NORTHERN CAIRNGORMS AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS FRI 25/2/05 There have been light snow showers on North-East winds. Windslab has continued to accumulate on South-West to North-Westerly aspects above 650 metres. Instabilities are present in the snowpack and at 1010 metres on a North-West aspect tests showed an easy release on a depth hoar layer. The avalanche hazard is Considerable (Category 3). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK SAT 26/2/05 Light snow showers will continue on North-Easterly winds with freezing levels rising to 600 metres. Instabilities will remain in the snowpack and avalanches are likely mainly on South through to North- West aspects above 650 metres. North-Westerly aspects will continue to be affected by large unstable cornices. The avalanche hazard will be Considerable (Category 3). CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Good cover with deep drifts, skis an asset for travel. ICING: Still limited build-up with lots of fresh soft snow in easy gullies. COMMENT: Visibility very poor today. LOCHABER AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS FRI 25/2/05 Areas of moderately bonded snow are present mainly on South- West, West and North-West aspects above 800m. These are generally round the tops of slopes but some localised deeper accumulations are present on other steeper ground. Wind scoured slopes are frozen and stable. The avalanche hazard is Moderate (Category 2). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK SAT 26/2/05 Light snow showers will be accompanied by NE winds. No significant new unstable snow deposits are expected. Areas of moderately bonded snow will remain mainly on South-West, West and North-West aspects above 800m. These deposits will generally be around the tops of slopes but some localised deeper accumulations will be present on other steeper ground. 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 FRI 25/2/05 There is a light dusting of new snow above 800m. The fresh NE winds have continued to transport snow forming isolated areas of soft layered windslab in sheltered locations. The greatest accumulations are on S to W 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 SAT 26/2/05 The cold N to NE airflow will continue to affect the area with very light snow showers above 400m and fresh NE winds. Weakly bonded windslab will continue to build in sheltered locations but this is not expected to be extensive. The greatest accumulations of windslab will be on S to W aspects mainly above 850m. Existing and new deposits of windslab will be moderately bonded especially on steep scarp slopes and gully exits. The avalanche hazard will be Moderate (Category 2). CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Snow above 450 metres with best cover above 600m. ICING: Overnight freezing level fluctuating between 600-900m becoming 400-600m on Saturday. COMMENT: Water ice is becoming more established on lower routes. SOUTHERN CAIRNGORMS AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS FRI 25/2/05 There is an improvement in windslab stability up to 950 metres. Above this snow is still very dry and light with deeper accumulations continuing to be moderately to weakly bonded on SE through S to W aspects. The avalanche hazard is Considerable (Category 3). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK SAT 26/2/05 Snow cover will remain much the same with the deepest areas found on SE through S to W aspects above 950 metres. Here, stability will continue to improve slowly but in deeper deposits on steeper terrain the dry snow will retain moderately to weakly bonded layers. The avalanche hazard will be Considerable (Category 3). CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Still at its best on the main Cairngorm plateau but touring possible elsewhere with careful route selection. Forest tracks are still good. ICING: Best possibilities are in watercourses. COMMENT: Some tracks and trails are hard work through deep drifts. CREAG MEAGAIDH AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS FRI 25/2/05 Friday was a somewhat milder, brighter day with little new snowfall and light North-East winds. Fluctuating temperatures have brought some marginal consolidation to recent windslab deposits that lie on steep, sheltered South-West to West aspects below 900 metres. On steep slopes above this altitude field tests in recent slab revealed easy shears between weakly bonded layers. North-East to East-facing slopes have been scoured and remain hard, frozen and stable. The avalanche hazard remains Considerable (Category 3). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK SAT 26/2/05 Fluctuating temperatures, a little light snow and moderate North-East winds are expected overnight and on Saturday. North to East aspects will remain hard, frozen and stable. Stability will continue to be marginal on steep South-West to West aspects above 950 metres where some thin, new windslab deposits are possible. Considerable (Category 3) hazard of avalanche. CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Still good above 500m ICING: Reasonable quantities. COMMENT: Freezing level expected to yo-yo between 600m and 900m. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------