NORTHERN CAIRNGORMS AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS FRI 21/2/03 It was another sunny day around the Cairngorms with some plateau cloud shielding the Southerly aspects from prolonged direct radiation. There has been very little re-distribution of snow and little change in snowpack stability which remains good except for narrow North aspect bands on aprons and scarp of the slab on facets giving easy shears but no propagation. The avalanche hazard is Moderate (Category 2). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK SAT 22/2/03 There will be little change in the weather with continued Southerly flow and slightly warming temperatures. Snowpack stability will remain good except for some North aspects above 850 metres where there is the persistent facet layer producing easy shears that do not propagate across the slope. The avalanche hazard will be Moderate (Category 2). CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Rugged skiing conditions. ICING: Fat city low angle ice all over lower Feith Buighe. COMMENT: Facets will linger but start to round with prolonged warming. LOCHABER AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS FRI 21/2/03 The cold, settled conditions have seen little change to the generally well bonded snowpack. On steep Northerly aspects above 1000m, isolated shallow areas of hard slab exist overlying soft weak snow. Elsewhere the snowpack is hard frozen and generally stable. The avalanche hazard is Moderate (Category 2). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK SAT 22/2/03 The dry and settled weather will continue for the next 24 hours. Snowpack stability will remain generally good. A thin layer of weak hard slab will be present, mainly on steep NW to NE 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: Freezing level expected to be around 900m on Saturday. COMMENT: Ice axe and crampons essential with most of the hill hard frozen. GLENCOE AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS FRI 21/2/03 Less cold conditions are softening the surface of the snowpack. A light dusting of new snow exists above 800 metres. Southerly winds have formed isolated areas of shallow soft windslab 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 SAT 22/2/03 Milder conditions with no precipitation will affect the area on Saturday. The snowpack will initially be firm above 800 metres softening as the day progresses. Stability of the snowpack will remain generally good with minor surface instabilities forming on the steepest slopes later in the day. The avalanche hazard will be Low (Category 1). CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Snow above 700 metres. ICING: Ice above 200m. COMMENT: Hazard of falling rocks and ice as freezing level rises to 1300 metres on Saturday. SOUTHERN CAIRNGORMS AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS FRI 21/2/03 The patchy snow cover is generally well bonded. Largest areas are 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 SAT 22/2/03 A dry day is expected but the freezing level will rise to above the summits. Larger patches on E to S aspects will remain well bonded but softer deposits which have developed over older snow ice on NW and NE aspects will be less stable. These areas are localised and generally avoidable but will require care on steeper ground. The avalanche hazard will be Moderate (Category 2). CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Patchy firm cover. More extensive areas on E to S aspects. ICING: Watercourses giving best sport but subject to thaw conditions during Saturday. COMMENT: Freezing level will be around 800 metres overnight but rising to 1300 metres during the day. CREAG MEAGAIDH AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS FRI 21/2/03 It has remained dry with a fresh South-South-West wind and has become a little milder with the freezing level around the 950- 1000 metre mark. Apart from the snowpack softening at lower levels, it has remained well bonded and stable on all aspects. North to East aspects above 700 metres retain the most snow, with good cover in the corries and in gullies. 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 SAT 22/2/03 The freezing level will drop to the base of the snowline overnight leaving the snowpack well bonded and stable on all aspects. During the day the freezing level will rise to above the summits which will soften the snowpack but will not effect slope stability. However, it could be warm enough for sluffing to occur from any fragile cornices and this is worth bearing in mind when choosing your route. There are large cornices above the Inner Coire. The avalanche hazard will remain Low (Category 1). CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Main cover above 700 metres. Patchy down to 500 metres. ICING: Most routes (but not all) are in nick. It's been busy all week so the more popular routes are liable to be becoming chopped up. COMMENT: Car park full today (21.02.03) and it's not even the weekend yet. Please do not block access to Aberarder Farm. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------