NORTHERN CAIRNGORMS AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS THU 20/2/03 The dry cool weather with Southerly winds continues. In snowpack tests the surface slab still gives an easy shear on facets above and in some places places between crusts. The zones of instability are mainly on Northerly aspect above 900 metres. High additional test loads did not release the slab. The avalanche hazard is Moderate (Category 2). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK FRI 21/2/03 Trace snow amounts are forecast with light Southerly winds. There will be some additional load on North aspects above 850 metres but this will not lead to an appreciable change in snow stability. The facet layer will continue to contribute to easy shears but high additional loads in a few isolated areas are required to propogate this weakness. Otherwise the snowpack stability is good. The avalanche hazard will be Moderate (Category 2). CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Mostly bone hard and icy patches. ICING: Flat ice growth is good. COMMENT: Some good samples of Scottish facets for the discerning observer. LOCHABER AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS THU 20/2/03 The cold, settled conditions have seen little change to the generally well bonded snowpack. Isolated, shallow areas of hard slab overlying soft weak snow still remains on slopes not exposed to solar radiation. This slab is restricted to steep NW to NE aspects above 1000m, and is generally avoidable. Elsewhere the snowpack is hard frozen and generally stable. The avalanche hazard is Moderate (Category 2). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK FRI 21/2/03 Light snow overnight and during Friday will form fresh shallow deposits on NW to NE aspects. Snowpack stability will remain generally good. A thin layer of weak hard slab will be present on slopes in the shade, mainly steep NW to NE aspects above 1000m. Any fresh deposits are not expected to be significant. The avalanche hazard will be Moderate (Category 2). CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Main accumulations in N and E facing corries above 900m. ICING: Remaining cold, buttresses not as black as yesterday with light rime on the crags. COMMENT: Ice axe and crampons essential with most of the hill hard frozen. GLENCOE AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS THU 20/2/03 The snowpack has developed a widespread melt-freeze surface crust and is generally very stable in most locations. 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 avoidable. The avalanche hazard is Low (Category 1). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK FRI 21/2/03 With only trace amounts of new snow and fresh South-Easterly winds forecast little change is expected to the general condition of the snowpack which is very stable and has a widespread icy surface in most locations. Pockets of windslab may form in sheltered gullies and on slopes with a West to Northerly aspect. These deposits will generally be shallow and confined 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. Avalanche hazard will be Moderate (Category 2). CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Snow above 700 metres. ICING: Widespread ice forming above 100m. COMMENT: Isolated areas of fresh windslab will require caution, elsewhere snowpack is re-frozen giving a hard icy surface, which is very unforgiving. Ice axe, crampons and good technique for use essential. SOUTHERN CAIRNGORMS AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS THU 20/2/03 It was another windy day with no new precipitation. Snow conditions have changed little. The patchy snow cover remains generally firm and well bonded with largest areas to be found on E to S aspects. Soft deposits exist in sheltered locations on NW to NE aspects. These deposits are limited in both depth and distribution. The avalanche hazard is Low (Category 1). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK FRI 21/2/03 A settled day is forecast which will not alter the snow condition. The patchy snow cover will remain firm and well bonded. Occasional light snow flurries will add to the limited softer deposits on NW and NE aspects but these will not be enough to alter the avalanche hazard which will be Low (Category 1). CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Patchy firm cover. More extensive areas on E to S aspects. ICING: Watercourses continue to be the better option with buttress routes remaining lean. COMMENT: Freezing level will be around 800 metres. CREAG MEAGAIDH AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS THU 20/2/03 Although cloudier today, it has remained dry with no further snowfall and despite there being a gale force South-East wind the snowpack is so frozen at the surface that there is little loose snow to blow around. Therefore, the snowpack remains well bonded and stable on all aspects. There are large cornices above many steep slopes in the region and particularly above the Inner Coire. The avalanche hazard is Low (Category 1). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK FRI 21/2/03 Although there will be a very light dusting of fresh snow above 600 metres the recent strong South-Easterly will ease. The snowpack will remain well bonded and stable on all aspects although the very tops of gullies on North-West to North-East aspects above 800 metres will see a shallow covering of soft, fresh snow building in areas sheltered from the wind. Due to the wind being calmer than of late there will be little drifting of this fresh snow. The avalanche hazard will remain Low (Category 1). CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Good cover in the corries and in gullies. ICING: We're the most popular ice venue in Scotland at the moment, so routes are getting a lot of traffic. Still cruddy in places on the snowier routes. COMMENT: Not so much sun today (20.02.03). Oh well it'll let the tan settle a bit! -------------------------------------------------------------------------------