NORTHERN CAIRNGORMS AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS FRI 26/2/99 Snowpack stability is good in many places and a hard, icy crust is prevalent in windswept areas. Strong WSW to W winds and blustery snow showers - some of which were intense - combined to create poorly stabilised slab on NE to E aspects. This new slab is poorly stabilised but not extensive and lies on steeper, sheltered gully heads and scarp slopes above 1050m. The avalanche hazard is Considerable (Category 3) but localised in these places. Small, dry slab avalanche triggered at 1100m on a steep ENE slope at 1330hrs. AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK SAT 27/2/99 Stability will again be good in many places on Saturday. Some additional but limited new windslab development can be expected mainly on steep NE to E aspects above 1050m as a consequence of SW winds and light snow showers. The avalanche hazard will be localised but Considerable (Category 3) where new slab build up is greatest. The snowpack will be hard and icy in all other locations. CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Patches of unyielding boilerplate. ICING: Re-forming but comparatively modest in quantity. Most gullies complete with good snow-ice. COMMENT: Cold again on Saturday. LOCHABER AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS FRI 26/2/99 Colder temperatures overnight have stabilised all of the pre- existing snowpack. Snow showers during Friday have started to form fresh areas of unstable windslab. This fresh windslab exhibits poor stability. During the day, significant accumulations have formed, greatest accumulations being at the top of N, NE and E facing slopes and gullies. In these locations the avalanche hazard is Considerable (Category 3). On wind scoured slopes the snow is frozen and stable. AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK SAT 27/2/99 Further snow showers and strong SW winds are expected throughout the period. Further areas of poorly bonded windslab will form, greatest accumulations being on steep N, NE and E facing aspects above 800m. Headwalls and tops of gullies will be particularly affected. Avalanches will occur in these locations. Where this fresh windslab exists, the avalanche hazard will be High (Category 4). Wind scoured snow slopes will be hard frozen and stable. CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Fresh snow lying above 550m. ICING: Freezing level lowering to about 400m overnight and during Saturday. COMMENT: Unstable snow expected in many gullies. GLENCOE AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS FRI 26/2/99 Colder conditions have deposited fresh snow above 300m. Sheltered slopes facing N to E contain areas of windslab overlying hard old snow. Deeper deposits of layered soft slab are weakly bonded in gullies and steep corrie headwalls above 700m. In these locations the avalanche hazard is Considerable (Category 3). Exposed old snow is wind scoured and icy. AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK SAT 27/2/99 Heavy showers overnight and during Saturday will deposit fresh snow above 100m. Sheltered N to E facing slopes will accumulate further layers of windslab. Avalanches are likely where significant quantities of layered soft slab are present on steep corrie headwalls and in gullies above 600m. The avalanche hazard will be Considerable (Category 3). Cornices will be soft and unstable. CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Fresh snow above 300m. ICING: Ice forming on rocks above 400m. COMMENT: Climbing conditions improving, particularly buttresses. Old snow is icy on exposed slopes. SOUTHERN CAIRNGORMS AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS FRI 26/2/99 Recent melt freeze conditions have left most of the snow crusty but stable at all levels. Some very light accumulations have formed on N to SE slopes but present no real hazard. The avalanche hazard is Moderate (Category 2). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK SAT 27/2/99 There will be snow showers and strong winds from the SW throughout the night and during the day. This will leave new deposits of snow in sheltered locations on N to E aspects where they will overlie snow-ice and be unstable, particularly on steeper slopes. Where accumulations are at their greatest the avalanche hazard will be Considerable (Category 3). CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Patchy, with most mainly on plateau areas and corries. ICING: Generally lean but some easier gullies still hold ice. Should improve in current conditions. COMMENT: A windy day in prospect! CREAG MEAGAIDH AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS FRI 26/2/99 Light snowfall and drifting on a strong SW wind has started to build moderate accumulations of soft windslab on N through E to S aspects above 750m. At the tops of steep slopes and gullies on these aspects, where accumulations are deepest, the avalanche hazard is Considerable (Category 3). In other areas the snowpack is windscoured and stable. Large fresh cornices are present above steep N through to S facing slopes. AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK SAT 27/2/99 Moderate to heavy snowfall tonight and through tomorrow on a severe gale SW wind will quickly build large accumulations of fresh unstable windslab on N through E to S aspects above 650m. Sheltered gullies and hollows and the tops of steep slopes will be most affected. The avalanche hazard will be High (Category 4) and avalanches will occur. Cornices will continue to build through this period and remain very unstable. CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Good cover above 750m. ICING: Pinnacle Buttress stripped, most ice buried on the Post Face and the Inner Coire routes still there but a wee bit thin. COMMENT: Looks like we're in for another wild weekend!! -------------------------------------------------------------------------------