Footage of huge snowslide released by SAIS

More avalanches have been logged in Scotland’s mountains – including a massive one in the Cairngorms.

The Scottish Avalanche Information Service has just released stunning drone footage of one of the biggest avalanches to hit the area in recent years.

The snowslide occurred last weekend in one of the range’s most popular climbing areas but fortunately happened overnight.

The avalanche in Coire an Lochain in the northern Cairngorms was released naturally on either February 19 or 20.

No one was caught-up in it.

It was caused by a hard windslab overlying a weak layer in the snow buried on January 28, and then triggered by rain on the high tops when the big thaw set in.

The Glenmore-based SAIS said it was one of a number of large avalanches to have taken place in quick succession in the range.

The danger level in the Cairngorms has now subsided following the release of vast accumulations of snow.

SAIS co-ordinator Mark Diggins captured the fall-out from the avalanche at the weekend once the weather broke in the peaks.

While there are strict limits on travel due to the Covid pandemic, the Scottish Avalanche Information Service (SAIS) is continuing to assess conditions in six mountain areas – Glen Coe, Lochaber, Creag Meagaidh, Torridon and Northern and Southern Cairngorms.

SAIS has now recorded 145 avalanches so far in its latest season, which started in mid-December.

There was one fatality during SAIS’s 2019-20 season.