NORTHERN CAIRNGORMS
AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS FRI 20/2/04
Summit temperatures reached 2 degrees today but
on shaded aspects and low angle terrain the snow surface 
remained cold.  Winds were very light with no
precipitation.  Surface hoar is present but not widespread.  The 
slab on Easterly aspect still shears but not as easily as two
days ago.  The avalanche hazard is Low (Category 1). 

AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK SAT 21/2/04
Snow showers are forecast with light Northerly winds.  Surface 
hoar will be buried.  There will be some slab development 
above 900 metres on Southerly aspects, with some areas on that 
aspect already having reasonably extensive cover.  On Easterly
aspect above 900 metres there will also be some further loading.
The avalanche hazard will be Moderate (Category 2).

CLIMBING CONDITIONS 
SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Increasing with this forecast, good 
runs on the plateau, some carries of skis necessary. 
ICING: Increasing but tools easily blunted.
COMMENT: High additional load on some slopes are the thing 
to watch for.


LOCHABER
AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS FRI 20/2/04
It was another dry day with little change to the snowpack.
Stability remains good throughout the area. The avalanche hazard
is Low (Category 1).

AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK SAT 21/2/04
It will remain cold with some light snowfall during Saturday
afternoon. No significant new snow accumulations are expected. 
The old snow will remain frozen and stable. The avalanche 
hazard will be Low (Category 1).


CLIMBING CONDITIONS 

SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Best cover in high North and East 
facing corries.
ICING: Remaining relatively cold so conditions likely to 
remain the same: good snow-ice build up in many of the easier
gully lines.
COMMENT: Despite a gloomy day it the glens there was good 
cloud inversion on the summits!



GLENCOE
AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS FRI 20/2/04
Dry settled conditions are maintaining the snowpack in a stable 
condition.  The avalanche hazard is Low (Category 1).

AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK SAT 21/2/04
It will remain cool and mainly dry with the possibility of a trace 
of new snow during Saturday.  The overall stability of the 
snowpack will remain good with a widespread frozen surface in 
many areas.  Any accumulations of new snow will mainly form 
around the tops of sheltered summit gullies and on sheltered 
scarp slopes above 850 metres. These accumulations are not 
expected to be of any significant depth and should generally be 
avoidable.  The avalanche hazard will be Low (Category 1).

CLIMBING CONDITIONS 

SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Mainly in sheltered corries and 
gullies above 850 metres.
ICING: Re-forming on rocks and paths above 200 metres.
COMMENT: Climbing conditions limited mainly to higher 
easy gullies and ridges.  Snowpack hard and icy in places on 
Friday. 


SOUTHERN CAIRNGORMS
AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS FRI 20/2/04
The well bonded patchy snow is very firm with little surface 
softening taking place today. Large surface hoar crystals have 
continued to develop in sheltered locations. Largest areas of
snow are to be found on steeper N through E to SE facing slopes 
above 900 metres. The avalanche hazard is Low (Category 1). 

AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK SAT 21/2/04 
It will remain cold with just a trace of fresh snow forecast for 
Saturday. The patchy snow will be well bonded and stable on all 
aspects. Greatest snow depths will be found on steep N
through E to SE facing slopes 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: Watercourses are starting to freeze in shaded locations 
but the ice remains thin. Snow ice is firm. 
COMMENT: A few easier snow gullies are just about 
complete. Turf much firmer today.



CREAG MEAGAIDH
AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS FRI 20/2/04
The snowpack is frozen hard in all locations, with the largest 
patches of snow confined to locations above 850 metres.  What 
remains of the snowpack is covered by surface hoar crystals.  
The avalanche hazard is Low (Category 1).

AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK SAT 21/2/04
A little light snow on moderate Northerly winds is possible on
Saturday.  This may lead to the build up of some thin, isolated
patches of windslab on steep Southerly aspects above 1000 metres.
Stability will remain good in all other locations.  The avalanche
hazard will be Moderate (Category 2).

CLIMBING CONDITIONS 

SNOW DISTRIBUTION:  Poor.
ICING: Poorer than poor.
COMMENT:



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