NORTHERN CAIRNGORMS AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS SUN 23/2/03 More precipitation fell in the immediate plateau area than surrounding area. The snow - rain boundary is about 900 metres. Strong Southerly winds have deposited up to 20 centimetres of new snow in sheltered areas at the top of scarp slopes. There is an easy but rough shear in this new snow but the cross slope distribution is quite limited. The avalanche hazard is Moderate (Category 2). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK MON 24/2/03 The precipitation will ease off in the forecast period with slight cooling and continued Southerly winds. Limited pockets of instability will persist at the top of scap slopes on North aspect above 1050 metres where new slab exists. The avalanche hazard will be Moderate (Category 2). CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Not enough to make a whole lot of difference to skiing. ICING: Now that expectations of fat ice are not so high, some reasonable conditions can be found. COMMENT: Crampons balling-up is currently another stability consideration. LOCHABER AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS SUN 23/2/03 There have been light snow showers and strong Southerly winds during today, although there are no significant new snow accumulations. Localised surface instabilities are present mainly on steep Northerly aspects above 1000m. Elsewhere snowpack stability is generally good. The avalanche hazard is Moderate (Category 2). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK MON 24/2/03 Light snow will continue overnight before being replaced by dry and cold conditions on Monday. No new significant snow accumulations are expected. Localised surface instabilities will be present on steep Northerly aspects above 1000m. Elsewhere, snowpack stability will be generally good. The avalanche hazard will be Moderate (Category 2). CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Main accumulations remain in N and E facing corries above 900m. ICING: Snowpack thawing to 1200m during Sunday but expected to freeze down to 600m by Monday. COMMENT: Strong winds easing overnight. GLENCOE AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS SUN 23/2/03 Milder conditions during the course of the Sunday have softened the surface of most of the snowpack. Moderate precipitation falling as wet snow above 850 metres and strong Southerly winds have formed areas of soft wet slab in sheltered gullies and on North-West to North-East aspects. These areas are not deep or extensive but some wet snow surface instabilities have formed on the steepest of slopes. The avalanche hazard is Moderate (Category 2), with many slopes showing good stability. AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK MON 24/2/03 Cooler conditions with freezing levels of 900 metres will start to re-freeze the surface of the existing moist snowpack. Light snow showers overnight and strong Southerly winds will form areas of fresh windslab in sheltered gullies and on slopes with a North-West to North-East aspect. Greatest accumulations will form around the tops of sheltered gullies and scarp slopes. Accumulations are not expected to be deep or extensive. Bonding to the underlying existing snow will be moderate on steeper ground. The avalanche hazard will be Moderate (Category 2). CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Snow above 700 metres. ICING: Ice above 500m. COMMENT: Light snow overnight dry on Monday with winds decreasing SOUTHERN CAIRNGORMS AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS SUN 23/2/03 There was a little fresh snow early in the day with the freezing level subsequently rising to around 1150 metres by mid- afternoon. Although surface layers have become a little softer the snow remains generally well bonded at all levels. Limited new deposits are to be found in sheltered locations on NW to NE aspects but these very shallow accumulations have not affected the avalanche hazard which remains Low (Category 1). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK MON 24/2/03 It will be a dry day with much lighter winds. The surface layers will begin to firm up as the freezing level lowers to around 900 metres . The patchy snow cover will remain well bonded on all aspects with softer snow being encountered below 900 metres. More extensive patches are to be found on higher E and S aspects. The avalanche hazard will be Low (Category 1). CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Patchy cover. More extensive areas on E to S aspects. ICING: Water courses holding most ice. Buttresses remain lean. COMMENT: Becoming firmer underfoot as the freezing level lowers. CREAG MEAGAIDH AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS SUN 23/2/03 Strong Southerly winds with occasional snow showers above 900 metres; this has formed isolated shallow deposits of fresh windslab on North-West to North-East aspects. Deposits are confined to hollows, tops of gullies and lee slopes below cornices and pose no significant hazard. At lower altitudes debris from an isolated avalanche was noted below Centre Post as wet snow instabilities developed in milder, wet air. The avalanche hazard is Moderate (Category 2). Elsewhere snowpack stability remains generally good. AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK MON 24/2/03 Winds will remain strong with light snow or sleet showers overnight. Isolated shallow deposits of fresh windslab will persist on North-West to North-East aspects above 850 metres. Fresh deposits will affect sheltered hollows, tops of gullies and lee slopes below cornices and remain easily avoided. The avalanche hazard will be Moderate (Category 2). Snowpack stability will be generally good in many places. Large cornices are still present above many steep aspects, particularly the Inner Coire. CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Still reasonable cover in corries and most gullies. ICING: A little mushy on entrance pitches, but should improve in cooler night temperatures. COMMENT: Falling fragile ice and rocks a hazard at lower altitudes. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------