NORTHERN CAIRNGORMS AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS SAT 20/2/99 New snow overnight and during Saturday has resulted in unstable accumulations of windslab on steep E aspects above 1000m. Triggered cornice collapse and soft slab avalanche 1130hrs in Ciste Mhearadh (1100m). Avalanche hazard (Considerable Category 3). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK SUN 21/2/99 Further snow throughout the period with fresh N winds will see new slab development extend from ESE to S aspects. In these steepest slopes and gullies above 950m the avalanche hazard will remain Considerable (Category 3). Avalanches are likely in the above mentioned locations. CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Down to around 600m on Sat. with heavy drifting in higher elevations. ICING: Limited build up, starting to re-form in main drainage lines. Easy gullies complete and firm. COMMENT: Hard icy conditions underfoot on wind-scoured slopes. Remaining wintry. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- GLENCOE AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS SAT 20/2/99 Heavy showers followed by more persistent snowfall has deposited windslab on slopes facing NE through to SE. Significant quantities of weakly bonded soft slab and hail are lying above 600m in summit gullies and sheltered corrie headwalls. In these areas the avalanche hazard is Considerable (Category 3). Cornices are developing above sheltered slopes and gullies. AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK SUN 21/2/99 Continuing snowfall will deposit further layers of windslab on slopes facing NE to SE above 400m. Deep accumulations of unstable soft slab and hail will exist in summit gullies and corrie headwalls. In these locations avalanches are likely. Avalanche hazard Considerable (Category 3). Cornices will be soft and unstable. CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Fresh snow above 600m. ICING: Ice forming on rocks above 600m. COMMENT: Blustery conditions over ridges. Hard snow ice still exists on exposed NW slopes. Turf firming up. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- NORTHERN CAIRNGORMS AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS SAT 20/2/99 New snow overnight and during Saturday has resulted in unstable accumulations of windslab on steep E aspects above 1000m. Triggered cornice collapse and soft slab avalanche 1130hrs in Ciste Mhearadh (1100m). Avalanche hazard (Considerable Category 3). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK SUN 21/2/99 Further snow throughout the period with fresh N winds will see new slab development extend from ESE to S aspects. In these steepest slopes and gullies above 950m the avalanche hazard will remain Considerable (Category 3). Avalanches are likely in the above mentioned locations. CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Down to around 600m on Sat. with heavy drifting in higher elevations. ICING: Limited build up, starting to re-form in main drainage lines. Easy gullies complete and firm. COMMENT: Hard icy conditions underfoot on wind-scoured slopes. Remaining wintry. LOCHABER AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS SAT 20/2/99 A strong W airflow overnight and during Saturday has formed fresh areas of poorly bonded snow. Greatest accumulations are on sheltered slopes and gullies with a NE and E aspect. Where these accumulations exist in sufficient quantities the avalanche hazard is Considerable (Category 3). Elsewhere the snowpack is generally well bonded and stable. Avalanche debris observed above 800m on Aonach Mor. AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK SUN 21/2/99 The strong W airflow with snow overnight and during Sunday will continue to form an unstable snowpack. Poorly bonded windslab will form in many locations, mainly on sheltered slopes and gullies with a NE, E and SE aspect above 700m. In these locations avalanches will occur. The avalanche hazard will be High (Category 4). Windblown slopes will remain hard frozen. CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Main cover above 700m. ICING: Freezing level lowering to around 300m on Sunday. COMMENT: Continuing strong winds, becoming colder. GLENCOE AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS SAT 20/2/99 Heavy showers followed by more persistent snowfall have deposited windslab on slopes facing NE through to SE. Significant quantities of weakly bonded soft slab and hail are lying above 600m in summit gullies and sheltered corrie headwalls. In these areas the avalanche hazard is Considerable (Category 3). Cornices are developing above sheltered slopes and gullies. AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK SUN 21/2/99 Continuing snowfall will deposit further layers of windslab on slopes facing NE to SE above 400m. Deep accumulations of unstable soft slab and hail will exist in summit gullies and corrie headwalls. In these locations avalanches are likely. Avalanche hazard Considerable (Category 3). Cornices will be soft and unstable. CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Fresh snow above 600m. ICING: Ice forming on rocks above 600m. COMMENT: Blustery conditions over ridges. Hard snow ice still exists on exposed NW slopes. Turf firming up. SOUTHERN CAIRNGORMS AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS SAT 2/02/99 Cold conditions overnight and very strong NW winds have left many open areas scoured and icy. Light snow showers during the day with drifting are leading to small, localised deposits of moderately to weakly bonded windslab in steep sheltered areas of NE to SE facing slopes. These deposits are generally insignificant and avoidable, although continuing to build. Where localised deposits are greatest the avalanche hazard is Moderate (Category 2). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK SUN 21/2/99 The continuing cold conditions with moderate snow showers and very strong NW winds will lead to further windslab build up on NE to SE slopes and sheltered gully areas. As these deposits build they will remain only moderately to weakly bonded to old snow-ice, especially on steep slopes above 900m. The avalanche hazard will become Considerable (Category 3) where new deposits are greatest. Elsewhere the snow will be hard and very icy. CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Patchy icy snow in most areas with some softer fresh snow in sheltered NE to S slopes. ICING: Some good ice about with, many classic gullies holding good snow-ice. Buttresses generally lean. COMMENT: Continuing cold for the next few days. CREAG MEAGAIDH AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS SAT 20/2/99 Heavy snowfall on very strong Westerly winds has caused deep accumulations of highly unstable soft slab to form on NW through to SE aspects above 700m. Deepest deposits are in the gullies and hollows. Other aspects are wind scoured and mostly stable, but shallow pockets of soft slab can be encountered in sheltered areas. The avalanche hazard is High (Category 4). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK SUN 21/2/99 Heavy snow will continue overnight and during Sunday with considerable drifting on a severe gale force Westerly wind. The new snow will further load existing accumulations of highly unstable soft slab. Sheltered gullies and hollows of a NW through to SE aspect above 700m will be most affected with shallower deposits being encountered in sheltered areas on other aspects. Fresh cornices will continue to form during this period. The avalanche hazard will remain High (Category 4) with avalanches occurring in the above mentioned areas. CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: New snow falling to 350m. Deep snow on Coire Ardair path. ICING: Soft on the lower pitches of the Post Face. Still looking good in the Inner Coire. COMMENT: Creag Meagaidh fully living up to its reputation today. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------