NORTHERN CAIRNGORMS AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS WED 14/2/01 The winds from the SW up to 100 mph were the main weather feature of the day. The wind is stripping exposed plateau ice surface and creating isolated pockets of ice chip slab in various aspect lee locations above 850 metres. Generally the snowpack stability is fair to good. The avalanche hazard is Moderate (Category 2). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK THU 15/2/01 Light rain is forecast overnight to all elevations in the mountains. The short period of rain shall be followed by cooling on Thursday. Winds will ease and shift from the SW to NW. The light amounts of precipitation forecast will not significantly change snowpack stability that has been through a recent melt- freeze cycle. The avalanche hazard will be Moderate (Category 2). CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Scoured and icy in most locations; crampons required on the flat and well tuned ski edges. ICING: Some ice routes in the northern Corries considered reasonable; better than they look from a distance. COMMENT: Some loaded slopes below cornice exits will be worth special attention for route finding decision- making. LOCHABER AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS WED 14/2/01 Dry, settled conditions overnight and during Wednesday have lead to a general stabilisation of the existing snowpack. The avalanche hazard is Low (Category 1). Cornices becoming softer where exposed to the sun. AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK THU 15/2/01 Light rain with strong SW winds overnight will see little change in the existing snowpack. As temperatures fall on Thursday any wet snow will re-freeze and become generally stable. Trace amounts of snow with NW winds on Thursday will start to see isolated shallow deposits of fresh snow form on E and SE aspects. The amounts are not expected to be significant. The avalanche hazard will be Moderate (Category 2). CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Large areas of smooth hard snow above 600m. ICING: Returning cold on Thursday. COMMENT: Any wet snow overnight will become icy and hard by Thursday. Point five, Green Gully, the Curtain and many of the ridges seeing ascents on the Ben today (Wednesday). GLENCOE AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS WED 14/2/01 Dry conditions and colder temperatures have maintained and continued to re-freeze the old snow. The snowpack above 600 metres has a firm icy crust overlying old moist snow: these layers are generally stable. Slopes receiving morning sun developed a thin sun crust in the afternoon. The avalanche hazard is Low (Category 1). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK THU 15/2/01 Isolated snow showers with fresh NW winds will lead to shallow soft slab forming on sheltered aspects above 600 metres. The greatest accumulations will be on NE through to SE slopes and in all sheltered gullies. These new accumulations of soft slab are not expected to be deep or extensive but they will be lying on the icy re-frozen snowpack. Where these conditions exist on steep slopes the new snow will be moderately bonded and the avalanche hazard will increase to Moderate (Category 2). CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Firm snow above 600m. ICING: Icy paths and rocks above 400m. COMMENT: Good conditions exist in most areas. SOUTHERN CAIRNGORMS AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS WED 14/2/01 A fluctuating freezing level with below zero temperatures at 900 metres last night left the surface layers of the snowpack very firm. During the day there has been some softening but the process has been very gradual. The majority of the snowpack is well bonded. Moderately bonded areas are to be found in mainly sheltered locations above 900 metres on NE to SE aspects. The avalanche hazard is Moderate (Category 2). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK THU 15/2/01 After a slightly warmer period overnight there will be a return to cooler conditions. Surface layers will once again become firm and the majority of the snowpack will be well bonded. Some moderately bonded areas will exist in sheltered locations above 900 metres on NE to SE aspects. The avalanche hazard will be Moderate (Category 2). CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Good cover above 750 metres with variable conditions. ICING: Seeing some growth during rapid melt-freeze cycles. COMMENT: Colder conditions forecast for 15/02/01. CREAG MEAGAIDH AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS WED 14/2/01 It has been a dry and clear day with a strong South-West wind. The thaw-freeze cycle is continuing to improve general snowpack stability. However isolated areas of shallow, moderately bonded fresh windslab persist on North through East to South-East aspects above 900 metres. The tops of sheltered steep gullies and lee slopes below cornices are particularly affected. The avalanche hazard is Considerable (Category 3). Elsewhere the snowpack is well bonded and stable. AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK THU 15/2/01 With overnight light rain on a gale force South-West wind, remaining cornices will become saturated and unstable. During the day a cold front on a moderate North-West wind will begin to stabilise the present snowpack again. Isolated areas of moderately bonded windslab will persist on North through East to South-East aspects above 900 metres. Lee slopes below cornices and the tops of sheltered gullies will be affected. The avalanche hazard will be Moderate (Category 2). CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Good cover above 750 metres. ICING: Plenty of ice remaining, thaw freeze cycle improving build up. COMMENT: Ice axe and crampons essential for travel around the tops, as the snow is bulletproof in many areas. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------