple of days though.

 

Only 3 snow patches left now in Scotland. Doesnt look like any will survive until lasting snow arrives, always looked a bit of a struggle given the lack of snow in the winter.

https://twitter.com/theiaincameron/status/899326138169921536

https://twitter.com/KingGuiding/status/899390447843504135

 

The lack of snow patches (3 remaining, expected to be gone by mid September, for the first time since 2006) has been attributed here to a lack of snow in the previous winter:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-highlands-islands-41001234

But as late as 9th August, this:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-highlands-islands-37020327

suggested a 15m snow thickness on the north face. How has that depleted so quickly? Copious rainfall? And where did 15m come from in a lack-of-snow summer? Same investigator too, so no conflict of opinions. Interesting, I thought.

 

2016?

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2016?

#

Hah, thanks Dev; you are a marvel at making a big impact with few words! Now a year a and two weeks would certainly do 15m of melt!

I have deleted my daft post.

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For anyone interested in the snow patches Iain Cameron visited the two remaining areas in Scotland this weekend. There are now only two small patches left and both could go in the next week or so. At Braeriach the Sphinx patch is only a few metres wide and 1 metre deep and at Aonach Mor the remaining patch is 11 x 5 metres but only about 1 foot deep. Toss up as to which will go first but not really any chance now of either surviving to the lasting snow.

The snow at Aonach Mor melted a couple of days ago leaving only the Sphinx patch which has split in two and is likely to go tomorrow leaving no snow in Scotland for the first time since 2006.

Finally went on 1st October. Actually some snow about in the forecast for the highest areas this week with a few flurries in recent days also. Won't be bare for long.

In Aviemore this weekend, might venture up to Cairngorm base car park on Sunday morning for a peek.

Looking nice and snowy up in them thar hills today:-

http://www.winterhighland.info/cams/cairngorm-mountain/ 

 

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Skiing at Glencoe starts tomorrow!

http://www.glencoemountain.co.uk/snow-report/ 

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This cold zonality should be very very good for the western ski resorts snow levels.

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