Snow star crystal 1.5mm diameter grown on an electric needle: Photo Ken Libbrecht.

Llansadwrn (Anglesey) Weather:
Snowdonia Snowline Report

Logo: Llansadwrn Weather - Melin Llynnon, Ynys Môn.

Snowdonia Mountains Winter 2011 - 12

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Snow on summits of the Snowdon Horseshoe on 4 January 2010.

 

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October

Patchy snow pellets and snow were lying on Cairngorm Mountain on the 7th. Snow was falling on Ben Nevis and Glencoe Mountain on the afternoon of the 17th, but did not last many days. After passage of a cold front in the afternoon temperatures on the morning of 18th were low enough for ice precipitation on the Snowdonia summits; a sprinkling was seen on Carnedd Llewelyn and C. Dafydd by noon. Mike Peacock reported frequent heavy hail showers on the Migneint through the day. Frequent wintry showers continued across the Snowdonia range on the 19th; Alex Turner reported that the ECN's camera had recorded melting snow on Yr Wyddfa. Ice precipitation was seen on the north-west shoulder of C. Llewelyn in the afternoon of the 25th. There was no snow lying seen at 0900 GMT in the month.

November

With above average continuing into November it was good to see that snow had fallen in the far North of Lapland on the 2nd. With the weather keeping mild there was little in the way of snow in Britain. I spotted a sprinkling of 'white precipitation' on Ben Nevis and Cairngorm on the 22nd around noon, but it soon disappeared. There was light ice precipitation including snow on Ben Nevis and Cairngorm on the 25th, nothing was seen on the Carneddau and Yr Wyddfa. Patchy light hail and snow remained on Ben Nevis and Cairngorm on the 26 - 30th

December

There was slight ice precipitation seen on Carnedd Llewelyn and cliffs eastward at 0900 GMT on the 1st (Snowdon was obscured in cloud). Overnight light snow had fallen on Ben Nevis and Cairngorm. During the afternoon cloud lifted from all summits that were clear of any snow. Later John Williams reported temperatures were low enough for snow to fall after sunset on the highest mountains. Light snow cover from late afternoon showers was seen at dusk above about 2,500 ft on the Carneddau (mainly), Glyders, Carnedd y Filiast and the Elidirs. Snowdon was obscured by cloud. Overnight more snow fell on Ben Nevis and Cairngorm. On the 2nd at 1030 GMT a little fresh snow was seen just under a variable cloudbase on the Carneddau and Tryfan at 2800 ft. Wintry showers at times across the tops on the 3rd, light to moderate snow showers on the 4th with light snow lying at 1800 ft, as low as 1500 ft centrally on the Carneddau, and 1200 ft near Llyn Ogwen on the morning of the 5th. Further snow showers overnight with similar snow levels maintained on 6th with temperature between -1 and -4C on the summits, there was more precipitation during the morning with some drifting at the higher levels in strong winds around the summits. . On the 7th as temperatures rose overnight the lying snowline had retreated to 2800 ft, but remained lower at 2000 ft on the Carneddau between C. Llewelyn and C. Dafydd. Temperatures continued to rise and was above zero on Snowdon through the night 7/8th thawing most snow leaving icy patches and some deep snow patches on Carnedd Llewelyn. On the 9th much ice especially north-facing slopes and a sprinkling of fresh snow at 2500 ft on the Carneddau and snow patches at 2800 ft. Further showers even at low levels during the day led to slight deposits (snow pellets and snow) at 2000 ft. Snow and snow pellets showers overnight 9/10th with slight snow lying at 1800 ft and as low as 1000 ft at Ogwen with snow patches and ice in places. Patches around the summits remained on the 11th, but there was light snow early on the 12th leaving a thin thawing covering at 2750 ft. Sprinklings of snow at 3000 ft and on some north-facing cliffs with deep patches from old drifts and in gullies on Carnedd Llewelyn remained as low as 2600 ft through to the 14th. On the morning of the 15th snow showers with snow lying at 2000 ft, but thawed up to 2500 ft during the afternoon. Overnight 15/16th further snow pellet (soft hail) and snow showers and light lying snow at 2500 ft on the Carneddau, Glyders and Snowdon, as low as 2000 ft in places with snow pellets on the ground down to sea level in places.. On the 17th there was deep snow in places above 2500 ft, some on icy slopes (avalanches were reported particularly on E-facing slopes and in a gully under Y Garn where a man died) otherwise light snow falling as low as 1250 ft. Moderate snow falls continued above 2500 ft on the 18th with snow falling as low as 800 ft in the morning. On the 19th there was broken snow as low as 1500 ft in places that reduced considerable in heavy rain during the day. By the 20th the snowline had risen to around 2700 ft on the Carneddau, but was as low as 2000 ft in places. As temperatures on the summits rose to 5/7C thawing continued, on the 22nd broken snow remained above 1800 ft with some deep snow patches in gullies as low as 2300 ft. A slight covering of fresh snow was at 2750 ft on the N-facing slopes of the Carneddau at 09 GMT on the 24th with deep snow persistent in gullies as low as 2300 ft remaining until the 29th. Some snow patches, persisted on cliffs near Foel-goch about 2700 ft, until the end of the month.

January

Little snow was present on the 1st, mostly small patches on some SE-facing cliffs Foel-goch and some remnants from showers of ice precipitation around the highest summits on the 3rd. Patches were seen on cliffs near Foel-goch until the 5th and were surviving near Garnedd Ugain at 3250 ft on the 17th. On the 23rd Mike Peacock reported 'whiteness' on the Main Cliff on Glyder Fach at 1040 GMT and intense hail showers on Migneint between 1130 & 1200 GMT. After warm sector air and rain on the 25th a cold front overnight and following shower trough on the morning of the 26th brought light to moderate falls of snow as low as 1250 ft in places. Further snow showers throughout the day on the 27th with snow lying at 1800 ft on the Carneddau and more generally around 2000 ft. On the 28th there was light snow lying at 2000 ft and as low as 2250 ft near Cwm Idwal and elsewhere. With temperature on the summits around -5C there were moderate amounts lying in places over 2500 ft. Precipitation fell most of the day in North Wales and above 800 ft was snow. Moderate amounts accumulated on the mountains and there was some drifting with unstable slopes developing in 'white out' conditions. On the 30th snow was lying as low as 1000 ft in many places with deep snow on some slopes and gullies.

 

I am pleased to receive reports of ice precipitation (hail or snow) anywhere in Wales, or England. Please send me the date (and time), location and depth. A photograph would be very useful and If possible a GPS position or grid reference. Reports and photographs will be acknowledged, thanks for your help. Ice precipitation report.

 

 

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Snowdonia snowline current histogram.