CREAG MEAGAIDH AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS THU 25/2/99 Very mild temperatures with light rain and a strong SW wind have left the top layers of the snowpack soft and damp. In general the snowpack has continued to consolidate except for this wet surface layer. Steep slopes of a N through E to S aspect above 750m and the tops of gullies remain weakly bonded and in these areas the avalanche hazard is Considerable (Category 3). Debris both from slides off steep smooth slabs, and from cornice collapse, was noted. Remaining cornices are soft and unstable. AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK FRI 26/2/99 Temperatures will drop overnight with light snow falling tomorrow on a storm force W to SW wind. The existing snowpack will become harder and more stable in the colder conditions, but fresh windslab will build on N through to SE aspects above 750m, and in sheltered gullies and hollows. Where significant accumulations of windslab are found the avalanche hazard will be Considerable (Category 3). CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Thawing at all levels but still good cover above 700m. ICING: Pinnacle Buttress stripped, other routes thawing. Colder conditions should help. COMMENT: Still heavy going on foot. Cornices and fragile ice falling in the corries today. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- SOUTHERN CAIRNGORMS AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS THU 25/2/99 Mild conditions have led to some small cornice collapse and small sloughs in various areas of E to S facing slopes. Remaining cornices are sagging and prone to collapse. The recent snow deposits are moist and only moderately well bonded on steep slopes. Elsewhere, good stability exists. The avalanche hazard is Moderate (Category 2). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK FRI 26/2/99 A return to colder conditions will re-freeze the existing snowpack leaving it stable and icy. During Friday some light snow showers and storm force W to SW winds will bring new deposits of snow onto sheltered areas of N through to SE slopes. These will be generally insignificant, but where deposits are of any quantity and overly snow-ice they will be poorly bonded. The avalanche hazard will be Moderate (Category 2). CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Patchy snow cover will become icy as freezing conditions return. Not much new snow expected during Friday, but more over the weekend. ICING: Pretty lean really. Ice confined to classic gullies and natural runoff areas. Buttresses mostly black. COMMENT: Ever get the feeling you're living in a yo yo? Becoming cold and stormy throughout the period! ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- LOCHABER AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS THU 25/2/99 Mild conditions overnight and during Thursday have produced a moist snowpack at all levels. Localised instabilities exist on steep slopes and at the tops of gullies. In these locations the avalanche hazard is Considerable (Category 3). Cornices prone to collapse. AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK FRI 26/2/99 Colder conditions by Friday morning are expected to stabilise the existing snowpack. Snow showers and strong West to Southwest winds will form fresh areas of unstable windslab. Greatest accumulations will form at the tops of steep slopes and gullies with a NE or E aspect. In these locations the avalanche hazard will be Considerable (Category 3). Wind scoured slopes will be hard frozen and stable. CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Cover remaining at around 700m ICING: Freezing level lowering to 600m on Friday. COMMENT: Strong SW winds continuing. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- GLENCOE AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS THU 25/2/99 Rain at all levels has made the snowpack soft and moist. Exposed old snow remains relatively firm and stable. Areas of soft wet slab are present on NE to SE slopes mainly above 600m. Deeper layered slab lying on steep corrie headwalls and in sheltered gullies is weakly bonded. In these locations the avalanche hazard is Considerable (Category 3). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK FRI 26/2/99 Colder conditions will bring sleet then snow to sheltered ground facing N through to E. Areas of windslab will accumulate in summit gullies and corrie headwalls mainly above 500m. The avalanche hazard will be Considerable (Category 3). Old snow will become icy and wind scoured on exposed slopes. CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Wet snow above 500m. ICING: Thawing ice on rocks above 500m. COMMENT: Climbing conditions limited at present but falling temperatures on Friday should improve things. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- NORTHERN CAIRNGORMS AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS THU 25/2/99 Overnight thaw conditions brought about a period of high instability, which has now passed. The snowpack is now generally stable although moist. The avalanche hazard is Moderate (Category 2) on steep E to S aspects that are overhung by collapse-prone cornices. AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK FRI 26/2/99 A return to colder conditions with snow showers, more frequent during afternoon, and strong W winds. The existing snowpack will re-freeze and become stable in all locations. The avalanche hazard will rise to Considerable (Category 3) on NE to E aspects above 1000m with the onset of more significant snow showers late in the period. CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: The snow cover has suffered serious ablation (it's melted). Very patchy below 900m. ICING: There's been a considerable meltdown. Some ice still remains but buttresses are now black. COMMENT: Max. summit temperature on Thursday: +5.6 degrees C. Return to colder conditions with the promise of `full Scottish conditions' (and all that entails) later on Friday. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------