Avalanche forecasts to stop after quiet winter for snow
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There were fewer avalanches in Scotland's mountain over the winter than previous years, while hazards have been shifting due to climate change.
So far this winter, 146 avalanches have been logged by recorders from the Scottish Avalanche Information Service (SAIS) compared to 162 last year. They are less than half the record set just eight years ago as the impact of climate change is felt.
The SAIS said conditions were changing more rapidly and avalanches occurring in tighter spaces of time.
It said named storms – such as 2021's Storm Barra – brought short, significant periods of "proper winter", raising the avalanche risk.
The storms have often been followed by rising temperatures and snow loss.
But SAIS warned that even in those "leaner" times when there was less snow, potential hazards remained, often higher up towards the top of gullies and mountain summits.
Mark Diggins, co-ordinator of the SAIS, said this year's forecasts will now end on April 15.
"We will probably end-up with a similar number of avalanches to last year," he said. "We have had periods of instability in the snow pack in some areas, while in others it has been more benign, except for short periods.
"Climate change is also moving the snowline further up and the conditions can change relatively quickly. But there is also more awareness now of the risks.
"I would say what we are experiencing now is really rapid changes from one extreme to the other, both in terms of temperature and wind speed, and in the snow amounts.
"For us putting out forecasts, which are offered for a 24-hour period, the hazard could be considerable when we put it out and then the next day it has all been transformed and it's a lesser hazard."
A climber was killed in an avalanche on Ben Nevis in December.
Former soldier Mark Bessell, a 48-year-old teacher from Bristol, died after falling nearly 2000ft climbing the north face of the 4413ft mountain on December 30, while a second man suffered serious injuries.
There had been no avalanche-related deaths in the previous two seasons.
The SAIS provides assessments for six mountain areas.
Forecasts are given for Lochaber, Glen Coe, Northern and Southern Cairngorms, Creag Meagaidh and Torridon.
The highest number of Scottish avalanches in a season ever – 350 – was recorded in the 2014-15 season.
Avalanche forecasters say they are seeing likely impacts of climate change high in Scotland's mountains.
Dr Mike Spencer looks at financial and climate challenges with the Smart Data Foundry, at the University of Edinburgh.
He says there is clear evidence that Scottish winters are definitely changing.
He said the Snow Survey of Great Britain, which took place between the 1940s and the mid 2000s, had shown a clear decline in the number of days snow lies since the 1990s.
