LOCHABER AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS SUN 14/2/99 A brief thaw overnight followed by colder conditions during Sunday have stabilised the existing snowpack. The avalanche hazard is Low (Category 1). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK MON 15/2/99 Mild, wet and windy conditions are expected overnight and during Monday. The snowpack will thaw at all levels. Stability will remain good, except on steep slope inclinations where some surface instabilities will be present. In these locations, the avalanche hazard will be Moderate (Category 2). Remaining cornices will be prone to collapse. CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Main accumulations remain above 700m. ICING: Freezing level rising to 2400m overnight and remaining warm during Monday. COMMENT: Unpleasant weather forecast over the next 24 hours. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- NORTHERN CAIRNGORMS AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS SUN 14/2/99 Overnight rain and mild temperatures moistened yesterday's new snow sufficiently to produce some small wet sluffs on steep NE to E aspects above 1000m. Dry, colder conditions during the day re-froze the upper layer of the snowpack to leave a firm surface crust in many places. The snowpack is now stable in all locations and the avalanche hazard is Low (Category 1). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK MON 15/2/99 Wet, mild weather throughout the forecast period will bring little change to current snowpack stability. Any cornices that remain over steep E to SE aspects may become unstable and prone to collapse. The snowpack will be moist in all locations and remain stable, thus the avalanche hazard will remain Low (Category 1). CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Crusty and/or hard everywhere. Yesterday's nightmare breakable crust has been transformed into today's teeth-chattering hard crust! Unbroken ski-tour to Ben Macdui still possible but not recommended at present. ICING: Still around, as melt-down not as profound as expected, but heavy thaw with rain forecast. An umbrella will be more useful than an ice axe on Monday. COMMENT: Mild, wet and gale-force winds: full Scottish conditions! LOCHABER AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS SUN 14/2/99 A brief thaw overnight followed by colder conditions during Sunday have stabilised the existing snowpack. The avalanche hazard is Low (Category 1). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK MON 15/2/99 Mild, wet and windy conditions are expected overnight and during Monday. The snowpack will thaw at all levels. Stability will remain good, except on steep slope inclinations where some surface instabilities will be present. In these locations, the avalanche hazard will be Moderate (Category 2). Remaining cornices will be prone to collapse. CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Main accumulations remain above 700m. ICING: Freezing level rising to 2400m overnight and remaining warm during Monday. COMMENT: Unpleasant weather forecast over the next 24 hours. GLENCOE AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS SUN 14/2/99 Light rain overnight followed by colder conditions has made the snowpack generally firm and stable. Many exposed N to W facing slopes are wind scoured and very icy. Around the summits a dusting of fresh snow exists. Sheltered N to E summit gullies contain isolated pockets of shallow windslab. In these locations the avalanche hazard is Moderate (Category 2). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK MON 15/2/99 Rain well above the summits overnight and during Mon. will make the snowpack soft and moist. Shallow deposits of soft slab will become less stable. In summit gullies containing soft wet slab the avalanche hazard will be Considerable (Category 3). Elsewhere the snowpack will consolidate and remain generally stable. CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Snow cover above 700m. ICING: Ice on rocks above 700m. COMMENT: Hazard of falling rocks and ice during thaw period. SOUTHERN CAIRNGORMS AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS SUN 14/2/99 Overnight thaw at all levels followed by slightly colder temperatures during the day has left the snowpack well bonded in most areas. Recent deposits on N through to SE slopes and gullies are still only moderately well bonded. These deposits although deep are generally avoidable. Some unstable cornices also remain. The avalanche hazard is Moderate (Category 2). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK MON 15/2/99 Very mild conditions with moderate to heavy rain at all levels will saturate the recent deposits on N through to SE slopes leaving them unstable especially in steep areas. Small sloughs are likely in these areas with larger wet snow avalanches likely if triggered by cornice collapse. All remaining cornices will be suspect during thaw with rock and icefall also a hazard. The avalanche hazard will be Considerable (Category 3). CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: More or less complete on plateau areas, patchy below 900m. Rain and thaw conditions will strip snow at lower levels on Monday. ICING: Most main gully lines have some ice, buttresses still holding some snow. Still generally lean however and subject to heavy thaw on Monday. COMMENT: Not really a good day to be out on the hills! CREAG MEAGAIDH AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS SUN 14/2/99 Mild conditions have continued, with the freezing level above the summits throughout the day and the snowpack remains generally well consolidated and stable in most places. Isolated areas of only moderately well bonded soft windslab are still present at the tops of steep slopes and gullies of a N through to SE aspect above 900m, and small wet sluffs were observed from steep rock slabs. The avalanche hazard is Moderate (Category 2). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK MON 15/2/99 Heavy rain on severe gale force Westerly winds both overnight and during tomorrow (Monday) with the freezing level rising to 2400m will accelerate the general thaw. The snowpack will become saturated with a risk of wet slides occurring on steep slopes of any aspect. There will also be an increased risk of cornice collapse. The avalanche hazard will be Considerable (Category 3). CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Main cover above 700m with many ridges bare but plenty still in the gullies. ICING: Starting to melt today and not looking good in the near future. COMMENT: -------------------------------------------------------------------------------