NORTHERN CAIRNGORMS AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS SUN 27/2/05 It has been a fine dry day with light winds from the North-East and summit temperatures remained well below freezing. The snowpack is slowly consolidating but instabilities are present mainly on steep South through West to North-West aspects above 900 metres. When tested on a Westerly aspect at 1140 metres a deep-seated weakness was observed due to a faceted layer. The avalanche hazard is Considerable (Category 3). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK MON 28/2/05 Snow showers will cross the mountains on moderate West turning North-Westerly winds with summit temperatures well below freezing. Avalanches are likely due to new slab build-up on Easterly to South-East aspects above 900 metres, instabilities will remain on steep South through West to North-West slopes and gullies. The avalanche hazard will be Considerable (Category 3). CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Very good cover excellent for ski touring. ICING: Plenty of routes being done in the Northern Corries leaving a trail of black lines through thick rime. COMMENT: Good conditions set for the Glenmore Lodge International climbing meet! LOCHABER AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS SUN 27/2/05 There has been little change in the snowpack from yesterday. Localised areas of moderately bonded snow are present in some sheltered locations mainly on South-West, West and North- West aspects above 800m. Wind scoured slopes are frozen and stable. The avalanche hazard is Moderate (Category 2). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK MON 28/2/05 A cold and unsettled West to North-West airflow with snow showers, is expected overnight and tomorrow. The arrival of snow showers will form a new hazard from localised areas of windslab with greatest accumulations on steep slopes with an East and South-East aspect. Where this windslab forms, the avalanche hazard will be Considerable ( Category 3 ). CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Snow remaining at most levels. ICING: Freezing level 400m on Monday. COMMENT: Ice on many paths. GLENCOE AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS SUN 27/2/05 It has been a slightly milder day however 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 MON 28/2/05 A cold NW airflow will affect the area with snow showers above 500m accompanied by strong W to NW winds. New accumulations of windslab will form on E to SE facing slopes in sheltered locations mainly above 800m. The new accumulations of windslab will be moderately to weakly bonded especially on steep scarp slopes and gully exits. The avalanche hazard will increase to Considerable (Category 3) in these areas. CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Snow above 500 metres with best cover above 700m. ICING: freezing level 500m. COMMENT: A return to unsettled weather with snow showers. SOUTHERN CAIRNGORMS AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS SUN 27/2/05 Gentle fluctuations in the freezing level have helped to consolidate recent deposits with the majority of the snowpack now demonstrating good stability. Moderately bonded layers can still be found but these are restricted to deeper deposits on steeper terrain on SE through S to W aspects above 1000 metres. The avalanche hazard is Moderate (Category 2). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK MON 28/2/05 Occasional snow showers on light winds will produce a superficial covering of fresh snow with limited new accumulations on E to S aspects. The majority of snow will be well bonded with just a few moderately bonded areas remaining. These will be found in steeper sheltered locations on SE through S to W aspects over 1000 metres. The avalanche hazard will be Moderate (Category 2). CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: The best cover is to be found on the high plateau areas but most hills have some snow. ICING: Watercourses continue to be the best option. COMMENT: Staying cold with no sign of the dreaded thaw just yet! CREAG MEAGAIDH AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS SUN 27/2/05 It has been a day of relatively cold temperatures, negligible snowfall and very light North-East winds. The most recent slab on steep South-West to West aspects remains cold but intermittent sunshine has brought about some consolidation to these deposits. North to East-facing aspects have some residual soft, cold snow but for the most part these places are either hard or crusty. The avalanche hazard is Moderate (Category 2). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK MON 28/2/05 Winds will remain moderate but become West then North-West with occasional snow showers. This will result in some new weakly-bonded slab build up at the tops of very steep and sheltered North-East to South-facing slopes and gullies above 900 metres. Stability will steadily decline in these locations over the course of the day. The avalanche hazard will be Considerable (Category 3). CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Remains good above 550m. ICING: Continues to build but of variable quality. COMMENT: Car park full again today. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- NORTHERN CAIRNGORMS AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS SUN 27/2/05 It has been a fine dry day with light winds from the North-East and summit temperatures remained well below freezing. The snowpack is slowly consolidating but instabilities are present mainly on steep South through West to North-West aspects above 900 metres. When tested on a Westerly aspect at 1140 metres a deep-seated weakness was observed due to a faceted layer. The avalanche hazard is Considerable (Category 3). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK MON 28/2/05 Snow showers will cross the mountains on moderate West turning North-Westerly winds with summit temperatures well below freezing. Avalanches are likely due to new slab build-up on Easterly to South-East aspects above 900 metres, instabilities will remain on steep South through West to North-West slopes and gullies. The avalanche hazard will be Considerable (Category 3). CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Very good cover excellent for ski touring. ICING: Plenty of routes being done in the Northern Corries leaving a trail of black lines through thick rime. COMMENT: Good conditions set for the BMC International climbing meet! LOCHABER AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS SUN 27/2/05 There has been little change in the snowpack from yesterday. Localised areas of moderately bonded snow are present in some sheltered locations mainly on South-West, West and North- West aspects above 800m. Wind scoured slopes are frozen and stable. The avalanche hazard is Moderate (Category 2). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK MON 28/2/05 A cold and unsettled West to North-West airflow with snow showers, is expected overnight and tomorrow. The arrival of snow showers will form a new hazard from localised areas of windslab with greatest accumulations on steep slopes with an East and South-East aspect. Where this windslab forms, the avalanche hazard will be Considerable ( Category 3 ). CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Snow remaining at most levels. ICING: Freezing level 400m on Monday. COMMENT: Ice on many paths. GLENCOE AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS SUN 27/2/05 It has been a slightly milder day however 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 MON 28/2/05 A cold NW airflow will affect the area with snow showers above 500m accompanied by strong W to NW winds. New accumulations of windslab will form on E to SE facing slopes in sheltered locations mainly above 800m. The new accumulations of windslab will be moderately to weakly bonded especially on steep scarp slopes and gully exits. The avalanche hazard will increase to Considerable (Category 3) in these areas. CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Snow above 500 metres with best cover above 700m. ICING: freezing level 500m. COMMENT: A return to unsettled weather with snow showers. SOUTHERN CAIRNGORMS AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS SUN 27/2/05 Gentle fluctuations in the freezing level have helped to consolidate recent deposits with the majority of the snowpack now demonstrating good stability. Moderately bonded layers can still be found but these are restricted to deeper deposits on steeper terrain on SE through S to W aspects above 1000 metres. The avalanche hazard is Moderate (Category 2). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK MON 28/2/05 Occasional snow showers on light winds will produce a superficial covering of fresh snow with limited new accumulations on E to S aspects. The majority of snow will be well bonded with just a few moderately bonded areas remaining. These will be found in steeper sheltered locations on SE through S to W aspects over 1000 metres. The avalanche hazard will be Moderate (Category 2). CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: The best cover is to be found on the high plateau areas but most hills have some snow. ICING: Watercourses continue to be the best option. COMMENT: Staying cold with no sign of the dreaded thaw just yet! CREAG MEAGAIDH AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS SUN 27/2/05 It has been a day of relatively cold temperatures, negligible snowfall and very light North-East winds. The most recent slab on steep South-West to West aspects remains cold but intermittent sunshine has brought about some consolidation to these deposits. North to East-facing aspects have some residual soft, cold snow but for the most part these places are either hard or crusty. The avalanche hazard is Moderate (Category 2). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK MON 28/2/05 Winds will remain moderate but become West then North-West with occasional snow showers. This will result in some new weakly-bonded slab build up at the tops of very steep and sheltered North-East to South-facing slopes and gullies above 900 metres. Stability will steadily decline in these locations over the course of the day. The avalanche hazard will be Considerable (Category 3). CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Remains good above 550m. ICING: Continues to build but of variable quality. COMMENT: Car park full again today. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------