NORTHERN CAIRNGORMS AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS SUN 21/2/99 New, deep windslab lies on all E to SE aspects above 950m. Weak, soft layers were noted in this new snow which sheared readily in stability tests. Deepest deposits lie on steeper ground of the aspects mentioned and stability here is very poor. High (Category 4) hazard of avalanche in these locations. Slopes and gullies of most other aspects are hard and stable. AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK MON 22/2/99 Little change is expected in weather and avalanche conditions right through the forecast period. Further heavy snow showers and gale-force NW winds will combine to load weakly stabilised windslab on to steep E to SE aspects where avalanches will occur. High (Category 4) hazard of avalanche in these places. Stability will remain good on all wind-exposed locations. CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Fresh snow at all levels on Sunday. Heavy drifting at higher elevations. Rock-hard snow-ice in scoured locations on plateaux. ICING: Most crags still not recovered from last melt-down. Ice building on some ice routes. `Mirror Direct' successfully ascended today. COMMENT: Continuing wintry with poor visibility above 900m (nil visibility likely during snow showers). LOCHABER AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS SUN 21/2/99 Strong winds and snow overnight have produced large areas of soft unstable windslab. This windslab is present on many slope aspects but greatest accumulations are at the tops of NE, E and SE facing slopes and gullies. Where this windslab is present in significant quantities, the avalanche hazard is High (Category 4). Where the snowpack is wind scoured, it remains hard frozen and stable. AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK MON 22/2/99 Further snow showers and strong WNW winds are expected overnight and during Monday. Areas of unstable snow will continue to form in areas sheltered from the NW winds. Largest accumulations will be on slopes and gullies above 800m with a NE, E or SE aspect. Avalanches will occur in these locations. Other localised areas sheltered from the NE winds will also be affected. The avalanche hazard will be High (Category 4) in these locations. Where the snowpack is wind scoured, it will remain hard frozen and stable. CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Main cover above 700m. ICING: Remaining cold at most levels throughout the period. COMMENT: Large areas of soft unstable snow present in many gullies. GLENCOE AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS SUN 21/2/99 Heavy snow 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 sheltered gullies and corrie headwalls. In these areas the avalanche hazard is Considerable (Category 3). Cornices are developing above all sheltered slopes and gullies. AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK MON 22/2/99 Continuing snowfall and strong NW winds through Sunday night will deposit further layers of windslab on to slopes facing NE to SE mainly above 600m. Deeper accumulations of unstable soft slab containing hail will exist in all sheltered gullies and corrie headwalls. Where these conditions exist avalanches will occur with an avalanche hazard of High (Category 4). Cornices will remain soft and unstable. CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Fresh snow above 300m. ICING: Ice forming on rocks above 500m. COMMENT: Blustery conditions over ridges. Hard snow ice still exists on exposed NW facing slopes. Turf firming up. Layered windslab exists in sheltered areas. SOUTHERN CAIRNGORMS AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS SUN 21/2/99 Heavy snow showers and strong W winds have led to widespread drifting with deposits of new snow mainly on NE to SE slopes. Sheltered areas of N corries (especially Lochnagar) are also holding quantities of new snow. All new deposits are showing poor stability, especially where they overly snow-ice on steep slopes. The avalanche hazard is High (Category 4). Avalanche accident occurred on east facing slope on Carn a` Mhaim this afternoon. AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK MON 22/2/99 The cold showery NW to N airstream will continue with widespread drifting and further deposits of new snow on to the existing weakly bonded snowpack. NE through to S slopes will continue to see the greatest build up with sheltered areas of N facing corries also getting localised deposits. All these deposits and newly formed cornices will continue to be unstable especially on steep slopes where avalanches will occur. The avalanche hazard remains High (Category 4). Exposed areas will be icy. CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Fresh snow at all levels drifting in strong winds, open areas remain icy. ICING: Some good ice about, now being buried under soft snow. Buttresses holding mostly unconsolidated snow. COMMENT: Remaining cold with blizzards at times. CREAG MEAGAIDH AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS SUN 21/2/99 Heavy snowfall and drifting on very strong Westerly winds has caused deep accumulations of highly unstable soft slab to form on NW through to S aspects above 650m. Due to variable wind strength these deposits contain many unstable layers and all slope gradients should be treated with caution. Other aspects are wind scoured and mostly stable, but shallow pockets of soft slab can also be encountered in sheltered areas. The avalanche hazard is High (Category 4). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK MON 22/2/99 Heavy snow will continue overnight and during Monday with considerable drifting on a severe storm force NW becoming N wind. The new snow will further load existing accumulations of highly unstable windslab. Sheltered gullies and hollows of a N through to W aspects above 650m will be most affected with shallower deposits being encountered on sheltered areas on other aspects. Fresh unstable 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: Deep Snow at all levels, ski's recommended for travel. ICING: Still good in Inner Coire, improving on Post Face, large quantities of new snow now covering most routes. COMMENT: Large unstable cornices building above lee slopes of a NW through to S aspect. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------