NORTHERN CAIRNGORMS AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS SAT 14/2/04 There was a slight cooling with a dip below the freezing mark at the summit. Winds remained light and there was no precipitation except for light drizzle from rising inversion cloud. There is fairly widespread new surface hoar in areas of the plateau. The slight cooling has further strengthened the snowpack with some soft moist surface snow on patches below 900 metres. The avalanche hazrd is Low (Category 1). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK SUN 15/2/04 The high pressure weather system will continue with dry conditions, light winds and the freezing level near the summit. Snowpack stability will remain good. With the freezing level fluctuating around the summit, rockfall will continue to be more of a hazard than usual. The avalanche hazard will be Low (Category 1). CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Skis being carried and skied on around the plateau. ICING: Limited to nil. COMMENT: With 'brocken spectre', ice bows and clear skies it was a beautiful spring day but not for February. LOCHABER AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS SAT 14/2/04 Colder conditions overnight have helped to re-freeze the snowpack at all levels. On slopes exposed to solar radiation, some surface warming has taken place during today. Snowpack stability remains good. The avalanche hazard is Low (Category 1). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK SUN 15/2/04 Cold overnight temperatures will maintain a generally re-frozen snowpack. Some surface softening will occur on slopes exposed to solar radiation during Sunday. Snowpack stability will remain good. The avalanche hazard will be Low (Category 1). CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Main accumulations in high N and E facing corries. ICING: Old frozen snow-ice present in many gullies. COMMENT: Many parties out enjoying the sunshine today (Sat). Should be similar tomorrow. GLENCOE AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS SAT 14/2/04 Colder temperatures overnight were followed by dry and settled conditions today. Much of the snowpack has a firm surface and is generally stable. The avalanche hazard is Low (Category 1). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK SUN 15/2/04 Dry settled conditions will continue to affect the area. Freezing levels will hover around the summits with a warm inversion layer just above. Stability of the snowpack will remain good in most areas. Isolated areas of shallow surface instability may form on the very steepest slopes and gullies particularly where affected by sun warming. Some of these areas will remain threatened by potentially weak cornices. The avalanche hazard will be Low (Category 1). CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Mainly in sheltered corries and gullies above 850 metres. ICING: Starting to re-form on rocks above 1000 metres. COMMENT: Promising weather outlook for Sunday but climbing conditions limited mainly to higher easy gullies. Still a reasonable cover of snow on some of the upper runs at Glencoe Ski Centre (opening Saturday and Sunday weather permitting). SOUTHERN CAIRNGORMS AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS SAT 14/2/04 The patchy snow remains well bonded and stable on all aspects. Largest areas of snow are to be found in sheltered locations on N through E to SE aspects above 900 metres. The avalanche hazard is Low (Category 1). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK SUN 15/2/04 It will be another dry day with the freezing level fluctuating around the higher summits. The patchy snow will remain well bonded and stable on all aspects. Largest areas will be found on mainly N through E to SE aspects above 900 metres. The avalanche hazard will be Low (Category 1). CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Largest patches in higher N through E to SE corries. ICING: Nothing significant left. COMMENT: A few easier snow gullies are just about complete. CREAG MEAGAIDH AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS SAT 14/2/04 The snowpack remains generally well bonded and stable on all aspects. Cold, dry overnight conditions have aided stabilisation on all shaded North to East aspects above 850 metres leaving surfaces hard with only 2-3 cm foot penetrations observed. Surfaces elsewhere are softer due to sunshine and warmer air temperatures but stability also remains good. The avalanche hazard is Low (Category 1). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK SUN 15/2/04 It will remain dry throughout the period with light Easterly winds and freezing levels fluctuating around the summits. The snowpack will continue to be generally well bonded and stable on all aspects. The avalanche hazard will remain Low (Category 1). CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Very patchy above 750 metres. ICING: General climbing conditions remain poor with most popular gullies broken or very thin. COMMENT: Cloud inversion, broken spectres, light winds, sunshine on the summits and still made it back down in time to watch the rugby. superb! -------------------------------------------------------------------------------