NORTHERN CAIRNGORMS AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS MON 14/2/00 Generally this has been a day of settlement and some consolidation of the snowpack. The warming with freezing level to 1500 metres has contributed to better bonding of the storm layer but moderate shears are still present. Foot penetration is up to 40 centimetres as low as 600 metres. Some wind drifts are half a metre high. The avalanche hazard is Considerable (Category 3). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK TUE 15/2/00 Unsettled weather with heavy snow showers from the West and Southwest will maintain the instability in the snowpack. Affected aspects will mainly be North through to South-East above 850 metres. The snowpack still has a cold dry layer from the recent storm: in places this is a 1 metre thick slab. Avalanches are likely on the indicated aspects and elevations. The avalanche hazard will be Considerable (Category 3). CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Some unconsolidated snow up to 40 centimetres deep still available for trail breaking. ICING: Drifted snow, icing and boulder fields about equal distribution in the plateau zone. COMMENT: LOCHABER AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS MON 14/2/00 Rain during Monday has produced wet surface instabilities below 1200 metres, above this level the snowpack remains weakly bonded. Greatest accumulations of unstable snow are present on steep slopes, gullies and hollows with N, E and SE aspects. The avalanche hazard is High (Category 4). Cornices prone to collapse. AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK TUE 15/2/00 A return to colder conditions during the forecast period will start to consolidate the existing wet surface instabilities, however deeper instabilities will still remain, particularly above 1000 metres. Snow showers with WSW winds will continue to form fresh areas of windslab on steep slopes and gullies with N, E and SE aspects where avalanches will occur. The avalanche hazard will be High (Category 4). CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Best cover in N and E facing corries above 800 metres. ICING: Should improve in the thaw freeze cycle. COMMENT: Route choice will require caution, particularly the exits. Wind scoured slopes will return to hard frozen and icy. GLENCOE AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS MON 14/2/00 Warm conditions with rain to the summits this morning have moistened the surface layers of the snowpack. Existing deep soft slab is weakly bonded on steep NE to SE corrie headwalls and summit gullies. In summit gullies the avalanche hazard is High (Category 4). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK TUE 15/2/00 Colder conditions overnight and during Tuesday will give the snowpack a firm crust. This crust will conceal instabilities remaining within the snowpack between layers of soft slab and hail. Showers will deposit new windslab on NE to SE facing corrie headwalls and in summit gullies. The avalanche hazard will be Considerable (Category 3). CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Snow cover above 700m. ICING: Thawing ice above 650m. COMMENT: Ridges and buttresses the safer option. SOUTHERN CAIRNGORMS AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS MON 14/2/00 Winds have loaded areas of soft slab into sheltered locations on N through to E aspects above 850 metres. Light rain and a brief rise in the freezing level has led to some consolidation of surface layers but on steeper slopes stability over the older snow ice layer remains poor. The avalanche hazard is Considerable (Category 3). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK TUE 15/2/00 On N through to E aspects further accumulations will build in sheltered locations on a moderately to weakly bonded snowpack. Greatest hazard will be found on scarp and other steep slopes above 900 metres where avalanches will be likely. The avalanche hazard will be Considerable (Category 3). Exposed slopes will remain stable. CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Still remains patchy, best above 900m, in corries and on higher plateau areas. ICING: Has improved, some disappeared under snow. COMMENT: Some buttresses holding reasonable amounts of snow. CREAG MEAGAIDH AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS MON 14/2/00 A mild airflow has covered the region with the freezing level above the summits. This has helped to consolidate the snowpack slightly leaving it soft and damp. Instabilities are still present and unstable soft slab exists on North through East to South- East aspects above 800 metres. Considerable (Category 3) avalanche hazard. AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK TUE 15/2/00 With a return to colder conditions the underlying damp snowpack will freeze and consolidate. However heavy snow showers on a gale force westerly winds will quickly form new unstable windslab deposits in sheltered gullies and hollows of a North through East to South-East aspect above 800 metres. Where these deposits are encountered the avalanche hazard will be Considerable (Category 3) with avalanches likely in the above mentioned areas. CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Snow at all levels Main cover above 700 metres. ICING: What little there is was very wet and soft. COMMENT: -------------------------------------------------------------------------------