NORTHERN CAIRNGORMS AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS MON 17/2/03 The main features of today's weather were dry conditions and strong winds from the South. This deposited up to half a metre of fresh slab on North aspects above 1000 metres. This slab is generally well bonded but did show clean shears when tested on South-East aspect at 1100 metres. Elsewhere the snow is hard and icy. The avalanche hazard is Moderate (Category 2). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK TUE 18/2/03 The dry and windy weather will continue. A major temperature inversion may lead to summit temperatures rising above freezing. Instabilities will remain in areas of slab above 1000 metres on Northerly aspects, but are only likely to be released under high additional load. There is also some potential for instability on sun-warmed Southerly aspects. The avalanche hazard will be Moderate (Category 2). CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Reducing snowpack above 700 metres. ICING: Some areas of path icing and open-slope ice on the plateau. COMMENT: Sun warming and temperature inversion gives potential for ice and rock fall on E and S aspects. LOCHABER AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS MON 17/2/03 Continuing cold and settled conditions are maintaining the generally stable snowpack. The cold temperatures are continuing to develop hard slab overlying soft weak snow. This slab is generally restricted to steep Northerly aspects above 1000m. The avalanche hazard is Moderate (Category 2). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK TUE 18/2/03 Cold and dry conditions will continue for the next 24 hours. Snowpack stability will remain generally good. A thin layer of weak hard slab will be present on slopes in the shade, mainly steep Northerly aspects above 1000m. The avalanche hazard will be Moderate (Category 2). CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Main accumulations in N and E facing corries above 900m. ICING: Most of the snow surface is hard frozen. COMMENT: Strong winds expected over the summits on Tuesday. GLENCOE AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS MON 17/2/03 With cold settled conditions affecting the area at present the snowpack has developed a widespread melt-freeze surface crust and is generally very stable. Isolated areas of shallow dense windslab exist above 900m with the greatest accumulations being around the tops of sheltered gullies and slopes with a North-West to North-East aspect. These areas are generally well bonded but deeper areas require some caution. The avalanche hazard is Low (Category 1). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK TUE 18/2/03 No new snow is expected but strong to gale force South- Westerly winds on the summits will scour any loose snow deposits from windward slopes and will form areas of shallow windslab in sheltered gullies and on slopes with a North-West to North-Easterly aspect. These deposits will generally be shallow and localised mainly to the tops of gullies and sheltered scarp slopes. Bonding to underlying snow-ice will be moderate where any deeper deposits form on steeper slopes: elsewhere stability will generally be good. Avalanche hazard will be Moderate (Category 2). CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Snow above 700 metres. ICING: Ice forming above 100m in watercourses and on rocks. COMMENT: Deeper areas of fresh windslab will require caution, elsewhere snowpack is re-frozen and is very unforgiving, ice axe and crampons essential. SOUTHERN CAIRNGORMS AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS MON 17/2/03 The overnight strong winds subsided to leave yet another cool dry day. There has been little change to the snow which is well bonded on all aspects. Cover is generally patchy with more extensive areas on E to S aspects. On S aspects repeated melt freeze cycles and the overnight winds have left the surface icy. The avalanche hazard is Low (Category 1). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK TUE 18/2/03. It will remain cold with the freezing level around 500 metres but winds will return to gale force. There is very little soft snow left for re-distribution so the patchy snowpack will remain generally well bonded on all aspects. The avalanche hazard will be Low (Category 1). CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Patchy firm cover. More extensive areas on E to S aspects. ICING: Watercourses are providing reasonable sport, Lochnagar buttress routes remain very lean. COMMENT: Some linked touring is available for those who are prepared to carry skis. CREAG MEAGAIDH AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS MON 17/2/03 It has remained cold and clear with no further snowfall. This has left the snowpack generally well bonded and stable on all aspects. However, strong South-West winds have scoured the frozen surface, leaving extremely isolated and shallow drifts of dry, granular snow along the very rims of steep slopes on North to East aspects above 800 metres. Although a fairly easy shear can be obtained in these deposits during field tests, they are generally too shallow to constitute a hazard. The avalanche hazard is Low (Category 1). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK TUE 18/2/03 It will remain cold with no further snowfall. The snowpack will remain well bonded and stable on all aspects although the very rims of North to East facing slopes above 800 metres will continue to hold isolated and shallow pockets of granular snow which has been scoured in the severe gale force Southerly winds. These areas will remain too shallow too cause an avalanche and will be easily avoidable. Large cornices will remain above the Inner Coire. The avalanche hazard will be Low (Category 1). CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Good cover in the corries and gullies. Ridges and buttresses are fairly clear. ICING: Best on the Post Face and in the Inner Coire. Routes receiving a lot of traffic so becoming chopped up. COMMENT: A major temperature inversion is forecast, don't forget your camera! -------------------------------------------------------------------------------