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In pictures: Scotland's avalanche season

SAIS Glencoe Stob Dearg, Buachaille Etive MorSAIS Glencoe
Cloud and snow capped Stob Dearg, Buachaille Etive Mor, in sunshine in a picture from SAIS Glencoe.

The Scottish Avalanche Information Service (SAIS) is about a month into its latest season.

SAIS provides hazard forecasts for six mountain areas - Lochaber, Glen Coe, Creag Meagaidh, Torridon and Northern and Southern Cairngorms.

Mountaineers and snow sports enthusiasts use the forecasts to help plan their trips into the hills.

The service runs from mid December to around mid April.

SAIS Creag Meagaidh Avalanche debrisSAIS Creag Meagaidh
Avalanche debris at Creag Meagaidh.
SAIS Southern Cairngorms Southern CairngormsSAIS Southern Cairngorms
Recent storms and cold weather have brought snow to Scotland's highest mountains, including in the Southern Cairngorms.
SAIS Northern Cairngorms Mist at the summit of Cairn GormSAIS Northern Cairngorms
Mist at the summit of Cairn Gorm in the Northern Cairngorms.

Over the last 13 seasons, the highest number of avalanches recorded by SAIS was 350 in 2013-14 while the lowest was 90 in 2016-17.

Last season more than 150 avalanches were recorded and there have been 20 so far in the latest one.

SAIS Lochaber North-east Buttress, Ben NevisSAIS Lochaber
The North-east Buttress of Ben Nevis in an image by SAIS Lochaber.
SAIS Lochaber Ben NevisSAIS Lochaber
Strong winds blow waterfalls back up a cliff on Ben Nevis.
SAIS Southern Cairngorms RAF rescue team training in the Southern CairngormsSAIS Southern Cairngorms
RAF rescue team training in the Southern Cairngorms.
SAIS Torridon TorridonSAIS Torridon
Looking from Beinn Liath Mhor Fannaich to Carn na Criche and Meall a’ Chrasgaidh and An Teallach in the background in a picture from SAIS Torridon.
SAIS Creag Meagaidh Reflection of the crags of Coire ArdairSAIS Creag Meagaidh
The crags of Coire Ardair reflected in a loch in a picture by SAIS Creag Meagaidh.
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