NORTHERN CAIRNGORMS
AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS THU 17/2/00
Heavy snow overnight cleared to a dry day.  New accumulations 
are mainly on North-East and East aspects above 900 metres.  
The new layers exhibited clean, easy shears on an East-facing  
test site at 1070 metres.  Two recent avalanche crownwalls were 
noted on a similar aspect and altitude at the Feith Buidhe.  The 
avalanche hazard is Considerable (Category 3).

AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK FRI 18/2/00
Snow overnight on mainly South-westerly winds will give way 
to showers during the day.  This will bring fresh loading to 
existing unstable layers on North to East facing slopes, mainly 
above 900 metres, where avalanches are likely.  Large cornices 
will be present over North-East to South-East aspects.  The 
avalanche hazard will be Considerable (Category 3).


CLIMBING CONDITIONS 

SNOW DISTRIBUTION: New snow at all levels. 
ICING: Still thin conditions. Much plateau icing.
COMMENT: Ski touring still patchy but possible.




LOCHABER
AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS THU 17/2/00
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 Considerable (Category 3). Wind scoured snow slopes 
remain frozen and stable.
 
AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK FRI 18/2/00
Snow showers and a fresh Westerly airflow are expected 
through out the period. Unstable windslab will continue to form 
in sheltered locations. Greatest accumulations will be on NE, E 
and SE aspects, notably scarp slopes and the tops of gullies. 
Avalanches are likely in these locations. The avalanche hazard 
will be Considerable (Category 3). Wind scoured snow slopes 
will remain frozen and stable.


CLIMBING CONDITIONS 

SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Fresh snow down to 100 metres.
ICING: Wind blown snow slopes remain hard frozen.
COMMENT: Care required due to areas of unstable snow in 
many gullies.



GLENCOE
AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS THU 17/2/00
Snow showers overnight have deposited further layers of windslab
on sheltered NE to SE facing slopes mainly above 600 metres. In
places a firmer surface layer overlies deep  soft slab. On steep
corrie headwalls and in summit gullies exits these layers are
very weakly bonded. The avalanche hazard is High (Category 4).
Avalanche debris noted in the glen today.

AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK FRI 18/2/00
Windslab will continue to accumulate in sheltered areas overnight
and during Friday. NE to SE facing corrie headwalls and summit
gullies will contain deep layered soft slab. As temperatures rise
during the day the snowpack on steep slopes will become highly
unstable and avalanches will occur. The avalanche hazard will
remain High (Category 4).

CLIMBING CONDITIONS 

SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Snow cover above 500m.

ICING: Ice on rocks above 600m.

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


SOUTHERN CAIRNGORMS
AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS THU 17/2/00
Wind transportation of recent deposits combined with some 
fresh snow has continued the development of weakly bonded 
soft slab on N to SE aspects. Slow consolidation of the 
snowpack is taking place due to prolonged cold temperatures. 
The avalanche hazard is Considerable (Category 3). 

AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK FRI 18/2/00
Snow overnight becoming lighter tomorrow will continue to 
load deposits onto N through to SE aspects. These fresh deposits 
will be weakly bonded to the already suspect snowpack. 
Stability will be poor where greatest accumulations develop on 
steeper slopes and in gully exits. The avalanche hazard will be 
Considerable (Category 3) with avalanches likely in the 
locations mentioned above.


CLIMBING CONDITIONS 

SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Ski touring improving daily.
ICING: Plenty of ice around of variable quality. Turf frozen and 
buttresses covered in unconsolidated powder.
COMMENT: Remote cliff walk-ins hard work at present.



CREAG MEAGAIDH
AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS THU 17/2/00
Overnight snow showers on a light Westerly wind have added 
further accumulations of fresh unstable windslab to an existing 
weakly bonded snowpack. With cold mountain conditions 
prevailing instabilities still remain within the fresh deposits and 
many of these are several metres in depth. These deposits can be 
found on North through East to South aspects above 750 metres 
and in these areas the avalanche hazard is Considerable 
(Category 3). Avalanche debris was noted in Coire a 
Chriochairein.
 
AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK FRI 18/2/00
Moderate snowfall tonight with snow showers tomorrow on a 
strong South-west to West wind will continue to accumulate 
highly unstable windslab on North through East to South 
aspects above 800 metres. The avalanche hazard will be High 
(Category 4) and avalanches will occur. Very large unstable 
cornices will be present on the above mentioned aspects.


CLIMBING CONDITIONS 

SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Deep cover at all levels, fantastic 
ski-touring conditions at the moment.
ICING: Remaining buried.
COMMENT: Skis, snowshoes and helicopters advised for
travel in the Creag Meagaidh area.




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