NORTHERN CAIRNGORMS AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS SUN 25/2/01 There have been significant new snow accumulations in the past 24 hours. This has produced areas with up to 40 centimetres of foot penetration in lee locations, mostly East and South aspects above 750 metres. There are large amounts of graupel in the recent snow. The soft slab shears very easily in field tests on a 40 degree slope and cornice broke easily by ski test. The avalanche hazard is Considerable (Category 3). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK MON 26/2/01 Heavy snow is forecast to the valley floor with more snow at higher elevations. A slight shift in wind direction to NE will add to the variety of aspects with storm slab instability. Large N aspect terrain will remain scoured but avalanches will occur on many smaller features on scarp slopes and gully exits above 750 metres. The avalanche hazard will be High (Category 4). CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Plateau cover is improved with alternating scoured snow surface and icy patches. ICING: Snow on limited ice; some ice bulges banked out. COMMENT: Slab instability is more widespread. LOCHABER AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS SUN 25/2/01 W to NW winds overnight have distributed fresh snow, forming significant areas of weakly bonded soft slab. Greatest accumulations are present on sheltered NE to SE through to S aspects above 800 metres. Steep scarp slopes and gullies are particularly affected. The avalanche hazard is Considerable (Category 3). Soft and unstable cornices are present. AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK MON 26/2/01 A strong E to NE airflow with heavy snow is expected for the next 24 hours. Areas of weakly bonded windslab will be present on SE to S through to W aspects above 700 metres. Greatest accumulations will be on steep slopes, gullies and corrie headwalls. Other sheltered locations of other aspects will be affected. Avalanches will occur. The avalanche hazard will be High (Category 4). Wind blown slopes will be hard frozen and generally stable. CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Snow expected at all levels over the next 24 hrs. ICING: Remaining cold. COMMENT: Popular areas such as the Red Burn on Ben Nevis and the West side of Aonach Mor, will require caution on Monday. GLENCOE AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS SUN 25/2/01 Localised areas of layered soft windslab exist in sheltered locations. Hollows and gullies on North through to South-East aspects above 750 metres contain deep accumulations of weakly bonded soft slab. Some of the bonds between these layers are very weak particularly where graupel exists. The avalanche hazard is Considerable (Category 3). On many exposed slopes the snowpack remains stable and icy. AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK MON 26/2/01 A cold North-Easterly airflow with heavy snow showers at all levels will affect the area during Sunday night and for most of Monday. These showers coupled with the strong NE winds will deposit large accumulations of windslab on to sheltered slopes These will lie on an icy surface. The greatest accumulation of new snow will be on SW through to NW facing slopes and all sheltered gullies. However slopes with North-East through to South aspect will still have areas of deep soft slab which will remain weakly bonded on steep slopes. The avalanche hazard will be High (Category 4) and avalanches will occur. CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: New snow at all levels. ICING: Ice forming above 200m. COMMENT: Soft windslab will exist on many slope aspects. Ridges and buttresses are the safest option. SOUTHERN CAIRNGORMS AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS SUN 25/2/01 Areas of windslab exist in sheltered locations from valley level. Deeper areas of windslab are to be found on E through to SW aspects above 700 metres. Stability is poor with avalanche debris noted on an E aspect. The avalanche hazard is Considerable (Category 3). New cornices remain unstable. AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK MON 26/2/01 There will be high amounts of snow overnight and during the day. The snowpack will be weakly bonded on E through to W aspects with the deepest areas on SE to SW aspects. The avalanche hazard will be High (Category 4) and avalanches will occur. Cornices will continue to be a hazard. CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Deep drifts from valley level. ICING: Has shown improvement at Coire Etchachan. COMMENT: High amounts of snow will make mountain conditions difficult. CREAG MEAGAIDH AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS SUN 25/2/01 Although there has been little fresh snow since yesterday, continuing cold conditions have maintained the instabilities within the snowpack. Deep accumulations of unstable windslab persist on sheltered lee slopes of a North-East through East to South-East aspect above 800 metres. Observers on a South-East aspect easily triggered a small avalanche over a metre deep. The avalanche hazard is Considerable (Category 3). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK MON 26/2/01 Heavy snow on a strong East becoming North-East wind will cause severe drifting on to lee slopes of a South-West through West to North-West aspect above 800 metres. Deep accumulations of highly unstable windslab will form. The snowpack on windward slopes will become scoured at the surface but instabilities may still persist in more sheltered and deeper deposits due to the continuing cold conditions. The avalanche hazard will be High (Category 4) and avalanches will occur. CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Snow at all levels. Good ski touring above 600 metres. ICING: Remains good. COMMENT: Poor mountain conditions expected. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------