Map pinpoints exactly where 172 avalanches happened in UK this year

Avalanches are perhaps most associated with the Himalayas or the Alps – but they occur here in the UK as well, albeit on a lesser scale.

The incidents can see cascades of snow surge down mountainsides, blocking paths and potentially endangering walkers and climbers.

Regular specialised weather forecasts are issued for mountainous and hilly regions across Great Britain to make people heading into those areas aware of the expected conditions.

However the Scottish Avalanche Information Service (SAIS) also produces a map showing where avalanches have been reported.

The map, which can be viewed here, shows more than 170 incidents have been recorded in the last 12 months.

The Cairngorms National Park has been a particular hotspot, with many avalanches recorded in the past 12 months.

One incident in December 2023 resulted in a Mountain Rescue Team (MRT) being called after a lead climber was caught in the incident.

Its entry on the SAIS website states:  “Party of two climbing Central Gully, lead climber triggered avalanche and was taken down past belay until rope arrested fall. Cairngorm MRT involved in extraction.”

Avalanches were also reported in the Lochaber region east of Fort William – which includes Ben Nevis and the other Grampian Mountains.

One incident there in January saw a party of three trigger an avalanche at Carn Dearg Meadhonach

The report stated: “Wet slide avalanche, person 1 carried 10m, person carried 300m. Neither person buried or injured.”

An incident in Glencoe, another area monitored by the SAIS, saw a climber twist their knee when the group was caught in an avalanche in January.

The report stated:  “Started around the base of Double Entendre, which we intended to climb. Snowpack was a bit wet but we thought the air temperature was below freezing, snow wasn’t too deep and there wasn’t an obvious weak layer lower down.

“Not a huge volume of snow but enough to carry us a fair distance and we all had moments where we thought there was a risk of being buried.

“All three of us got carried down maybe 100m max, one of the party twisting his knee badly in the process. We walked/hobbled out and warned other teams who had planned to head for the same area.”

Other hotspots include the Creag Meagaidh and Torridon areas.