GLENCOE AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS SUN 13/2/00 Showers overnight have deposited windslab on NE to SE slopes mainly above 600 metres. Sheltered corrie headwalls and summit gullies contain deep layered soft slab. Soft slab lying on steep ground particularly on sunny SE slopes is weakly bonded. The avalanche hazard is Considerable (Category 3). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK MON 14/2/00 Snow showers followed by rising temperatures and rain to the summits in the afternoon will have a marked effect on the snowpack. The load will increase on existing deep soft slab weakly bonded to many steep slopes. Avalanches will occur on NE to SE corrie headwalls and in summit gullies. In these locations the avalanche hazard will be High (Category 4). CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Snow cover above 600m. ICING: Ice above 450m. COMMENT: Ridges and buttresses the safer option as temps. rise gullies and open slopes are loaded. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- LOCHABER AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS SUN 13/2/00 Snow showers and WNW winds overnight have continued to form areas of weakly bonded windslab in sheltered locations. Greatest accumulations are on steep slopes and gullies with N through E to SE aspects above 800 metres. The avalanche hazard is High (Category 4). Controlled release by explosives produced slab releases up to 1-metre deep on E aspects, Aonach Mor. Avalanche debris observed below No 3 and No 5 gullies, Ben Nevis. AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK MON 14/2/00 WNW winds with snow showers will continue to form areas of weakly bonded windslab in sheltered locations. Greatest accumulations will be on steep slopes and gullies with N through E to SE aspects above 800 metres where avalanches will occur. As warmer conditions move into the forecast area later on Monday the existing snowpack will become increasingly unstable. The avalanche hazard will be High (Category 4). Cornices will become prone to collapse. CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Fresh snow down to 100 metres ICING: Freezing levels set to rise later on Monday. COMMENT: Careful choice of routes required. Deep soft snow in the corrie floors making travel challenging. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- CREAG MEAGAIDH AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS SUN 13/2/00 With heavy overnight snowfall on strong Westerly winds, drifting has continued to build deep deposits of very weakly bonded windslab on North through East to South aspects above 750 metres. Large unstable cornices are building above the same aspects. In Coire a'Chriochairein fresh avalanche debris was noted on a North-East aspect, and avalanche activity observed on a South-East aspect. The avalanche hazard is High (Category 4). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK MON 14/2/00 Drifting will continue overnight with snow showers on a fresh West-North-West wind. Deep accumulations of unstable windslab will be present on North through East to South aspects above 750 metres. The snowpack will start to consolidate as temperatures rise during the day, but large fresh cornices above the same aspects will be highly unstable and prone to collapse. The avalanche hazard will remain High (Category 4) and avalanches will occur. CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Fresh cover at all levels, hard work on foot! ICING: Starting to improve with the colder temperatures, but there's a lot of snow about and the Post Face is buried. COMMENT: Collapsing cornices can trigger avalanches on the slopes below - beware of debris run-out zones. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- NORTHERN CAIRNGORMS AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS SUN 13/2/00 Avalanche debris observed in Hells Lum, fracture line 100 metres long and crown wall 1.5 metres deep, ran very close to the access trail. Fracture line profile showed the slab released about 40 centimetres above the crust. Foot and ski penetration indicates that there is still significant snow available for transport. The avalanche hazard is Considerable (Category 3). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK MON 14/2/00 Some moderation from storm values will see continued snow showers and prevailing winds loading from the WNW. The freezing level rising in the afternoon will be a likely trigger for avalanches, particularly on steep East and Southeast aspects above 900 metres. The avalanche hazard will be Considerable (Category 3). CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Some areas with 20-40 centimetre foot penetration down to 600 metres. ICING: Equal distribution boulders, snow and ice cover on the plateau COMMENT: Good ski touring in selected areas. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- SOUTHERN CAIRNGORMS AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS SUN 13/2/00 Snowfall has left areas of soft slab in sheltered locations on N to SE aspects above 900 metres. After a very unstable period overnight, new deposits are showing signs of consolidation but on steeper slopes stability remains poor. Avalanche debris was noted beneath Parallel A and Raeburns Gully. The avalanche hazard is Considerable (Category 3). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK MON 14/2/00 There will be further loading of soft slab on to N to SE aspects before a rise in freezing levels and rain in the afternoon. All recent deposits will become unstable with greatest hazard mainly on scarp and other steep slopes where avalanches will occur. Cornices will also threaten these avalanche prone slopes below. The avalanche hazard will be High (Category 4). Wind scoured slopes will remain stable. CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: New snow being redistributed by changeable winds. ICING: Much improved above 900 metres, mixed quality. COMMENT: Snow in morning, rain in afternoon! -------------------------------------------------------------------------------