NORTHERN CAIRNGORMS AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS WED 17/2/99 Wintry conditions with snow showers and NW winds have given rise to areas of newly formed windslab. These are lying mainly on steep E to SE aspects above 950 M. In these steepest locations the avalanche hazard is Considerable (Category 3) AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK THU 18/2/99 Further snow will fall overnight on fresh W winds before milder conditions on Thursday when sleet/ rain will occur up to summits. This will maintain the current Considerable (Category 3) hazard of avalanche. Avalanches are likely particularly on steepest E aspects where most recent accumulations of fresh snow become moistened with early morning rain showers. CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Snow at all levels. Hard/icy areas on many wind scoured N aspects ICING: Reasonable build-up. Firm conditions in all main gully lines. COMMENT: Slow rise in freezing levels to summits. LOCHABER AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS WED 17/2/99 Localised areas of unstable soft windslab are present on many aspects. Greatest accumulations are present at the tops of slopes and gullies with a N through E to S aspect. In these localised areas, the avalanche hazard is Considerable (Category 3). On scoured snow slopes, the surface is hard frozen and stable. Recent avalanche debris observed in Easy Gully, Aonach Mor. AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK THU 18/2/99 Rain at all levels is expected overnight and during Thursday. Overnight a period of high instability and accompanying wet snow avalanches are expected. During Thursday the snowpack will gradually consolidate. By Thursday morning, localised areas of wet snow will still be present, mainly on steep slopes and at the tops of gullies. In these locations the avalanche hazard will be Moderate (Category 2). CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Main accumulations remain above 750m. ICING: Freezing level rising above the summits overnight and during Thursday. COMMENT: A wet day in prospect. GLENCOE AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS WED 17/2/99 Fresh NW winds have redistributed new snow in to sheltered gullies and on to E to SE facing slopes. These deposits are above 850m and are lying as isolated patches of soft slab. Where accumulations are significant on steep slopes the avalanche hazard is Moderate (Category 2). Elsewhere the snowpack is refrozen and generally stable. AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK THU 18/2/99 Turning mild with moderate rain at all levels. The snowpack will become soft and moist as freezing levels rise. Where deposits of soft windslab existed on steep slopes wet snow sluffs are likely but these are not expected to be significant. Where these accumulations are on steep slopes the avalanche hazard will be Moderate (Category 2). Otherwise the general snowpack will remain stable although cornices will be fragile and prone to collapse. CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Snow cover above 300m. ICING: Ice will start to thaw as freezing level rises. COMMENT: Mild conditions with rain. SOUTHERN CAIRNGORMS AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS WED 17/2/99 Overnight snow and further drifting have continued to load windslab in sheltered locations on NE through to S aspects. These localised areas are very unstable with the hazard of avalanche Considerable (Category 3). Other aspects remain generally stable although cornices are continuing to grow and are unstable. AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK THU 18/2/99 After overnight snow there will be a return to milder conditions with some rain and freezing levels rising to above the summits. Poor stability will be found on NE through to S aspects, where avalanches are likely and unstable cornices will be prone to collapse. Here the avalanche hazard will be Considerable (Category 3) with older snow ice softening but remaining stable. CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Older snow is very hard and icy with deep drifting in sheltered areas. ICING: Good at Lochnagar with many gullies and groves iced up. Buttresses generally lean. COMMENT: Freezing level will rise to around 1500m during the day. CREAG MEAGAIDH AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS WED 17/2/99 Overnight snowfall and strong Westerly winds have deposited areas of very unstable windslab on N through E to S facing slopes above 650m. Sheltered gullies and hollows on these aspects are the main areas affected and here the avalanche hazard is Considerable (Category 3). Fresh unstable cornices have continued to build above steep N through to S facing slopes. Elsewhere slopes have been wind-scoured and are generally well consolidated hard snow-ice. AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK THU 18/2/99 Moderate snowfall overnight on fresh Westerly winds will continue to build accumulations of soft windslab in sheltered gullies and hollows on N through E to S facing slopes above 650m. This will be followed by rain and a rise in freezing levels late in the night with a temperature of plus 2 degrees C at the summits expected by midday. Existing deposits of windslab and fresh cornices will remain very unstable. The avalanche hazard will be Considerable (Category 3) and avalanches are likely. CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Cover at all levels. Main accumulations in gullies and hollows; hard snow-ice on wind- scoured slopes. ICING: Looking quite good, still a lot of snow on the Post Face routes. COMMENT: -------------------------------------------------------------------------------