NORTHERN CAIRNGORMS AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS TUE 22/2/05 North-Easterly winds have continued to affect the area. Accumulations of soft windslab snow are continuing to build on mainly South-Westerly aspects above 650 metres. Windslab is also forming in localised lee areas on Westerly aspects above 650 metres due to cross loading and localised wind effects. The avalanche hazard is Considerable (Category 3). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK WED 23/2/05 Cold Easterly winds with snow will deposit slab accumulations on to mainly Westerly slopes above 650 metres. Weak layers have been observed on West to North-Westerly aspects and the new snow will weaken these aspects further. Unstable snow will also remain on South-Westerly aspects above 650 metres. Avalanches are likely on South-West to Westerly aspects above 650 metres. Localised windslab will continue to accumulate in gully exits and sidewalls on North-West facing corries. The avalanche hazard will be Considerable (Category 3). CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: A cover of soft snow throughout on the hills - good whiteout conditions ! ICING: Still a lot of 'digging' required on routes. COMMENT: It would be nice to be able to see ! LOCHABER AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS TUE 22/2/05 Areas of moderately bonded snow are present mainly on South- West and West aspects above 800m. Wind scoured slopes are frozen and stable. The avalanche hazard is Moderate (Category 2). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK WED 23/2/05 Some snow showers will be accompanied by light NE-E winds. No significant new unstable snow deposits are expected. Areas of moderately bonded snow will remain mainly on South-West and West aspects above 800m. The avalanche hazard will be Moderate (Category 2). CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Fresh snow at most levels. ICING: Remaining cold. COMMENT: Climbing conditions mainly good. GLENCOE AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS TUE 22/2/05 The fresh to strong NE winds have continued to transport snow forming isolated areas of soft layered windslab in sheltered locations. The greatest accumulations are on S to SW aspects but also in all sheltered gullies above 800m. Some loose snow instability exists on steep scarp slopes and in sheltered gully exits. The avalanche hazard is Moderate (Category 2). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK WED 23/2/05 The cold NE to E airflow will continue to affect the area with light snow showers at all levels accompanied by fresh NE to E winds. Weakly bonded windslab will continue to build in sheltered locations. The greatest accumulations of windslab will be on S to W aspects mainly above 800m. Existing and new deposits of windslab will be moderately bonded and require caution especially on steep scarp slopes and gully exits. The avalanche hazard will be Moderate (Category 2). CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Snow above 350 metres with best cover above 600m. ICING: Freezing level 300m overnight, all levels on Wednesday. COMMENT: A great winter's day in the Coe. SOUTHERN CAIRNGORMS AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS TUE 22/2/05 Snow showers have been limited and light winds have produced very little drifting of deposits. In sheltered locations on SE to SW aspects above 700 metres deep areas of windslab exist. These moderately to weakly bonded deposits contain graupel layers and faceted crystals and are failing under low additional load. The avalanche hazard is Considerable (Category 3). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK WED 23/2/05 Snow showers falling on light winds will tend to produce a general cover at all levels. It will remain very cold and moderately to weakly bonded windslab will persist in sheltered locations on SE to SW aspects above 700 metres. Stability will be at its poorest in steeper locations such as scarp slopes and gully exits where soft cornices will remain unstable. 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: Brittle in some places, buried in others. COMMENT: Ski touring cover is improving daily. CREAG MEAGAIDH AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS TUE 22/2/05 There has been light but persistent snowfall, gentle North-East winds and cold temperatures overnight and during the day. Most locations have a covering of fresh snow and some very steep South-West to West aspects above 950 metres have accumulations of soft and in places very deep windslab. Cold temperatures are maintaining poor bonds between layers and field tests showed up multiple easy shears. Several North-facing gully lines of Inner Coire Ardair have had soft slab cross-loaded in to them. The avalanche hazard is Considerable (Category 3). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK WED 23/2/05 Cold, wintry conditions with snow showers and light North-East winds will continue overnight and throughout Wednesday. Soft, weakly-stabilised windslab will persist on very sheltered South- West to West aspects above 950 metres where avalanches are likely. Cross-loaded windslab is also expected at the top of North-West facing gully heads and in North facing gully lines. The avalanche hazard will be Considerable (Category 3). CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Good cover of soft fresh snow above 400m. Crusty or hard surface conditions on many NE or E facing aspects. ICING: Blue water ice evident in places. COMMENT: Ski descent of Raeburn's Gully made on Monday. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------