spindrift1980

Is actually not desperately mild up here - in fact, not only is it snowing above 900m on many hills through the west highlands, but in the words of one poster on the Winterhighland website (http://www.winterhighland.info/forum/read.php?2,124508,page=25): "Prolonged and heavy snow now falling at Nevis Range above around 900m with drifting in the strong wind.This could be the day for lasting snow at the top of Observatory Gully. " Certainly, the summit of Aonach Mor was looking well-plastered on the webcam a moment ago, and is now a complete whiteout! Often it might seem relatively mild at low altitude, but the higher parts at least of west highland mountains can gain as much or more snow through westerly zonal-type weather patterns than in the type of weather which predominated last winter. The consensus seems to be that a significant factor in the relatively low amount of survivals generally this year (given the sheer volume of winter snowfall) was the relative lack of westerly storms last winter. In summary, there seems at least a chance then that lasting snowfall will be established on Ben Nevis this week. The consensus also appears to be that the one remaining patch in the Cairngorms (Garbh Coire Mor on Braeriach) has already survived to lasting winter snow (barring some freakish outbreak of warm weather)

Snow cover was still pretty much 100% at 1100m on Cairngorm at 4pm as this webcam image shows: http://www.cairngormmountain.co.uk/news/webcams Cover starting to look a bit patchy at 700m on the Lecht, however. Looks like a major thaw on the cards with the mild temperatures and 'hairdryer' winds forecast for the near future. Currently 6.3C on the summit of Cairngorm and 15.3C in Aboyne! Will be interesting to see what remains in the usual places after the thaw...

A very interesting and informative post from Dr Adam Watson over on the Winterhighland messageboard. It appears likely that lasting winter snows have now been established at the Garbh Coire Mor patch. Not sure about the situation in the west..don't think there has been as much snow. As far as I can gather there are still 2 patches at Ben Nevis' Observatory Gully and one (probably) at Aonach Beag. "There has been a deep snowfall on Ben Avon and Beinn a' Bhuird on Tuesday afternoon and on Wednesday, accompanied by heavy drifting. I saw the hills in good light Wednesday afternoon. The eastern Cairngorms showed some boulders along exposed ridges and tors but otherwise were completely white, and with deep drifts facing south and southeast. On Tueday there was a strong N wind, Wednesday also strong and NW, though at times in the afternoon about 3.30 pm blowing from W. The east Cairngorms were out of the sun, and smoking with drifting. Snowline was at 1800 feet on Morven, with drifts several feet deep in hollows on the SE side of the hill. There was not much on the Buck, but the Ladder Hills had had a heavy fall. Very little on Mount Keen, Braid Cairn, and Mount Battock but of course they are further south and seldom get much snow during autumn snowfalls. Brown Cow Hill had more than Morven, and already the Broon Coo's White Calf has a nice wreath. Even at 800 feet on Kerloch the wind on Tuesday and Wednesday was strong, about Beaufort 5 and at times 6 during squalls. When I left at 3.40 pm Ben Avon and Beinn a' Bhuird were out of sight in a fresh snowstorm, and also the Ladder Hills, and Morven was getting the edge of it. I would judge that there has been a lot of new snow blown on to the old snow below Sphinx Ridge. The snowfall has been so deep and the drifting so great that I would be very surpirsed if this were not lasting winter snow at the Sphinx patch."

Tentative signs of better weather for snow patch retention/survival from the 'planning outlook' Mountain Weather Info Service forecast: "Showers on western, or by late Tuesday mainly northern mountains will turn to snow to a low level as a plunge of very cold air covers Britain. Snowfall may well be extensive Cairngorms and northwest Highlands." http://www.mwis.org.uk/mountain/EH.PDF

Apart from ski-ing, I've sometimes wondered whether the number of snow-holes which are dug by winter training course participants and other walkers in certain locations in the Cairngorms, like Ciste Mhearaid, diminishes the longevity of the snow there by taking away snow and letting air circulate amongst it? Perhaps by the time it gets down to the stage where the snow is in patches, it isn't really a factor?

What about RAF West Freugh (Stranraer)

Machrihanish is some way north and west of where your map places it! It is on the Kintyre peninsula (see link) http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?client=firefox-a&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&channel=s&hl=en&q=machrihanish&um=1&ie=UTF-8&hq=&hnear=Machrihanish,+Campbeltown,+Argyll&gl=uk&ei=G4gsTNGBH4yjsQb8ncHDAg&sa=X&oi=geocode_result&ct=title&resnum=1&ved=0CB8Q8gEwAA

Mountain weather 'planning outlook' below from mwis.org.uk seems to suggest mega-snowfall over the Southern Uplands: "Cold throughout the coming week and the Easter Weekend. By Wednesday (31st) there will have been a considerable dump of snow from the eastern and southern Highlands of Scotland south to Cumbria, with the whole of the Southern Uplands bearing the brunt - up to 3 ft of 'level' snow will lie in enormous drifts. Beyond, further snow will fall almost daily, mainly on northern and western mountains, as clusters of heavy showers come in, although at low levels there will be gradual thawing."

This morning's snow in East Kilbride is pretty much all gone in drizzle and 4C. Looks very marginal but seems like a good chance of catching some more over the next couple of days.

2c and moderate snow in East Kilbride at 200m asl. A couple of centimetres accumulated despite ground being wet yesterday.

Snowing big fluffy flakes here in East Kilbride at about 200-250m asl. Couple of centimetres accumulated so far. Nothing but drizzly rain so far down in Motherwell.