NORTHERN CAIRNGORMS AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS SAT 19/2/00 Snow showers above 800 metres on very light winds from variable direction in the corries. This has added a little more load to the significant areas of unconsolidated snow. Shear tests at 1000 metres in the Coire an Lochain area gave easy shears in the new snow. The avalanche hazard is Considerable (Category 3). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK SUN 20/2/00 The snowpack will warm in the forecast period with freezing levels going to 1500 metres. Rain will increase the avalanche hazard. Avalanches will occur on all aspects, particularly Northeast to Southeast, where the slab has developed. The avalanche hazard will be High (Category 4). CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Widespread cover with foot penetration to 40 centimetres, some heavy travelling. ICING: Due to lighter winds, all except the steepest ice is covered by snow. COMMENT: The warming will produce a significant avalanche cycle. LOCHABER AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS SAT 19/2/00 Soft unstable snow is present on many slope aspects. Areas of unstable windslab are also present, mainly on steep NE, E and SE aspects. Avalanche debris observed in Coire an Lochain, Aonach Mor and on Carn Dearg Meadhonach. The avalanche hazard is Considerable (Category 3). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK SUN 20/2/00 Unstable snow will persist, mainly on NE, E and SE aspects overnight and early on Sunday. On Sunday afternoon, warm conditions are expected with snow turning to rain below 1200 metres. Fresh unstable windslab will form at higher elevations, during this period, mainly on NW, N and NE aspects. As the freezing level rises during the afternoon, wet snow avalanches will occur, mainly on steep NE, E and SE aspects. Cornices will be unstable and prone to collapse. The avalanche hazard will be High (Category 4). CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Deep snow is present on many aspects above 600m. ICING: Soft snow is underlain in many places by iron hard snow ice. COMMENT: A return to traditional Scottish conditions on Sunday afternoon! GLENCOE AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS SAT 19/2/00 Cold dry calm conditions have consolidated and stabilised the snowpack in most areas. Above 900 metres areas of potentially unstable windslab remain in sheltered gullies and on slopes with a NE to SE aspect. Where this windslab lies on steeper slopes the avalanche hazard is Considerable (Category 3). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK SUN 20/2/00 Dry cold conditions initially with snow turning to rain by evening. Snowpack conditions will be similar to Saturday for best part of day. Windslab will start to form in sheltered gullies and on slopes with a N to E aspect above 800 metres. The avalanche hazard will be Considerable (Category 3) where deeper windslab forms on steeper slopes. Avalanches are likely in these areas later in the day as the snow turns to rain at all levels. CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Snow cover above 400m. ICING: Ice on rocks above 400m. COMMENT: Favourable weather conditions for early part of day with a good cover of snow. Conditions will deteriorate later. For those who missed it Saturday was an excellent day in the glen. SOUTHERN CAIRNGORMS AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS SAT 19/2/00 There has been little change with a general covering of snow on most aspects but N through to SE aspects holding quantities of deeper soft snow. Although snow is slowly consolidating in steeper slopes and gully exits suspect layers remain in the snowpack. The avalanche hazard is Considerable (Category 3). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK SUN 20/2/00 There will be little change in the current conditions for most of the day with heavy snow and rain not reaching the area until later in the afternoon. On N through to SE aspects deeper accumulations will become very unstable with the additional load of heavy rain and avalanches will occur. The avalanche hazard will become High (Category 4). Cornices will be prone to collapse CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Light snow on most slopes, with deeper accumulations on N through to SE aspects. ICING: Variable in quality, turf frozen and buttresses covered in mainly unconsolidated snow. COMMENT: Snow and rain expected later in the afternoon. CREAG MEAGAIDH AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS SAT 19/2/00 With the weather in the area remaining cold and relatively calm there has been little change to the current snow conditions. Deep deposits of reasonably bonded slab persist in sheltered gullies and hollows of a North through East to South-East aspect above 750 metres. The avalanche hazard remains Considerable (Category 3). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK SUN 20/2/00 In the first part of the day there will be little change to the current snow conditions. Deep deposits of reasonably bonded slab will persist on North through East to South-East aspects above 750 metres. Later windslab will form for a time on North- West to North-East aspects above 800 metres before quickly bedding down as the freezing level rises above the summits. The avalanche hazard will remain Considerable (Category 3). CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Snow at all levels. Difficult going underfoot. ICING: Not very good there's too much snow on the cliff. COMMENT: Herds of ski-mountaineers seen sweeping majestically across the plateaux. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------