health
March 8, 2026
The Scottish avalanche forecasters
Photographer Murdo MacLeod patrols the snow with members of the Scottish Avalanche Information Service, which has for several decades published a vital daily avalanche forecast for mountain areas
TL;DR
- Over 200 avalanches recorded in Scotland this winter, a sharp rise from the previous year's record low.
- No confirmed avalanche deaths in Scotland this season, but one person is missing on Ben Nevis.
- Tragic avalanche fatalities have occurred recently in the Alps and the US.
- The Scottish Avalanche Information Service (SAIS) has provided daily forecasts for six mountain areas since 1988.
- SAIS employs 19 experienced mountaineer forecasters who assess snow conditions daily.
- Forecasters analyze snowpack layers to identify weak points that could lead to avalanches.
- Approximately 90% of avalanche victims trigger their own avalanches.
- Weak layers can be formed by frost, fresh snowfall, or windblown slabs.
- Wind slab avalanches can be remotely triggered and are often difficult to see.
- Survival rates for buried avalanche victims drop significantly after the first 15 minutes.
- SAIS is looking to become more reactive to conditions and improve communication methods.
- Scotland's unique environmental conditions make it a particularly challenging and interesting place for avalanche forecasting.
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