LOCHABER AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS WED 20/2/02 Another brief thaw-freeze cycle last night has been followed by snow showers and strong Westerly winds today. Much of the pre-existing snowpack has consolidated. Fresh large areas of soft unstable windslab have formed on sheltered slopes. Greatest accumulations are on NE, E and SE facing slopes and gullies above 800m. There are various weaknesses present with-in this soft windslab. The avalanche hazard is Considerable (Category 3). Fresh soft cornices are also building above these aspects. AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK THU 21/2/02 Further snow overnight will be followed by rain at all levels and strong South Westerly winds during Thursday morning. With the arrival of the mild conditions, the snowpack will become increasingly unstable. Avalanches will occur, notably on steep N, NE, E and SE facing slopes and gullies above 800m. The avalanche hazard will be High (Category 4). Cornices will become unstable and prone to collapse. CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Good cover remains above 700m. ICING: Freezing level rising above the summits on Thursday morning. COMMENT: Strong winds expected again. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- NORTHERN CAIRNGORMS AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS WED 20/2/02 A period of snow on strong Southerly winds late on Tuesday loaded all Northerly aspects and two avalanches were triggered on a North aspect at 1100 metres late in the day. A flash thaw to summit level overnight was followed by a return to freezing temperatures early on Wednesday morning. This created a thin melt-freeze crust which has been buried on Southerly aspects by further snowfall on moderate North-West to North-East winds. Easy shears in several slab layers were noted on a South-East aspect at 1100 metres. The avalanche hazard is High (Category 4). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK THU 21/2/02 Overnight snow on moderate Westerly winds at most levels will add to unstable accumulations, particularly on East-facing slopes. Snow is forecast to turn to rain at all levels by mid- morning. This will trigger existing instabilities on all aspects above 800 metres and avalanches will occur with the possibility of long run-out. Cornices will be liable to collapse. The avalanche hazard will be High (Category 4). CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Improved above 700m. ICING: Better ice in N. Corries, patchy elsewhere. COMMENT: Unstable on most aspects, even without forecasted thaw. LOCHABER AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS WED 20/2/02 Another brief thaw-freeze cycle last night has been followed by snow showers and strong Westerly winds today. Much of the pre-existing snowpack has consolidated. Fresh large areas of soft unstable windslab have formed on sheltered slopes. Greatest accumulations are on NE, E and SE facing slopes and gullies above 800m. There are various weaknesses present with-in this soft windslab. The avalanche hazard is Considerable (Category 3). Fresh soft cornices are also building above these aspects. AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK THU 21/2/02 Further snow overnight will be followed by rain at all levels and strong South Westerly winds during Thursday morning. With the arrival of the mild conditions, the snowpack will become increasingly unstable. Avalanches will occur, notably on steep N, NE, E and SE facing slopes and gullies above 800m. The avalanche hazard will be High (Category 4). Cornices will become unstable and prone to collapse. CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Good cover remains above 700m. ICING: Freezing level rising above the summits on Thursday morning. COMMENT: Strong winds expected again. GLENCOE AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS WED 20/2/02 Heavy falls of new snow and very strong South-West winds overnight formed deep and extensive accumulations of unstable windslab in sheltered gullies and on slopes with a North to South-East aspect. Strong variable winds today have redistributed snow to many sheltered locations forming fresh unstable windslab. The avalanche hazard is High (Category 4) Avalanche debris noted below East slopes at 900m. AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK THU 21/2/02 Westerly winds with snow overnight will add further layers of windslab to existing accumulations in all sheltered gullies and on slopes with a North to South-East aspect mainly above 800m. Milder conditions with light rain on Thursday will moisten the snowpack. This additional loading will weaken deep accumulations of windslab where they lie on steep slopes and gullies of many aspects mainly above 800m. The avalanche hazard will be High (Category 4) where deep windslab exists. Avalanches will occur and cornices may collapse. CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: New snow above 400m ICING: Ice above 700m Snow ice on windward slopes. COMMENT: Mild wet and windy on Thursday SOUTHERN CAIRNGORMS AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS WED 20/2/02 Variable strong winds and snow showers continue to add significant deposits to an already weakly bonded snowpack. Windslab can be found in sheltered locations on NE through to S aspects from 800 metres but on E and SE aspects above 900 metres stability in deeper deposits is still very poor. The avalanche hazard is High (Category 4). Exposed snow-ice is very icy. AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK THU 21/2/02 There will be overnight snowfall leaving new accumulations on most aspects before windy and mild conditions return from the SW early in the day. With the freezing level above the tops and some rain the snowpack on NE through to S aspects will become increasingly unstable and avalanches will occur. The avalanche hazard will be High (Category 4). Cornices will be prone to collapse. CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Light cover down to valley level but will be subject to thaw. ICING: With brief thaw there may be some potential. COMMENT: Winds expected to be around 60 mph. CREAG MEAGAIDH AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS WED 20/2/02 Fresh heavy snowfall at all levels has continued overnight on a strong North-Westerly wind. Significant drifting has occurred and deep deposits of weakly bonded windslab are present on North through East to South aspects above 800 metres. The avalanche hazard is High (Category 4). Recent natural loose snow avalanche debris was noted on South-East and East aspects, run outs are long. Field tests showed several weak sub- surface layers at 45 and 72cms and triggering remains possible with low additional loads. AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK THU 21/2/02 Deep deposits of weakly bonded windslab will be present on all aspects above 800 metres as snow fall and drifting on gale force variable winds continue. Freezing levels are due to rise above summits and snow turn to rain by morning. A period of high instability will continue in milder air as snowpack becomes moist. The avalanche hazard will be High (Category 4) and avalanches will occur on most steep aspects, run outs will be long. Large cornices will also be prone to collapse. CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Fresh snow at all levels. ICING: Mostly buried. COMMENT: Large unstable cornices above most North and East aspects. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------