NORTHERN CAIRNGORMS AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS SUN 17/2/02 The new snowline this afternoon is about 650 metres with accumulations up to 10 centimetres above 1000 metres. This has fallen in very light Westerly winds with some near freezing rain to the summit and created a very thin, weak surface crust on the surface. Development of new slab has been quite limited. Pockets of the older instability persist on Easterly aspects above 950 metres. The avalanche hazard is Considerable (Category 3). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK MON 18/2/02 New snow and strong Westerly winds are forecast. New slab will form on Easterly aspects above 950 metres. The new slab will have very poor stability due to the weak crust and soft snow layers immediately below. Avalanches are likely due to this combination that has occurred three times this winter. The avalanche hazard will be Considerable (Category 3). CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Definite gain for the plateau, let's wait and see what the wind does. ICING: Some gain due to cooling, a little loss due to use. COMMENT: Approach E aspects terrain with caution and the usual tests; ice axe and ski pole baskets will help identify the slab. LOCHABER AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS SUN 17/2/02 Shallow surface instabilities are present, mainly on steep N, NE and E aspects above 1000m. Below 1000m, the snowpack is wet and generally stable. The avalanche hazard is Moderate (Category 2). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK MON 18/2/02 Show showers overnight will be replaced by more persistent snow above 600m during Monday. This will be accompanied by a strong Westerly airflow. Fresh accumulations of unstable windslab will form in sheltered locations. Greatest accumulations will be on NE, E and SE facing slopes and gullies. Avalanches will occur in these locations during Monday. The avalanche hazard will increase to High (Category 4). Cornices will reform and be unstable. CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Good cover remains above 800m. Fresh snow expected down to 300m on Monday. ICING: Widespread snow-ice forming on windward slopes. COMMENT: Avalanche hazard increasing through-out the forecast period. GLENCOE AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS SUN 17/2/02 Colder conditions are re-freezing the surface of the old snowpack at higher levels. A light cover of new snow exists above 950m with some shallow windblown deposits forming around the tops of sheltered gullies and on sheltered North to East slopes. The avalanche hazard is Moderate (Category 2) where fresh accumulations of windslab exist: elsewhere the snowpack is generally stable. AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK MON 18/2/02 Colder conditions for the period will give snow overnight and heavier snow on Monday. The existing snowpack will develop an icy surface crust at all levels. Strong winds from the West will form areas of deep windslab in sheltered locations mainly above 850m. These accumulations will be weakly bonded to the underlying old snow. Greatest deposits will form on slopes with a North-East to South East aspect and in all gullies sheltered from the strong winds. Avalanches are likely. The avalanche hazard will be Considerable (Category 3) CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Snow above 800m ICING: Ice reforming at higher levels only. COMMENT: Climbing conditions will improve with colder conditions. Fresh windslab and cornices will require caution SOUTHERN CAIRNGORMS AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS SUN 17/2/02 Mild temperatures overnight led to period of instability with debris noted on a NE aspect. The freezing level is dropping but has not yet refrozen the snowpack. Any snow showers were insignificant. On steeper slopes localised moderately to weakly bonded areas can still be found on NE to SE aspects above 950 metres. The avalanche hazard is Considerable (Category 3). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK MON 18/2/02 Little will change with the cooler conditions continuing to improve general snowpack stability. Any new snowfall will be light but existing pockets of moderately to weakly bonded snow will remain on NE to SE aspects above 950 metres. The avalanche hazard will be Considerable (Category 3). CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Thinner lower areas stripped last night but still good above 900 metres. ICING: Subject to thaw COMMENT: Likely to be windy again. CREAG MEAGAIDH AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS SUN 17/2/02 Winds have swung from South-West to North-West accompanied by snow showers. Isolated pockets of unstable windslab have formed in the most sheltered of hollows on North through East to South-East aspects above 800 metres. Drifting has been fairly constant throughout the day but these areas of windslab are confined to easier angled hollows and are generally avoidable. Although these areas are localised they trigger very easily when stood on. The avalanche hazard is Moderate (Category 2). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK MON 18/2/02 Further light snow showers and drifting of existing snow on a strengthening Westerly wind will continue to load windslab on to North through East to South-East aspects above 800 metres. Temperatures will remain cold so there will be little if any settlement of these fresh deposits. Furthermore windslab will become increasingly widespread on more open slopes and deposits will deepen. Windslab will be increasingly difficult to avoid on affected aspects and will remain very fragile. The avalanche hazard will be Considerable (Category 3). Avalanches are likely. CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Main cover above 800 metres. Easier gullies are complete. ICING: Poor. There's thin ice on many routes but is generally thin, melting at lower altitudes and covered in soft snow. COMMENT: There are large cornices above many North to East aspects. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------