AN AMAZING 73 patches of snow have survived on Scotland’s remote hills from last winter.
Scottish photographer and author Iain Cameron, who took this breathtaking photo of a snow tunnel, measured the patches and wrote about them for the Royal Meteorological Society, which published his data and images.
This year’s total is the most recorded since 1994, and the reasons for the snow surviving is because of the cool spring and frequent snow showers until June.
Cameron said snow had lingered in areas where the phenomenon was unusual. He added: “This includes, also for the first time since 1994, mountains in the north west Highlands, where 12 patches survived.
“The reason so many patches survived is undoubtedly to do with the very cool spring, which saw frequent and heavy snow showers right through May and even into June; also because of the cool and overcast summer months. For example, the summit of Aonach Mor – 4,006ft – recorded only four days where the temperature exceeded 10C.”
Why are you making commenting on The National only available to subscribers?
We know there are thousands of National readers who want to debate, argue and go back and forth in the comments section of our stories. We’ve got the most informed readers in Scotland, asking each other the big questions about the future of our country.
Unfortunately, though, these important debates are being spoiled by a vocal minority of trolls who aren’t really interested in the issues, try to derail the conversations, register under fake names, and post vile abuse.
So that’s why we’ve decided to make the ability to comment only available to our paying subscribers. That way, all the trolls who post abuse on our website will have to pay if they want to join the debate – and risk a permanent ban from the account that they subscribe with.
The conversation will go back to what it should be about – people who care passionately about the issues, but disagree constructively on what we should do about them. Let’s get that debate started!
Callum Baird, Editor of The National
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here