NORTHERN CAIRNGORMS AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS MON 13/2/06 Mild conditions have continued with moderate South-Westerly winds and rain showers at all levels. The snowpack is thawing and the deepest snowpack exists on North-East to South-East aspects above 1000 metres. On a South-East aspect at 1100 metres stability tests revealed weak graupel layers within the dry sub-surface layers. The avalanche hazard is Moderate (Category 2). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK TUE 14/2/06 Rain overnight will turn to light snow showers as temperatures fall during the day on strong South- Westerly winds. New accumulations of windslab will form on sheltered North to East aspects above 1000 metres. The avalanche hazard will be Moderate (Category 2). CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Patches of soft thawing snow mixed with sheet ice on easy angled ground. ICING: Buttresses mainly black, some ice still around in gullies, loose boulders a potential hazard. COMMENT: Cooler tomorrow. LOCHABER AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS MON 13/2/06 Rain at all levels has helped to consolidate and stabilise the snowpack. Localised instabilities are still present, mainly on steep North and East aspects above 1000m. The avalanche hazard is Moderate (Category 2). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK TUE 14/2/06 Rain at all levels overnight will be replaced by snow showers above 1000m during Tuesday. The existing wet snowpack will continue to consolidate and stabilise. As Tuesday progresses, fresh areas of unstable windslab will form on North, North-East and East aspects above 1100m. The avalanche hazard will be Considerable (Category 3). CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Wet snow at all levels. ICING: Freezing level lowering during Tuesday morning. COMMENT: Areas of unstable snow will develop during Tuesday. GLENCOE AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS MON 13/2/06 Mild damp conditions with light rain at all levels have affected the area. The snowpack is wet and generally unstable. The greatest deposits of unstable snow are above 900 metres on slopes with a NW to NE aspect. The snowpack is weakly bonded on many steep slopes. The avalanche hazard is Considerable (Category 3). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK TUE 14/2/06 Through Monday night mild conditions and strong Southerly winds will be accompanied by rain at all levels. During Tuesday strong winds will veer to SW with light snow showers above 1000 metres. The snowpack will consolidate slightly but will remain generally wet at all levels. Some areas of weakly bonded snow will still exist on steep slopes especially those with a Northerly aspect. The avalanche hazard will be Moderate (Category 2). CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Wet snow above 850m. ICING: None - Freezing level 1800 metres becoming 1200 metres. COMMENT: Strong gusting SW winds. SOUTHERN CAIRNGORMS AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS MON 13/2/06 It has been a mild day with snow loss noted at all levels and snow cover now patchy. Recent deeper deposits have continued to consolidate with remaining snow now soft and moist but generally well bonded. The avalanche hazard is Low (Category 1). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK TUE 14/2/06 The mild conditions will clear during the morning with the freezing level lowering to around the higher summits. Stability will remain good in older soft snow with new snow restricted to the higher tops. There will not be enough quantity to alter the avalanche hazard which will remain Low (Category 1). CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Various aspects holding some thawing cover with higher N to E corries holding the most. ICING: Ice is thawing but some is hanging on. COMMENT: The freezing level will be around 1200 metres during the day. CREAG MEAGAIDH AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS MON 13/2/06 Mild conditions overnight and during the day have resulted in a much depleted snowpack. Remaining deposits are confined to corrie back walls and higher plateau areas. The accumulations are well bonded although becoming saturated with the on-going steady thaw. The avalanche hazard is Low (Category 1). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK TUE 14/2/06 There will be further rain showers overnight which will turn to snow around summit level during the day. Some new snow instabilities will develop in the strong South-Westerly winds above 950 metres on North to East facing gully tops and around sheltered rims of corries. Although some drifting is likely, accumulations are expected to be only modest. The avalanche hazard will be Moderate (Category 2). CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Patches only below 850m. ICING: Thaw on-going, becoming slightly cooler. COMMENT: Freezing level returning to around summits on Tuesday. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------