NORTHERN CAIRNGORMS AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS WED 13/2/02 Heavy overnight snow showers were followed by further showers during the day on moderate mainly Northerly winds. Some new accumulation has taken place on all aspects above 900 metres, but particularly on South-East to South-West facing slopes above 1000 metres. These new deposits are of loose snow and sluffs were easily triggered on a South-East facing test site at 1100 metres. aspects. The avalanche hazard is Considerable (Category 3). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK THU 14/2/02 A dry and clear start to the day will see temperatures rise above zero on the summits and winds will increase from the South-West. This will lead to instability of recent loose snow deposits and avalanches are likely on slopes of all aspects above 900 metres. As there is still a deep-seated weakness in slab layers on mainly North through East to South aspects, this may act as the failure plane for slab avalanches. The avalanche hazard will be Considerable (Category 3). CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: New snow above 700m. ICING: Climbs improving with some good ice reported. COMMENT: Another front approaching late p.m. LOCHABER AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS WED 13/2/02 Below 1100m the snowpack is generally well bonded. Above 1100m, areas of poorly bonded soft surface slab are present. In many areas this surface slab is shallow, but more significant accumulations are present on some N, NE, E and SE aspects, although distribution is variable. The avalanche hazard is Considerable (Category 3). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK THU 14/2/02 Cold and dry conditions are expected overnight and early on Thursday. During the afternoon, warmer temperatures, strong SW winds and snow showers are expected. Below 1100m, snowpack stability will remain generally good. Above 1100m, localised surface instabilities will remain on N through to SE aspects. The strengthening SW winds will further load sheltered N, NE and E aspects with unstable snow during the afternoon. The avalanche hazard will be Considerable (Category 3). CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Good cover above 800m. ICING: Freezing level rising above the summits during Thursday. COMMENT: Wind strength increasing during Thursday. GLENCOE AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS WED 13/2/02 A trace of new snow exists above 750m: these new accumulations are not significant. The colder airflow along with lower temperatures has refrozen the old moist snowpack. The snowpack is now generally well bonded and stable conditions exist at all levels. The avalanche hazard is Low (Category 1). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK THU 14/2/02 The cold dry conditions will continue to affect the area for most of the day with light variable winds. The stability of the snowpack will remain good as a melt-freeze crust continues to form in the lower temperatures. Strong SW winds can be expected during the latter part of Thursday afternoon with a rise in temperature. Some light sleet or snow showers above 900m: these are not expected extensive or significant. The avalanche hazard will remain Low (Category 1). CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Snow above 800m ICING: Ice has started to reform above 750m. COMMENT: Climbing conditions are generally good with old refrozen snow on most routes above 850m. SOUTHERN CAIRNGORMS AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS WED 13/2/02 Deeper areas of mainly soft windslab are to be found in sheltered locations on NE through to S aspects above 900 metres. A few localised pockets of windslab are also to be found elsewhere. Some consolidation has taken place but generally slab remains moderately to weakly bonded. The avalanche hazard is Considerable (Category 3). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK THU 14/2/02 The overnight calm and cooler conditions will give way to strong winds and mild temperatures. Deeper deposits on steeper slopes mainly on NE through S aspects above 900 metres will become increasingly unstable and avalanches will occur. Elsewhere, localised areas of slab will also become unstable. In some locations avalanches will be cornice triggered. The avalanche hazard will be High (Category 4). CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Good cover above 900 metres. ICING: Better in the highest N to E facing corries. COMMENT: Freezing level will be around 1500 metres. CREAG MEAGAIDH AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS WED 13/2/02 Colder conditions have helped to settle the snowpack on many aspects. However, overnight snow showers and drifting on a moderate North-Easterly wind has caused shallow and isolated pockets of windslab to form, predominantly on South-East to South-West aspects above 900 metres. Although fresh windslab is shallow it is very fragile. These areas are isolated and easily avoidable. Moderate (Category 2) avalanche hazard. AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK THU 14/2/02 It will remain calm and clear for most of the period. There will be little change to the snowpack with shallow and isolated pockets of windslab persisting on South-East to South-West aspects above 900 metres. Later in the period a front will push in and winds will increase to severe gale force from the South- West causing drifting and rapid windslab build up on North to East aspects. The avalanche hazard will be Moderate (Category 2), but when winds increase and swing to the South-West the avalanche hazard will increase rapidly. CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Main cover above 800 metres. Good skiing high up. ICING: Generally poor. There's lots of snow on the cliffs but not much ice. COMMENT: Today was the best for weeks! -------------------------------------------------------------------------------