NORTHERN CAIRNGORMS AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS WED 23/2/00 Very poor surface stability indicated by numerous small loose avalanches from the Goat Track around to base of Fiacaill buttress. The gradual transition to a warmer regime has allowed some deeper weaknesses in the snowpack to gain strength. Below the moist surface layer is a generally strong snowpack where tested. The avalanche hazard is Considerable (Category 3). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK THU 24/2/00 Cooling and snow showers on Westerly winds will be the main factors to effect stability in the forecast period. A new slab will be built with poor bond to a refrozen surface. Above 900 metres, East and North aspects, especially with cornices above, will be the most suspect terrain. The avalanche hazard will be Considerable (Category 3). CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Snow showers will replace some snow loss. ICING: Thaw on today to 1200 metres. COMMENT: Highly variable wind in the small features of the corries is making for uneven slab distribution. LOCHABER AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS WED 23/2/00 A thaw at all levels today, with temperatures of +4øc on the summits, has created an unstable moist snowpack at all levels. Debris from numerous wet snow avalanches observed, mostly on N and E aspects. The avalanche hazard is High (Category 4). During the afternoon, stability has slowly improved. AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK THU 24/2/00 Cooler conditions overnight and during Thursday will stabilise the existing snowpack at all levels. Strong Westerly winds and snow showers will form localised areas of windslab in sheltered locations. Due to the strong winds, accumulations of windslab are likely to be restricted to the tops of NE, E and SE aspects. Where this windslab exists in significant quantities, the avalanche hazard will be Considerable (Category 3). Elsewhere the snowpack will be refrozen and stable. CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: All old snow becoming hard frozen at all levels. ICING: Climbing improving again with the return to colder conditions. COMMENT: Strong winds continuing. GLENCOE AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS WED 23/2/00 The soft moist snowpack is consolidating with rainfall at all levels. Layers of poorly bonded wet slab exist on steep corrie headwalls facing NW through to E and in summit gullies. In these locations the avalanche hazard is Considerable (Category 3). Avalanche debris noted below Summit Gully in Coire nam Beith. Collapsed cornices noted in Coire nan Lochan. AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK THU 24/2/00 Falling temperatures overnight will begin to stabilise the existing snowpack. New snow will form windslab on N through to SE slopes mainly above 600 metres. Deep soft slab lying on steep corrie headwalls and in summit gullies will be weakly bonded. The avalanche hazard will be Considerable (Category 3). Avalanches are likely in summit gullies during prolonged snowfall. CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Snow above 700m. ICING: Ice will reform aove 300m. COMMENT: Climbing conditions should improve although buttress approaches and gullies require caution. SOUTHERN CAIRNGORMS AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS WED 23/2/00 Rain has left surface layers of the snowpack moist. Snow deeper within the snowpack remains cooler with some dry areas surviving. On steeper slopes of NW to SE aspects wet surface layers were poorly bonded with suspect cornices above. The avalanche hazard is High (Category 4). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK THU 24/2/00 A return to wintry conditions will leave new moderately to weakly bonded deposits in sheltered locations on N aspects with more extensive areas on NE to SE aspects. Deposits will form over an existing harder base and on steeper slopes avalanches are likely. The avalanche hazard will be Considerable (Category 3). Cornices will remain suspect with exposed slopes will remaining stable. CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Reasonable cover on NW through to SE aspects from around 700 metres. ICING: A mix of quality, thicker areas more reliable. Heavy wet snow on buttresses likely to be hard work. COMMENT: Some good spring skiing around! CREAG MEAGAIDH AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS WED 23/2/00 Milder conditions with the freezing level above the summits and rain on a South-West wind has generally aided consolidation of the snowpack. However wet windslab still exists on North-West through East to South-East aspects above 800 metres and in these areas the avalanche hazard is Considerable (Category 3). Cornices remain unstable and prone to collapse throughout the milder temperatures. AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK THU 24/2/00 A return to colder temperatures will at first aid consolidation of the existing snowpack. However snow showers on a severe gale force West wind throughout the forecast period will soon build fresh deposits of unstable windslab on North through East to South aspects above 800 metres where avalanches are be likely. The avalanche hazard will be Considerable (Category 3), and fresh unstable cornices will also build on above mentioned aspects. CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Still reasonable cover above 700 metres. ICING: There's more ice on the path than the cliffs of Coire Ardair. COMMENT: Hopefully freeze/thaw cycle will help the climbing. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------