NORTHERN CAIRNGORMS AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS FRI 15/2/02 It was a bright day with light Westerly winds and temperatures at the summit staying well below freezing. There is still some wind transport of snow that is loading mainly Easterly aspects above 900 metres. The easy shear persists from 15 to 25 centimetres down. The cool temperatures above 1000 metres are preserving the instability and giving little opportunity for the buried fragments of new snow to settle out. The avalanche hazard is Considerable (Category 3). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK SAT 16/2/02 The weather is forecast to remain fairly dry with stronger Westerly winds and temperatures going above freezing at the summit. The persistent instability will remain and the largest unstable slabs will be on Easterly aspects above 950 metres. Pockets of the same instability will be found on nearly all other aspects above the same elevation. The avalanche hazard will be Considerable (Category 3). CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Challenging skiable? crust on the plateau, very pleasant skinning around conditions. ICING: Fair conditions overall. COMMENT: There is a textbook demonstration snowpack in the top 20 centimetres. Beware the loaded slopes. LOCHABER AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS FRI 15/2/02 A brief thaw-freeze cycle last night has further consolidated the snowpack at all levels. Light snow showers early morning have not produced any significant new snow accumulations. Snowpack stability is generally good. The avalanche hazard is Low (Category 1). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK SAT 16/2/02 Rain at all levels is expected overnight and during Saturday. Localised surface instabilities will develop, mainly on steep N, NE and E aspects above 1000m. Stability in other locations will remain good. The avalanche hazard will be Moderate (Category 2). Increasing hazard of cornice collapse in the thaw conditions. CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Good cover above 800m. ICING: Freezing level expected to rise above the summits. COMMENT: Strong winds expected. GLENCOE AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS FRI 15/2/02 During Thursday night some new snow arrived on strong SW winds above 850m. The greatest accumulation of new snow has form in gullies and sheltered locations above 940m with a NE aspect. The area has been affected by milder conditions today leading to some wet snow instabilities on steep slopes. The avalanche hazard in these locations is Moderate (Category 2). Some cornices are becoming unstable. AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK SAT 16/2/02 Mild conditions with strong South-Westerly winds and light rain at most levels. Below 1000m the snowpack will start to thaw. Wet snow instabilities will exist on steep slopes but especially on NE aspects where deeper accumulations exist. Cornices will unstable. Where weakly bonded wet snow exists on steep slopes the avalanche hazard will be Considerable (Category 3). Above 1000m the snowpack will be less susceptible to the general thaw conditions but will require caution. CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Snow above 800m ICING: Ice has started to thaw but is still present above 800m. COMMENT: Climbing conditions are generally good above 950m but will may start to deteriorate. SOUTHERN CAIRNGORMS AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS FRI 15/2/02 Redistributed deposits are to be found in sheltered locations on mainly NE to SE aspects above 900 metres. The windslab is moderately to weakly bonded and deposits are substantial. The avalanche hazard is Considerable (Category 3). Exposed slopes are scoured. AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK SAT 16/2/02 It will become very mild overnight with the freezing level rising well above the summits. Areas of windslab will become increasingly unstable and avalanches will occur. Areas that are most likely to present the greatest hazard are steeper sheltered locations on NE to SE aspects above 900 metres. Cornice collapse may also provide the trigger for avalanche activity. The avalanche hazard will be High (Category 4). CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Good above 900 metres. ICING: Better in the high N to E facing corries. COMMENT: Freezing level at 2000 metres on 16/02/02. CREAG MEAGAIDH AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS FRI 15/2/02 Snow drifted for a time overnight on a strong Westerly wind. Shallow windslab accumulated on North through East to South- East aspects above 900 metres. A gentle thaw followed at all levels allowing fresh windslab to bed down. The snowpack now consists of moderately well bonded hard slab with a thin soft crust at the surface. Surface snow is still fragile but fortunately too shallow to create a hazard. Also, high loading can still create a shear on a subsurface ice layer at around 45 cm. The avalanche hazard is Moderate (Category 2). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK SAT 16/2/02 Continuing mild conditions with the freezing level above the summits will mean little change to the current snow conditions. Moderately well bonded hard slab will persist on North through East to South-East aspects above 850 metres. Other aspects are wind scoured and stable. Due to the mild temperatures there will still be a risk of cornice collapse with many North to East aspects overhung by large cornices. The avalanche hazard will be Moderate (Category 2). CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Main cover above 800 metres. ICING: Poor. Melting at all levels. COMMENT: The ice should improve when it freezes again. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------