NORTHERN CAIRNGORMS AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS TUE 15/2/00 Snowfall has only just started. However, strong South-Westerly winds have eroded the snowpack and drifting has led to some build-up of weakly bonded slab in isolated locations on mainly North-East aspects above 850 metres. On a similar aspect at 1020 metres, easy shears were obtained in soft layers below the surface melt-freeze crust. The avalanche hazard is Considerable (Category 3). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK WED 16/2/00 Haevy snow showers will continue through the night, easing off during the day. West then South-West winds will create substantial areas of weakly bonded fresh slab on North to East facing slopes above 850 metres. Avalanches are likely in these areas. The avalanche hazard will be considerable (Category 3). CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Still lacking full cover, but reasonable accumulations in corries. ICING: Gradually building : much plateau icing. COMMENT: Rapid deterioration of weather. LOCHABER AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS TUE 15/2/00 Snow showers and variable winds overnight and on Tuesday have deposited unstable snow on various sheltered aspects. Weakly bonded windslab is present mainly on sheltered steep slopes, scarp slopes and gullies with NE, E and SE aspects. As winds have backed during Tuesday areas of unstable snow have started to form on sheltered N and NW aspects. In these locations the avalanche hazard is Considerable (Category 3). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK WED 16/2/00 A cold, showery W-SW airflow will cover the area overnight and during Wednesday. Areas of unstable windslab will continue to form in sheltered locations. Greatest accumulations will be on sheltered N, NE, E and SE facing slopes and gullies. Avalanches will occur in these locations. The avalanche hazard will be High (Category 4). CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Fresh snow lying at 100m! ICING: Wind scoured snow slopes remain frozen and stable. COMMENT: Care required on some exit slopes and gullies. GLENCOE AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS TUE 15/2/00 Colder conditions overnight have given the old snowpack a firmer crust. New snow has fallen above 350 metres. Soft slab has accumulated on sheltered N to E facing corrie headwalls and in summit gullies. With heavier showers this afternoon these deposits have become deeper and potentially unstable on steep slopes. In these locations the avalanche hazard is Considerable (Category 3). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK WED 16/2/00 Heavy showers will continue to deposit windslab on N to E facing corrie headwalls and in sheltered summit gullies. Layered soft slab accumulating on steep slopes will be weakly bonded. Avalanches are likely where gullies fan out with unstable cornices above. The avalanche hazard will be Considerable (Category 3). CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: New snow above 300m. ICING: Ice forming above 600m. COMMENT: Climbing conditions improving, ice building up and turf becoming firmer. SOUTHERN CAIRNGORMS AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS TUE 15/2/00 Light snow overnight has formed shallow deposits that are weakly bonded to the melt freeze crust on mainly SE aspects. Consolidation of recent deposits on N through to SE aspects is still in progress with moderately bonded layers existing deep within the snowpack. The avalanche hazard is Considerable (Category 3). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK WED 16/2/00 Snow showers will form weakly bonded deposits on NE to SE aspects with some drifting into N facing gully tops expected. Stability will be poor especially where deeper accumulations overlie the moderately bonded snowpack. On steeper slopes and in gullies the avalanche hazard will be Considerable (Category 3). CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Localised accumulations on N through to SE aspects. Old snow on high plateau areas. ICING: Much improved due to prolonged colder temperatures. Requires some clearing of fresh snow. COMMENT: Ridges and buttresses remain a safer option for N through to SE aspects. CREAG MEAGAIDH AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS TUE 15/2/00 Heavy snow showers and drifting on gale force South-Westerly winds have been building deep areas of soft, weakly bonded windslab on North-West through East to South-East aspects above 800 metres during the day. Fresh unstable cornices have been forming above slopes of the same aspect. The avalanche hazard is Considerable (Category 3). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK WED 16/2/00 Remaining cold with snow on a strong West to South-West wind over the period. Very unstable windslab will continue to accumulate on North-West through East to South-East aspects above 750 metres. Deposits will be deepest in sheltered gullies and hollows and on scarp slopes beneath cornices. The avalanche hazard will be High (Category 4) and avalanches will occur. Cornices will be large and very unstable. CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Cover at all levels, excellent ski touring conditions. ICING: Buried again. COMMENT: A fine start today followed by blizzard conditions. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------