Weather for Hillwalkers
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Weather for Hillwalkers - Malcolm Thomas
Bradbury
PREFACE
There are a number of books available on the subject of weather, but these tend to be allied to interests and hobbies such as sailing and gardening. This book sets out to explain weather at a basic level and then to apply this knowledge to the mountain environment, with particular reference to the hills and mountains of the British Isles.
The term weather describes the combination of a number of separate elements: wind, visibility, cloud, precipitation, temperature and so on. In this book each of the elements is looked at individually, and then the effects caused by hills and mountains are discussed and explained. In some cases there is a comfort factor: walking in persistent and heavy rain can be thoroughly uncomfortable and is a case in point. In other cases there is also a definite safety factor: strong winds over an exposed ridge, cloud lowering on to the hills reducing visibility, snowstorms and lightning are all potential hazards.
There can be very few people who have not seen a shower approaching, taken waterproofs from a rucksack and avoided a soaking. This is a simple example of using observation to forecast the weather in the short term, perhaps only five or ten minutes ahead. With a greater understanding, there are other signs that can be used to forecast the weather, on some occasions several hours ahead.
As we all know, professional forecasts are not always completely accurate and it is unlikely that they ever will be. However, a knowledge of weather can help in the interpretation of weather forecasts. For example, observation and understanding may indicate that the conditions will deteriorate earlier than the forecast suggested, or perhaps that precipitation is more likely to fall as snow than rain.
This book is suitable for anyone with an interest in hillwalking and climbing, and especially for students preparing for the Mountain Leader Award.
Malcolm Thomas
INTRODUCTION
There is something about the human instinct that will naturally take people up rather than down. When setting out for a walk in fine weather, either alone or with a group, there is a natural tendency to head towards the hills. Perhaps climbing upwards has something to do with lifting the spirit. Certainly the views are far more rewarding at the top of a mountain than at the bottom of a valley.
With increased leisure time, more people have had the satisfaction of hillwalking and climbing, and in turn have passed the interest on to a younger generation. Part of the pleasure of a day spent in the open air is observing the surroundings, whether it is watching a soaring bird of prey, noting the geology of a particular rock formation or perhaps taking note of the flora and fauna. There is always something to catch the eye.
The one factor that no one can fail to notice is the weather. It may be a point of interest, such as an unusual cloud formation, or it could be something that affects comfort and perhaps safety. A day that started fine and then clouded over with heavy rain can be thoroughly miserable. Add strong winds and a lowering cloud base covering the hills, and the situation is then not only miserable but potentially dangerous as well.
The weather in the British Isles may not be as severe as in other parts of the world but there are occasions when it is barely survivable even for the best-equipped group. A mean windspeed of 95 knots gusting to 147 knots (nearly 170mph), has been recorded in the winter at the top of the Cairngorms, with the temperature 3˚Celsius below