NORTHERN CAIRNGORMS AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS SAT 19/2/05 There have been snow showers on very cold strong Northerly winds. Windslab has continued to build mainly on Southerly aspects above 850 metres. The new slab is moderately bonded but a weakness still exists beneath this. Northerly aspects have been affected by localised accumulations of soft slab especially on crag aprons and sheltered gully tops. The avalanche hazard is Considerable (Category 3). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK SUN 20/2/05 Snow showers will continue on strong Northerly winds. Avalanches are likely on steep East through to South-West aspects above 850 metres due to weakly bonded windslab. North-West to North-East aspects will also be affected especially on crag aprons and sheltered gully tops. The avalanche hazard will be Considerable (Category 3). CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Good cover on the plateau. ICING: Routes being done in the wintry looking Northern Corries. COMMENT: Weather outlook remaining cold. LOCHABER AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS SAT 19/2/05 Overnight snow with North-West winds produced localised areas of weakly bonded windslab. Accumulations exist on East and South-East slopes and gully exits above 900m. The avalanche hazard is Moderate (Category 2). Slopes scoured by the wind remain reasonably stable. AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK SUN 20/2/05 Strong Northerly winds will bring isolated snow showers overnight, with temperatures remaining low. There will be some re-distribution of dry snow which will form as windslab. Greatest accumulations will be in sheltered locations and on slopes and gully exits with an East, South-East and South aspect. The avalanche hazard will be Moderate (Category 2). New cornices will be unstable. CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Most old snow in East facing corries, with some new dry snow in many areas. ICING: Freezing level around 300m on Sunday. COMMENT: Remaining cold and dry. GLENCOE AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS SAT 19/2/05 Light accumulations of fresh snow exist above 300m: these new deposits are generally not significant. The greatest deposits are on SE aspects and in sheltered gullies above 800m. Some surface instability exists on steep scarp slopes and sheltered gully exits. The avalanche hazard in these areas is Moderate (Category 2). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK SUN 20/2/05 The cold Northerly winds will bring light snow showers to the area during Saturday night dying out during Sunday morning. The strong Northerly winds will continue to scour windward slopes producing windslab and surface instabilities on steep scarp slopes and gully exits in sheltered locations SE to SW aspects mainly above 800m. Although these instabilities are not expected to be significant they will be weakly bonded and the avalanche hazard will be Moderate (Category 2). CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Snow above 300 metres with best cover on Easterly aspects above 800m. ICING: Freezing at all levels overnight becoming 300m on Sunday. COMMENT: Best prospects for climbing are in the higher corries. Buttresses are improving. Gusty Northerly winds on Sunday. SOUTHERN CAIRNGORMS AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS SAT 19/2/05 Older snow on all aspects is now mostly well bonded but there are pockets of new very dry snow in very sheltered locations on E through S to SW aspects above 900 metres. These accumulations are poorly bonded to the harder base but they are not deep and are generally avoidable. The avalanche hazard is Moderate (Category 2). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK SUN 20/2/05 The cool windy conditions will continue with some further snow showers to valley level. New deposits will rapidly form in very sheltered locations on E through S to SW aspects at all levels. Where these accumulations form over a snow-ice base on steeper ground avalanches are likely. The avalanche hazard will be Considerable (Category 3). CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Main Cairngorms still have best cover, elsewhere any sheltered areas hold good cover. ICING: Plenty underfoot, but still lacking on main crags. Watercourses offer best possibilities. COMMENT: Lochnagar holding good snow-ice. Some steeper finishes! CREAG MEAGAIDH AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS SAT 19/2/05 A strengthening cold Northerly airflow with persistent snow showers has continued weakly bonded windslab development. East through South to South-West aspects are affected above 800 metres. Field tests produced easy shears with gullies, hollows and scarp slopes holding deepest deposits. The avalanche hazard is Considerable (Category 3). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK SUN 20/2/05 Snow showers will continue on a strong, cold Northerly airflow. Additional weakly bonded windslab will form on East through South to South-West aspects above 700 metres and here avalanches are likely. Gullies, hollows and scarp slopes of the these aspects will hold deepest accumulations and triggering will be possible with low additional loads. The avalanche hazard will remain Considerable (Category 3). Fresh unstable cornice development will continue above steep lee aspects. CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Fresh snow at all levels. Varying conditions underfoot on plateau areas with hard snow-ice and breakable crust. ICING: More snow than ice around with a few camel trains in classic gullies. COMMENT: Snow showers expected to ease through the day, remaining cold. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------