NORTHERN CAIRNGORMS
AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS MON 23/2/04
There have been snow showers overnight on fresh Northerly 
winds.  This has led to localised build-up of slab mainly on East 
and South aspects.  At 1100 metres on a South-East aspect tests 
showed unstable layers with very easy shears.  Elsewhere the 
snowpack is stable.  The avalanche hazard is Considerable 
(Category 3).
AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK TUE 24/2/04
More snow is forecast on increasing North-Westerly winds with 
Summit temperatures remaining well below freezing.
Areas of unstable slab will continue to build on East through 
South aspects above 950 metres where avalanches are likely.  
Other mainly North aspects will also have isolated pockets of 
slab on steep exit slopes, but elsewhere the snowpack is stable.
The avalanche hazard will be Considerable (Category 3).   

CLIMBING CONDITIONS

SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Large areas of soft snow on 
Southerly aspects.
ICING:  Slowly improving and the buttresses are white. 
COMMENT: A few good routes being done today.


LOCHABER
AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS MON 23/2/04
Light fresh snow has fallen overnight and during Monday. Although
cover is improving, accumulations are not significant. The older
snowpack remains well bonded and stable. The avalanche hazard is
Low (Category 1).

AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK TUE 24/2/04
A strong West to North-West airflow with snow overnight and
during Tuesday will form fresh areas of unstable windslab in 
sheltered locations. Greatest accumulations will be at the tops of 
North East, East and South East facing slopes and gullies above 
850 metres. This fresh windslab will be poorly bonded to the 
underlying frozen snow layers. The avalanche hazard will be 
Considerable (Category 3).


CLIMBING CONDITIONS 

SNOW DISTRIBUTION: A dusting of fresh cover above 600 
metres.
ICING: Freezing again at all levels tomorrow (Tuesday), after a
brief rise on Monday night.
COMMENT: Hopefully a return to much needed wintry 
conditions.



GLENCOE
AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS MON 23/2/04
Cool conditions are maintaining the old snowpack in a very 
stable condition.  A light dusting of new snow above 900 metres 
and variable winds have formed isolated pockets of moderately 
bonded windslab in sheltered locations.  These localised areas 
are mainly around the tops of North-East to Southerly aspects 
above 1000 metres.  The avalanche hazard is Moderate 
(Category 2).

AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK TUE 24/2/04
After a milder night conditions will become much colder on 
Tuesday. The old snowpack where exposed will remain hard 
and icy and will generally be stable.  New snow and strong 
North-Westerly winds overnight and on Tuesday will form 
unstable accumulations of windslab in sheltered locations such 
as summit gullies and on North-East through East to South 
facing slopes above 850 metres, where avalanches are likely.
Bonding to the underlying snow-ice will be poor particularly on
steeper slopes.  The avalanche hazard will be Considerable
(Category 3).

CLIMBING CONDITIONS 

SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Mainly in sheltered corries and 
gullies above 850 metres. Hopefully more on the way with 
blustery snow showers forecast for next few days.
ICING: Freezing all levels on Tuesday.
COMMENT: Old snowpack hard and icy in places. Fresh 
windslab and cornices will require great caution.  


SOUTHERN CAIRNGORMS
AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS MON 23/2/04
There has been no new precipitation today but recent deposits 
remain poorly bonded. Unstable deposits exist in very sheltered 
locations on SE to SW aspects above 900 metres. The 
distribution of these deposits is limited but where they overlie 
snow-ice and buried surface hoar they are moderately to weakly
bonded. The avalanche hazard is Considerable (Category 3). 

AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK TUE 24/2/04
Overnight snow will become more showery on Tuesday with strong
winds that will continue to cause drifting of deposits.
Moderately to weakly bonded deposits will be found on E through S
to SW aspects above 900 metres. Avalanches are likely in steeper
sheltered locations where new accumulations form over older snow
ice. The avalanche hazard will be Considerable (Category 3).

CLIMBING CONDITIONS 
SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Best cover across the South 
Cairngorms. Old snow in high N and E facing corries. 
ICING: Most lines are very thin. Watercourses remain the best 
option. 
COMMENT: Blizzard conditions at times on Tuesday.



CREAG MEAGAIDH
AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS MON 23/2/04
There has been no change from overnight conditions. The existing
snowpack is sparse re-frozen and stable.  The avalanche hazard is
Low (Category 1).

AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK TUE 24/2/04
Moderate snow will fall overnight with strong NW winds continuing
on Tuesday.  This will result in windslab development on
North-East through East to South aspects above 850 metres. The
avalanche hazard will increase to Moderate (Category 2).

CLIMBING CONDITIONS 

SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Sparse, patches only above 850m
ICING: Lean
COMMENT: Wintry for a spell.
 



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