NORTHERN CAIRNGORMS AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS SAT 26/2/00 A slow thaw to 800 metres has stabilised the snowpack a little, but easy shears were still evident on East-facing slopes at this altitude. On higher slopes, drifting is taking place on strong South-Westerly winds, bringing some fresh accumulation on North-East and East aspects. Yesterday's fresh cornices have stabilised somewhat, but are still easily triggered. The avalanche hazard is Considerable (Category 3). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK SUN 27/2/00 Heavy rain to the summits on Saturday night will lead to a period of high instability. In the morning, snow on strong South-Westerly winds will affect the area. Although the old snowpack will stabilise due to the melt-freeze cycle, locally substantial areas of new slab will form on all Northerly aspects. New snow instabilities will exist and avalanches are likely above 800 metres on North-West through to South-East facing slopes. The avalanche hazard will be Considerable (Category 3). CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Cover remains thin away from main corrie bowls. ICING: Fairly lean, but improving. COMMENT: Cornices will still be worth a wide berth. LOCHABER AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS SAT 26/2/00 Strong SW winds have redistributed unstable windslab, mainly on to N, NE and E aspects above 800m. This windslab is also present on other sheltered aspects. In these locations, the avalanche hazard is Considerable (Category 3). Wind scoured slopes remain generally stable. AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK SUN 27/2/00 A thaw, with rain at all levels overnight will lead to a period of high instability, with wet snow avalanches an many aspects above 800m. By Sunday morning, a return to colder temperatures will begin to stabilise the wet snowpack. Fresh snow will form new areas of unstable windslab, greatest accumulations being on sheltered N, NE and E aspects. Avalanches are likely, where significant accumulations of windslab are present. The avalanche hazard will be Considerable (Category 3). Wind scoured snow slopes will gradually refreeze during the day. CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Fresh snow expected to fall down to 600m on Sunday. ICING: Freezing level rising above the summits overnight and falling again on Sunday. COMMENT: Strong winds continuing. GLENCOE AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS SAT 26/2/00 Strong SW winds and snow showers overnight deposited further layers of windslab on N through to E facing slopes above 900 metres. Slopes exposed to the strong winds at this height have become scoured and are icy in many places. Below 900m the snowpack is soft and moist. The avalanche hazard is Considerable (Category 3) where deeper accumulations of windslab exist on steeper slopes. AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK SUN 27/2/00 Heavy rain or sleet overnight will give a period of high instability as the snowpack becomes saturated at all levels. Colder conditions during Sunday will start to re-freeze and stabilise the existing snowpack above 800 metres. New snow in the morning and strong winds will form areas of weakly bonded windslab on N to E facing slopes and in sheltered gullies above 800 metres deepest accumulations will form on scarp slopes sheltered from the wind and below cornices where avalanches are likely. The avalanche hazard will be Considerable (Category 3). CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Snow cover above 600m. ICING: Thawing ice above 600m. COMMENT: Conditions will improve as cooler temperatures affect the area. Brighter weather later in day SOUTHERN CAIRNGORMS AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS SAT 26/2/00 Snow showers and drifting have left new unstable accumulations on mainly N to E aspects above 950 metres. Stability was poor on scarp slopes from where a soft slab avalanche had been cornice triggered early this morning on Parallel A at Lochnagar. The avalanche hazard is Considerable (Category 3). Cornices are soft and unstable. AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK SUN 27/2/00 With the overnight arrival of heavy rain there will be a very unstable period and wet slab avalanches will occur and cornices will collapse. During the day wintry conditions will arrive and gradually refreeze the existing snowpack but load fresh snow onto the harder base in sheltered locations on N to E aspects. Here soft slab avalanches will occur on steeper slopes with the avalanche hazard High (Category 4). CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Best on N to E aspects. ICING: Likely to improve with current forecast. COMMENT: Rain and then snow with high winds will give a poor day on the hill. CREAG MEAGAIDH AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS SAT 26/2/00 A milder airflow has covered the region. This has helped to consolidate the snowpack slightly. However deep accumulations of hard slab are present at the tops of sheltered gullies and hollows of a North through East to South-East aspect above 800 metres. Additionally, drifting of existing snow is causing fresh windslab to form on the same aspects. The avalanche hazard is Considerable (Category 3). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK SUN 27/2/00 Overnight the freezing level will rise to well above the summits with driving rain on a hurricane force wind, causing the snowpack to become saturated. Cornices will become unstable until the temperature drops again. During the day moderate snowfalls on a storm force South-West wind will cause new accumulations of windslab to form on North through East to South-East aspects above 800 metres. With the thaw/freeze cycle the underlying snowpack will be well bonded and stable. The avalanche hazard will remain Considerable (Category 3). CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Good cover above 700 metres. Patchy on exposed ridges. ICING: Still poor but should start to improve. COMMENT: -------------------------------------------------------------------------------