LOCHABER AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS SUN 20/2/00 Areas of windslab are still present, mainly on steep NE, E and SE aspects. Although the snowpack is gradually stabilising, it still contains several instabilities. During today, fresh windslab has started to form on sheltered North aspects. The avalanche hazard is Considerable (Category 3). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK MON 21/2/00 A thaw at all levels overnight will lead to a period of high instability. By Monday morning, cold conditions will have stabilised the existing snowpack. Snow showers and Westerly winds will form fresh areas of windslab on sheltered slopes. Greatest accumulations will be at the tops of NE, E and SE aspects. The avalanche hazard will be Considerable (Category 3). Elsewhere the snowpack will be refrozen and stable. CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Snow still lying down to 300m. ICING: Thaw freeze cycle overnight should improve climbing conditions. COMMENT: Large areas of open slope icing expected on Monday. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- SOUTHERN CAIRNGORMS AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS SUN 20/2/00 A light covering of snow exists on most slopes with greatest accumulations on N through to SE aspects. The snowpack is slowly consolidating but remains cold and dry with suspect layers failing under moderate pressure. On steeper slopes and in gullies the avalanche hazard is Considerable (Category 3). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK MON 21/2/00 There will be a period of instability overnight as snow turns to heavy rain increasing the load on the snowpack. On N through to SE aspects this additional load will be the trigger for failure of the weakly bonded snow that exists on steeper slopes and in gullies. A return to colder conditions will bring about a gradual refreeze of the snowpack before snow showers load new deposits on N through to SE aspects. The avalanche hazard will be Considerable (Category 3). CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Light cover on most slopes with deeper accumulations on N through to SE aspects. ICING: A brief thaw should improve conditions. COMMENT: Exposed slopes becoming very firm. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- GLENCOE AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS SUN 20/2/00 Cold dry conditions have consolidated and stabilised much of the snowpack. Fresh windblown deposits of existing snow have formed areas of potentially unstable windslab in sheltered gullies and on slopes with a NW to NE aspect above 900 metres. Where this windslab lies on steeper slopes the avalanche hazard is Considerable (Category 3) elswhere the snowpack is generally stable. AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK MON 21/2/00 New snow on Sunday night will form windslab on NW to E slopes. A period of high instability will occur later as heavy rain or wet snow affects the area when avalanches are likely. Colder conditions during Monday will stabilise much of the existing snow but snow showers will form deposits of fresh windslab on NE to SE slopes and in sheltered gullies.The avalanche hazard will be Considerable (Category 3) where windslab forms on steeper slopes mainly above 900 metres. CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Snow cover above 400m. ICING: Ice on rocks above 400m. COMMENT: Reasonable weather conditions for Monday will start to improve climbing conditions. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- CREAG MEAGAIDH AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS SUN 20/2/00 After a cold and clear start to the day a slightly milder airflow has covered the region. This has helped the consolidation process with the snowpack bedding down nicely. Deep accumulations of moderately well bonded hard slab persist on North through East to South-East aspects above 700 metres. The avalanche hazard is Moderate (Category 2). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK MON 21/2/00 Overnight a band of snow will cause windslab to form for a time on North-West to North-East aspects above 1000 metres. However it will quickly bed down as a thaw/freeze cycle takes place. During the day, snow showers will cause shallow windslab deposits to form on North through East to South-East aspects over 800 metres although the underlying snowpack will become well bonded and stable. Where these shallow deposits of windslab are encountered the avalanche hazard will be Moderate (Category 2). CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Good cover on North to East aspects down to 350 metres. Excellent ski touring conditions. Purgatory on foot! ICING: No improvement, there's still too much snow on the cliffs. COMMENT: More thaw/freezes needed to improve the climbing. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- NORTHERN CAIRNGORMS AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS SUN 20/2/00 South-Westerly winds up to 50 mph built significant soft slab on Northeast and North aspects. The slab shears easily in field tests. Cooler temperatures prevailed through the day so stability was not influenced by a warming cycle yet. The avalanche hazard is Considerable (Category 3). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK MON 21/2/00 The warming cycle with rain will occur overnight contributing to a period of very poor stability. The cold new slab will fail easily. New fragile cornices will also collapse. The intensity of this cycle will be finished by morning. Avalanches are likely during the day in isolated locations due to redistribution from the change to Westerly winds. The avalanche hazard will be Considerable (Category 3). CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Major redistribution of snow; new slab on North aspect, other areas with 40 cm foot penetration. ICING: Climbing ice, fair but not fat cover; walking ice, filling in from 600 metres up. COMMENT: Good snow cover for ski touring in selected areas. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------