NORTHERN CAIRNGORMS
AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS FRI 19/2/99 
Mainly dry over the period with a return of cold conditions on
Friday. This melt /freeze cycle with no significant amounts of
new snow has resulted in a stable snowpack. The avalanche hazard
is Low (Category 1).

AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK SAT 20/2/99
Strong W winds accompanied by moderate amounts of new 
snow overnight and on Saturday will see fresh windblown snow
developing primarily on E aspects. In steepest slopes and gully 
heads, above 950m, where significant deposits occur avalanches 
are likely. Considerable (Category 3) hazard in these locations.

CLIMBING CONDITIONS 

SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Sparse cover. Hard and icy in 
plateau areas with a slightly breakable crust below 900m.

ICING: Much depleted from recent thaw. Still in deepest recesses
although most buttresses black on Friday. Gully lines still
complete and firm.

COMMENT: Return to wintry conditions on Saturday.




LOCHABER
AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS FRI 19/2/99 
Colder conditions overnight have stabilised the existing
snowpack. Despite light snow showers during Friday, no
significant fresh snow accumulations have formed. The avalanche
hazard is Low (Category 1).
 
AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK SAT 20/2/99
Strong W winds and heavy snow showers are expected overnight and
during Saturday. New areas of unstable windslab will form in
sheltered locations. Greatest accumulations will be at the tops
of NE, E and SE facing slopes and gullies. Avalanches are likely
in these locations where the avalanche hazard will be
Considerable (Category 3). Elsewhere the snowpack will be frozen
and stable.
 

CLIMBING CONDITIONS 

SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Main accumulations remain in N 
and E facing corries above 800m.

ICING: Freezing level remaining at around 600m.

COMMENT: Old snow remains frozen. Ice-axe and crampons essential
for everyone venturing on to the mountains. Ice formed on many
footpaths.





GLENCOE
AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS FRI 19/2/99
Colder conditions overnight have made the snowpack generally firm
and stable. Snow showers above 500m have deposited isolated
pockets of windslab in sheltered hollows and gullies facing NE
through to SE. In these areas the avalanche hazard is Moderate
(Category 2).

AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK SAT 20/2/99
Heavy snow showers overnight and during Saturday will deposit
windslab on slopes facing NE through to SE above 600m. Sheltered
corrie headwalls and summit gullies will accumulate significant
quantities of weakly bonded soft slab. In these areas the
avalanche hazard will be Considerable (Category 3). Slopes with
an exposed W aspect will remain icy and stable.

CLIMBING CONDITIONS 

SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Snow cover above 700m.

ICING: Ice reforming above 600m.

COMMENT: Snow ice prevails but turf still wet on buttresses, many
ice climbs have been stripped but now reforming. Descents on hard
snow ice require caution.
 


SOUTHERN CAIRNGORMS
AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS FRI 19/2/99 
Melt freeze conditions have left the snowpack crusty but stable
at all levels. Some cornices have refrozen in a semi collapsed
position and require care. The avalanche hazard is Low (Category
1).

AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK SAT 20/2/99
Cold conditions will continue with some snow overnight and during
the day. There will be new accumulations on N to E aspects which
will overlie the existing harder snow ice and be very unstable.
Where new deposits are at their greatest the avalanche hazard
will be Considerable (Category 3).


CLIMBING CONDITIONS 

SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Yesterday's thaw has restricted snow
mainly to higher corries and some plateau areas. 

ICING: In Lochnagar, some quality ice left, but it has suffered in
the thaw. Some good snow-ice in classic gullies.

COMMENT: Most buttresses have become rock climbs now, but Eagle
Buttress and a couple of others have held on to reasonable
amounts of snow.
 


CREAG MEAGAIDH
AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS FRI 19/2/99 
Snow showers on storm force Westerly winds have led to a rapid
accumulation of areas of very unstable soft windslab this
afternoon. The main areas affected are the tops of steep NW
through E to S facing slopes above 750m and the deep gullies of
the corries. Where this slab is building the avalanche hazard is
Considerable (Category 3). In other areas the snowpack is well
consolidated and stable.

AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK SAT 20/2/99
Moderate snowfall overnight and tomorrow on severe gale force
Westerly winds will continue to load NW through E to S facing
slopes above 650m with fresh windslab. Sheltered gullies and
hollows will be particularly affected and new unstable cornices
will form above these aspects. The avalanche hazard will be High
(Category 4) in these areas and avalanches will occur.
Wind-scoured slopes will remain well bonded and stable.


CLIMBING CONDITIONS 

SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Good cover above 650m, fresh slab 
building in the gullies.

ICING: Pinnacle Buttress has lost a lot of ice and water is 
running underneath the lower ice pitches of the Post Face - 
needs to get colder! Inner Coire is still holding ice.

COMMENT: Pretty wild at times today, and more blizzards 
forecast for tomorrow.


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