NORTHERN CAIRNGORMS AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS SAT 16/2/02 There was a slight easing of the Westerly winds during the day but maximum recorded was over 90 mph. Temperatures hovered around the freezing mark at the summit. The winds have managed to erode the areas of instability to a certain extent but pockets still exist on Easterly aspects above 900 metres. The avalanche hazard is Considerable (Category 3). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK SUN 17/2/02 A cooling trend will prevail in the forecast period with possibility of some snow and winds going from South-West to North-West. The wind change will alter the snow transport pattern. In addition to the instability on East aspects new slab will form on North-East and South-East aspects above 900 metres. Avalanches are likely at these locations and the avalanche hazard will be Considerable (Category 3). CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Scouring from Westerly wind has produced a mostly crust-like surface on the plateau. ICING: Being well used in Coire an t-Sneachda today. COMMENT: "Still feels spooky in places" said a well known local mountain guide. LOCHABER AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS SAT 16/2/02 It was a warm and wet day with rain at all levels. Wet snow surface instabilities are present on many steep slopes and gullies above 1000m. The avalanche hazard is Moderate (Category 2). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK SUN 17/2/02 Snow showers above 900m and strong SW winds are expected overnight, clearing to a moderate NW airflow during Sunday. The existing snowpack will re-freeze at all levels and become stable. Fresh areas of unstable windslab will form in areas sheltered from the SW winds. Main accumulations will be at the tops of N, NE and E aspects above 1000m. Where this fresh snow forms in sufficient depth, it will exhibit poor stability. The avalanche hazard will be Considerable (Category 3). On windblown slopes, large areas of snow-ice will form. CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Wet snow at all levels (Saturday). ICING: Freezing level lowering to around 900m during Saturday evening. COMMENT: Large areas of snow-ice forming as the freezing level drops. Winds easing on Sunday. GLENCOE AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS SAT 16/2/02 Mild conditions with strong South-Westerly winds and rain at all levels have saturated the snowpack. This has caused wet snow instabilities on most steep slopes. The greatest hazard is around the top of gullies and on the scarp slope beneath cornices the avalanche hazard in these locations is Considerable (Category 3). Cornices are unstable. AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK SUN 17/2/02 The snowpack will remain wet for the first part of Saturday night and early Sunday morning. The avalanche hazard will be similar to the report above. However with the passing cold front fresh NW winds and snow showers above 800m could also develop during that period these are not expected to be significant. The rain and snow showers will clear during Sunday morning with some colder conditions to the area. The old snowpack will start to consolidate as the temperatures lower during the day. Any deep accumulations of new snow will be weakly bonded. These are likely on steep NE through to SE facing slopes: the avalanche hazard will be Moderate (Category 2). CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Snow above 800m ICING: Thawing ice should start to refreeze above 800m. COMMENT: Climbing conditions will improve with some new snow along with the cold spell. SOUTHERN CAIRNGORMS AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS SAT 16/2/02 A brief melt freeze cycle led to an active period overnight. Crown walls were noted at the foot of Parallel A and the Tough- Brown face at Lochnagar. Snowpack stability has improved but localised moderately to weakly bonded areas are still to be found on NE to SE aspects above 950 metres. The avalanche hazard is Considerable (Category 3). Exposed slopes are scoured and icy. Cornices remain large in some locations. AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK SUN 17/2/02 Overnight will see new deposits developing in sheltered locations on a refrozen snowpack. A change in direction will see further snow showers from the NW add to already unstable areas. Greatest hazard will remain on NE to SE aspects above 900 metres with avalanches likely on steeper slopes. The avalanche hazard will be Considerable (Category 3). CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Good above 900 metres. ICING: Lots of thin ice peeling of buttresses today. COMMENT: The few routes being climbed included Shadow A + B, Polyphemus, Tough Guy, Pinnacle Buttress and West Gully. CREAG MEAGAIDH AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS SAT 16/2/02 A mild South-Westerly airflow has covered the region with a gentle thaw at all levels. The snowpack has settled down and is retreating slowly. Open slopes are generally well bonded, butin sheltered hollows where soft snow is deepest, high loading can still produce a shear. Snow is also sluffing from underlying smooth rocks or grass. Largest areas of the snowpack remain on North-West through North-East to South-East aspects above 800 metres. The avalanche hazard is Moderate (Category 2). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK SUN 17/2/02 After a colder night the underlying, remaining snowpack will become well bonded and stable on all aspects. However snow showers on a strong South-West becoming North-West wind will cause fresh but shallow windslab deposits to form at the very tops of sheltered gullies on North through East to South- East aspects above 800 metres. These areas will be localised and easily avoidable. The avalanche hazard will be Moderate (Category 2). CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Main cover above 800 metres. Easier gullies are complete. ICING: +3 at 1000 metres today (16.2.02) so it remains poor. COMMENT: There are large cornices above many North to East aspects. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------