NORTHERN CAIRNGORMS AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS MON 21/2/05 Cold strong North-Easterly winds have continued during the day. Snow continues to accumulate on lee slopes of a South-Westerly aspect above 650 metres. Slope tests carried out in these areas of windslab produced surface cracks and releases in weak layers. The avalanche hazard is Considerable (Category 3). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK TUE 22/2/05 Continuing North-East winds with snow showers and temperatures of minus 6øC on the summits will result in weaknesses persisting in the snowpack. Avalanches are likely on mainly South-Westerly aspects above 650 metres, and on localised areas of the same aspect in North facing corries especially gully exits and sidewalls. The avalanche hazard will be Considerable (Category 3). CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Very good snow cover throughout the area for ski touring and on foot. ICING: If you can stand the cold temperatures good climbing to be had. COMMENT: Cold weather to continue. LOCHABER AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS MON 21/2/05 Strong East to North-East winds have started to erode much of the existing fresh snow from Easterly corries. Fresh snow accumulations are forming at the tops of South-West and West aspects and in other sheltered locations. The avalanche hazard is Moderate (Category 2). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK TUE 22/2/05 Light North-East winds and no precipitation are expected overnight and during Tuesday. Localised accumulations of wind deposited snow will be present mainly on South-West and West aspects. Localised deposits will also be present on other aspects. The avalanche hazard will be Moderate (Category 2). Wind scoured slopes will be frozen an stable. CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Fresh snow at all levels. ICING: Remaining cold. COMMENT: Many crag aprons and gully exits are being scoured by the wind today. GLENCOE AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS MON 21/2/05 New snow above 200m has been accompanied by fresh NE winds. Soft accumulations of windslab have formed in many sheltered areas. The greatest deposits are on SE to SW aspects and in all sheltered gullies above 800m. Also some loose snow instability exists on steep scarp slopes and sheltered gully exits. The avalanche hazard in these areas is Considerable (Category 3). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK TUE 22/2/05 The cold dry E to NE airflow will continue to affect the area with strong winds over the summits. These NE winds will continue to build weakly bonded windslab in sheltered locations. The greatest accumulations of windslab will be on SE to SW aspects mainly above 800m. Caution is required on steep scarp slopes and gully exits in all sheltered locations as weakly bonded snow will exist and the avalanche hazard will be Considerable (Category 3) in these areas. CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Snow above 200 metres with best cover above 600m. ICING: Freezing level 500m. COMMENT: Caution is required in some gullies. Buttresses and ridges are the safer option. SOUTHERN CAIRNGORMS AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS MON 21/2/05 Snow showers and constant drifting are forming locally deep accumulations in sheltered locations on SE to SW aspects above 700 metres. Cross-loading of pronounced terrain features is also occurring. These new deposits are very dry and bonding is minimal. Observers triggered a small avalanche on a SW aspect at 890 metres. The avalanche hazard is Considerable (Category 3). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK TUE 22/2/05 It will remain cold with further snow showers expected. Localised accumulations of unstable windslab will be found in sheltered locations on SE to SW aspects above 700 metres. These dry layered deposits will demonstrate poor stability even under low additional loads. The avalanche hazard will be considerable (Category 3). CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Best cover is on SE to SW aspects and high plateau areas. ICING: Very icy paths hidden under thin snow! COMMENT: Careful route selection required. CREAG MEAGAIDH AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS MON 21/2/05 It has been a beautiful bright day with fresh snow lying at all levels, cold temperatures, moderate North-East winds and avalanche activity. The wind has loaded last night's snow on to steep South-West to West aspects above 850 metres where it lies as soft, weakly stabilised windslab. In addition, snow is being eroded off North to East-facing corrie headwalls and being re- deposited as windslab in these new lee areas. Debris was noted from at least 5 avalanches within the boundaries of the forecast area all starting on South-West to West aspects at approximately 900 metres. The avalanche hazard is Considerable (Category 3). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK TUE 22/2/05 Snow showers and cold North-East winds are set to continue overnight and throughout Tuesday. Poorly stabilised windslab will continue to be loaded on to steep South-West to West aspects above 850 metres where avalanches are likely. Windslab may also be cross-loaded on to the top of complex, multi-aspect gully exits whose main aspect is North-West. The avalanche hazard will be Considerable (Category 3). CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Cold, dry fresh snow lying at all levels on Monday. Good cover above 550m. ICING: Slow improvement continues. COMMENT: Creag Meagaidh relatively quiet on Monday. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------