NORTHERN CAIRNGORMS AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS SAT 26/2/05 Continuous snow showers have crossed the mountains on moderate North-East winds. Heavy drifting has led to deep windslab accumulations forming on South through West to North-West slopes and gullies above 650 metres. On a South-West aspect at 1080 metres tests showed weakly bonded snow between hard and soft layers. The avalanche hazard is Considerable (Category 3). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK SUN 27/2/05 There will be further snow showers on moderate North-East winds and the freezing level will fall to 200 metres. Weakly bonded windslab will continue to build on South through West to North-West slopes and gullies above 650 metres where avalanches are likely. Large unstable cornices will also affect these aspects. The avalanche hazard will be Considerable (Category 3). CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Well covered on plateau, snow at all levels. ICING: Buttresses very white with plenty of digging available. COMMENT: Careful navigation required in whiteout conditions. LOCHABER AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS SAT 26/2/05 Areas of moderately bonded snow are present mainly on South- West, West and North-West aspects above 800m. These deposits are localised and mainly around the tops of slopes and in other sheltered locations. Wind scoured slopes are frozen and stable. The avalanche hazard is Moderate (Category 2). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK SUN 27/2/05 Overnight and tomorrow are expected to remain mostly dry, with fresh North-East winds. Localised areas of moderately bonded snow will remain in sheltered areas mainly around the tops of South-West, West and North-West aspects above 800m. Wind scoured slopes are frozen and stable. The avalanche hazard will be Moderate (Category 2). CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Snow remaining at most levels. ICING: Remaining cold and dry. COMMENT: Ice slowly building in some areas. GLENCOE AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS SAT 26/2/05 It was a slightly milder day but 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 in these areas is Moderate (Category 2). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK SUN 27/2/05 The cold NE airflow will continue to affect the area giving a mainly dry day. In sheltered locations some weakly bonded windslab will continue to build with the fresh NE winds: 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. Elsewhere the snowpack will be stable. The avalanche hazard will be Moderate (Category 2). CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Snow above 500 metres with best cover above 700m. ICING: Overnight freezing level 300m becoming 200m on Sunday. COMMENT: Water ice is becoming more established on lower routes. Should be another good day in Glencoe. SOUTHERN CAIRNGORMS AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS SAT 26/2/05 There were a few snow showers from around 500 metres but this did not add any real depth to the snowpack. Snow above 950 metres remains dry and light with slow consolidation continuing to improve stability. Poorly bonded layers can still be found in the deeper deposits on steeper terrain on SE through S to W aspects. The avalanche hazard is Considerable (Category 3). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK SUN 27/2/05 It will become colder again but there will be very little new snow. Deeper deposits will remain on SE through S to W aspects above 950 metres. On steeper terrain the moderately to weakly bonded layers will persist in the dry snow. The avalanche hazard will be Considerable (Category 3). CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Best cover is on the main plateau. ICING: Best possibilities are in watercourses. COMMENT: Snow at lower levels thawing today. CREAG MEAGAIDH AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS SAT 26/2/05 Temperatures have varied but it has been a bright day with moderate North-East winds and no appreciable snowfall. Although there was a little drifting and some new slab formation, warmth from the sun has been enough to bring a little consolidation to the snow that lies on steep South-West to West above 950 metres. North to East-facing slopes and gullies do carry some cold soft snow but these locations are in general characterised by hard or crusty surface conditions. The avalanche hazard is Moderate (Category 2). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK SUN 27/2/05 Sunday will be a cold day with moderate North-East winds and some light snow showers. A little thin, soft slab development is possible on steep South-West to West aspects above 950 metres. Elsewhere, the snowpack will remain hard, crusty and stable. The avalanche hazard will be Moderate (Category 2). CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Good above 550m but with surface conditions at plateau level varying from deep snow to breakable crust and rock hard boilerplate. ICING: Reasonable quantity but variable quality. All principal Post Face routes received ascents today. COMMENT: Creag Meagaidh quite busy today. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------