NORTHERN CAIRNGORMS
AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS WED 16/2/00
Avalanche fracture line and debris observed in Hell's Lum area, 
crown 20 metres long and 20 centimetres deep.  Shear tests in 
Coire Raibeirt produced easy and moderate results down 15 and 
60 centimetres on a 4 metre snowpack.  Stability is generally 
fair with isolated pockets of poor stability. The avalanche 
hazard is Considerable (Category 3).

AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK THU 17/2/00
The slab that is identified on South-East aspects will receive
additional load in the forecast period.  The prevailing wind will 
be Westerly and localised winds will add load on a variety of 
aspects.  North facing gully tops will also be suspect.
Avalanches are likely on South and East aspects above 900
metres.  The avalanche hazard will be Considerable (Category 3).

CLIMBING CONDITIONS 
SNOW DISTRIBUTION:   Snow available for redistribution 
indicated by numerous areas with 20 centimetre foot 
penetration.
ICING:  Ice rebuilding on the plateau, and climbs.
COMMENT:   Cooler temperatures, with freezing level to 300 
metres, for the forecast period.


LOCHABER
AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS WED 16/2/00
Large areas of soft unstable slab are present on many N through 
E to S aspects. Areas particularly affected are steep slope 
inclinations, scarp slopes and the tops of gullies. The avalanche 
hazard is High (Category 4). Widespread avalanche activity 
observed on NE, E and SE aspects of Aonach Mor above 900 metres.
Wind scoured snow slopes remain frozen and stable.
 
AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK THU 17/2/00
Snow showers and Westerly winds will affect the area 
overnight. Further areas of unstable windslab will form. Greatest 
accumulations will be on steep slopes, scarp slopes and tops of 
gullies with a NE, E or SE aspect. Other localised areas will also 
be affected. Avalanches will occur in these locations. The 
avalanche hazard will be High (Category 4).
Windblown snow slopes will remain frozen and stable.


CLIMBING CONDITIONS 

SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Fresh snow down to sea level.
ICING: Wind blown snow slopes remain hard frozen.
COMMENT: Care required due to large areas of unstable snow 
in many gullies.



GLENCOE
AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS WED 16/2/00
Heavy snow at all levels overnight has deposited windslab on 
sheltered NE to SE facing slopes mainly above 500 metres. 
Deep layered soft slab lying on steep corrie headwalls and in 
summit gullies is weakly bonded. The surface layers of this new 
snow are particularly unstable. The avalanche hazard is 
Considerable (Category 3).

AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK THU 17/2/00
Snow showers and fresh winds overnight will deposit further 
layers of windslab on sheltered NE to SE facing slopes. Deep soft
slab will be very weakly bonded on steep corrie headwalls and in
summit gullies. Avalanches will occur in summit gullies overhung
by unstable cornices. The avalanche hazard will be High (Category
4).

CLIMBING CONDITIONS 

SNOW DISTRIBUTION: New snow at all levels.

ICING: Ice on rocks and paths above 300m.

COMMENT: Gullies contain waist deep soft slab, ridges and 
buttresses the safer option, approaches require caution.
 


SOUTHERN CAIRNGORMS
AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS WED 16/2/00
Redistribution of existing snow has continued the development 
of localised areas of soft slab on N to SE aspects above 800 
metres. Faceted crystals are developing in the surface layers of 
new areas of slab with stability poor even on shallow angled 
slopes. The avalanche hazard is Considerable (Category 3). 
Scoured areas remain stable.

AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK THU 17/2/00
Overnight snow showers will leave further deposits on most 
aspects. Colder temperatures will continue the development of 
faceted crystals in localised recent accumulations leaving 
stability poor, mainly on N through to SE aspects above 800 
metres. S aspects will also be subject to surface instabilities 
from a strong sun. The avalanche hazard will be Considerable 
(Category 3).


CLIMBING CONDITIONS 

SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Improving, with reasonable ski 
touring above 750 metres.
ICING: Mostly under snow. Buttresses need a bit of clearing.
COMMENT: Looking a bit more like winter again!



CREAG MEAGAIDH
AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS WED 16/2/00
With relatively calm mountain conditions the snow distribution 
has changed little throughout the day. However drifting was 
occurring on a light Westerly wind and instabilities still remain 
within the snowpack. Weakly bonded windslab can be found on 
North-West through East to South aspects above 750 metres. The
avalanche hazard is Considerable (Category 3). Avalanche debris
was noted in Coire Choille-rais and on Beinn a Chaorainn.

AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK THU 17/2/00
Remaining cold with light snow showers tonight on a light West 
wind. Instabilities will remain within the snowpack, with very 
weakly bonded deep windslab present on North through East to 
South aspects above 750 metres and in these areas the avalanche 
hazard will remain Considerable (Category 3) with avalanches 
likely. Very large unstable cornices were noted on above 
mentioned aspects.


CLIMBING CONDITIONS 

SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Deep cover at all levels.
ICING: If there's any there it's well buried.
COMMENT: A cracking day out, long may it last.




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