Providing vital information on avalanche, snow and conditions on the Scottish mountains

As pre-Christmas storms sweep across Scotland this year the work of rescue services on land and at sea are vital. Also an important factor on the hills and mountains of Scotland is the prediction of the conditions leading to avalanches. The Scottish Avalanche Information Service (SAIS) provides vital information every winter, giving reports on avalanche, snow, and mountain conditions for Lochaber, Glen Coe, Northern Cairngorms, Southern Cairngorms, Torridon and Creag Meagaidh.

The important  information they gather can help all mountain users to make safe decisions. Pictures below from SAIS give a clear indication of how quickly conditions can change on the Scottish mountains. They show Coire a Chriochairein on 20th December and then again on 21 December.