NORTHERN CAIRNGORMS AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS THU 17/2/05 A re-freezing of the snowpack has taken place on all aspects above 850 metres and the snowpack is generally stable. Some instabilities are present within the windslab layer on mainly South to South- Easterly aspects above 850 metres. The avalanche hazard is Considerable. (Category 3). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK FRI 18/2/05 Overnight the freezing level is due to rise above the summits and the snowpack will moisten. During the day the freezing level will fall to 650 metres and the snowpack will once again re-freeze. Strong North-Westerly winds will bring snow showers. Above 650 metres fresh snow will accummulate as windslab in lee areas on mainly South-Easterly aspects and will be unstable. The avalanche hazard will be Considerable (Category 3). CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Good snow cover and firm underfoot for travel ICING: Freeze-thaw cycle will improve the climbing further. COMMENT: Colder weather ahead. LOCHABER AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS THU 17/2/05 Cooler temperatures overnight have produced a layer of re- frozen snow on the surface of the snowpack. Despite weaknesses under this layer, the refrozen layer has stabilised the snowpack. The avalanche hazard is Low (Category 1). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK FRI 18/2/05 Light rain at all levels overnight will be followed by snow showers and WNW winds. The existing snowpack will remain stable. Snow showers will form fresh areas of unstable snow in sheltered locations. Greatest accumulations will be at the tops of East and South-East facing slopes and gullies. Where this fresh snow exists in significant quantities, the avalanche hazard will be Considerable (Category 3). Elsewhere snowpack stability will be good. CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Main accumulations remain in high East facing corries. ICING: Frozen snow surface above 1000m. COMMENT: Getting colder again on Friday. GLENCOE AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS THU 17/2/05 Cooler conditions overnight with only light snow showers on the higher slopes and mainly dry conditions today have further consolidated much of the snowpack. Surface instabilities remain on the steepest scarp slopes and sheltered gully exits. The avalanche hazard is Moderate (Category 2). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK FRI 18/2/05 Moderate rain or sleet overnight will turn to snow showers by morning as a weather front introduces colder conditions. During the transition to colder temperatures the existing snow will start to re-freeze. Gale force North-Westerly winds will form windslab on East to South facing slopes and in sheltered gullies mainly above 900 metres. Accumulations are not expected to be deep or extensive but bonding will be moderate to weak on steeper slopes particularly gully exits and scarp slopes. The avalanche hazard will be Considerable (Category 3). Many slopes will remain wind scoured: in these areas snowpack stability will be good. CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Snow above 800 metres with best cover on Easterly aspects. ICING: Freezing level 1600 metres overnight becoming 650 on Friday. COMMENT: Best prospects for climbing are in the higher corries. Winds 40 mph WNW on Friday. SOUTHERN CAIRNGORMS AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS THU 17/2/05 Sheltered locations on E through S to SW aspects above 800 metres hold the deepest accumulations of snow. These moderately bonded deposits tend to have a surface crust with colder drier snow beneath. Elsewhere there is wind scoured snow-ice or very limited deposits. The avalanche hazard is Moderate (Category 2). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK FRI 18/2/05 After a milder night the freezing level will lower with snow showers forecast during the day. New accumulations will form in mainly sheltered locations on NE through E to S aspects above 600 metres. Where these accumulations acquire depth over snow-ice they will be moderately to weakly bonded and demonstrate poor stability. The avalanche hazard will be Considerable (Category 3). CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Most extensive snow is on E to S aspects and high plateau areas. ICING: Highly variable conditions. The rapid melt-freeze cycle should help a little. COMMENT: Snow showers also expected on Saturday. CREAG MEAGAIDH AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS THU 17/2/05 It has been a reasonably bright day on Creag Meagaidh with fluctuating temperatures and occasional light snow flurries. The snow was carried on light North-West winds and this led to some very thin soft windslab development on a few East to South-East aspects above 900 metres. The snowpack that underlies these remains cold but well-bonded. Many other areas have a crusty or wind-scoured surface. The avalanche hazard is Moderate (Category 2). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK FRI 18/2/05 Some snow showers are forecast for Friday preceded by sleet overnight. The snow will be blown in on West-North-West winds so new windslab deposits will form mainly on steep East to South-East facing scarp slopes above 850 metres. Stability will be good in all other locations. The avalanche hazard will be Moderate (Category 2). CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Remains good but with surface conditions that vary from hard crust to mush according to altitude and aspect. Just about possible to keep skis on down to Aberarder Farm on Thursday. ICING: Continues to improve. COMMENT: Older snow patches soft and damp below 650m today. Getting colder on Friday. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------