NORTHERN CAIRNGORMS AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS FRI 22/2/02 The thaw to above the summit went through late yesterday afternoon followed by rapid cooling, heavy snow and continued strong Westerly winds. Avalanche debris was noted in Coire Laogh Mor with the fracture line on North and East aspects. The snowpack still gives very easy shears where tested. There are lee loaded slopes including nearly all aspects, some with up to 50 centimetres of foot penetration. Extensive areas of Coire an t-Sneachda are scoured. The avalanche hazard is High (Category 4). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK SAT 23/2/02 Additional snow will add to the load and continue to give easy shears on test slopes. Avalanches will occur due to this storm instability that has not had a chance to settle out particularly while the temperatures remain cold. Nearly all aspects have this slab instability particularly East, North and South above 900 metres. The avalanche hazard will be High (Category 4). CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: In the extremely strong winds it appears that snow loading is quite contrary to 'rule of thumb'. ICING: Each corrie has its own different characteristics. COMMENT: Don't let the avalanche tiger sneak up from a contrary aspect. LOCHABER AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS FRI 22/2/02 Following a thaw at all levels yesterday, the freezing level has lowered again and snow showers have been accompanied by gale force Westerly winds. The pre-existing snowpack has re- frozen and become stable at all levels. Localised fresh deposits are confined to the tops of NE, E and SE aspects where the avalanche hazard is Moderate (Category 2). Elsewhere the snowpack is stable. AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK SAT 23/2/02 A cold, showery NW airflow is expected to dominate the weather over the next 24 hours. Localised areas of windslab will continue to form in sheltered locations. Greatest accumulations will be on sheltered E, SE and S aspects. The avalanche hazard will be Considerable (Category 3). All wind blown slopes will be hard frozen and stable. CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Good cover still remains above 800m, windward slopes are hard frozen. ICING: Remaining cold. COMMENT: Winds easing on Saturday. GLENCOE AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS FRI 22/2/02 Thaw conditions with heavy rain at all levels last night saturated the snowpack. A return to much colder conditions to-day has started to re-freeze the old snow and has given a light cover of new snow at most levels. Westerly gales are transporting the new snow forming areas of windslab in areas sheltered from the wind. The most significant of these deposits are around the tops of sheltered gullies and on slopes with a North-West through to South- East aspect mainly above 850m. The avalanche hazard is Moderate (Category 2) AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK SAT 23/2/02 Remaining cold for the period will greatly improve climbing conditions. New snow at most levels will fall as showers with the possibility of more prolonged snow on Friday night. Strong North-Westerly winds will re-distribute snow forming windslab on North-East through to South aspects and in sheltered areas such as gullies. With temperatures remaining cold bonding to the older snow ice will be poor. Triggering will be possible with low additional loads in areas where deeper accumulations form making avalanches likely. In these areas the avalanche hazard will be Considerable (Category 3) elsewhere the snowpack will be firm and icy. CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: New snow above 100m. ICING: Old snow becoming icy. COMMENT: Climbing conditions improving SOUTHERN CAIRNGORMS AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS FRI 22/2/02 An overnight thaw was quickly followed by windy and snowy conditions. With snow falling on storm force winds there was rapid build up of weakly bonded soft slab in sheltered locations on NE through to SE aspects above 700 metres. Above 800 metres some locations have up to a metre of new snow on steeper slopes. The avalanche hazard is High (Category 4). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK SAT 23/2/02 Strong winds will continue with further snow showers: some of these may be prolonged. Loading of weakly bonded windslab will continue in sheltered locations on NE to S aspects above 800 metres. The avalanche hazard will be High (Category 4) and avalanches will occur. Cornices will be suspect. Exposed areas remain icy. CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Touring possible from higher roads but mountain conditions will be difficult. ICING:Poor observation conditions: last night's freezing level was well above the tops. COMMENT: Blizzard conditions at times. CREAG MEAGAIDH AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS FRI 22/2/02 Overnight heavy rain at all levels has caused wet snow instabilities on North-East and East aspects with debris run outs long. However heavy snow showers and significant drifting on variable West and North-West storm force winds are rapidly building widespread weak deposits of fresh windslab. North through East to South aspects above 850 metres are affected. Gully exits, lee slopes below cornices and hollows are particularly affected with deepest deposits and loose snow avalanches were observed from the Post Face. The avalanche hazard is High (Category 4): triggering of fresh deposits is possible with low additional loads. AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK SAT 23/2/02 Snowfall will continue throughout the forecast period on a severe gale force North-Westerly airstream. Significant drifting will continue of unconsolidated snow and deep areas of weakly bonded windslab will continue to form. North through East to South aspects above 850 metres will be affected. The avalanche hazard will be High (Category 4) and avalanches will occur. Triggering of fresh slab with low additional loads will be probable particularly on steep slopes. CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Fresh snow at all levels, sparse on Westerly aspects. ICING: Difficult to observe in storm conditions. COMMENT: Large cornices building and still present on North and East aspects. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------