NORTHERN CAIRNGORMS
AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS THU 16/2/06
Snow showers on strong South-Westerly winds have led to further
accumulations of unstable windslab on Northerly to Easterly
aspects above 950 metres.  Pockets of instability are most
prominent where the deepest slab lies on steep lee slopes.
Unstable cornices are forming on these aspects.  The avalanche
hazard is Considerable (Category 3).

AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK FRI 17/2/06
Overnight snow showers on light Southerly winds will die out to
leave a dry day.  Weakly bonded slab and unstable  cornices will
continue to form and avalanches are likely on Northerly to
Easterly aspects above 800 metres.  Steep slopes, gully heads and
corrie rims will be especially affected.  The avalanche hazard
will be Considerable (Category 3).

CLIMBING CONDITIONS 

SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Snow beginning to settle at 650m, deeper
drifts forming on lee slopes above 800m.
ICING: Very wintry in the mountains, summit temperatures
remaining well below zero.
COMMENT: Southerly winds filling the Northern Corries.

 


LOCHABER
AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS THU 16/2/06
Southerly winds and snow showers have further loaded sheltered
areas with unstable windslab. Unstable windslab is present mainly
on sheltered North-West, North and North-East aspects above 900m.
The avalanche hazard is Considerable (Category 3).

AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK FRI 17/2/06
Snow showers will die out overnight leaving a dry and calm day on
Friday. Large areas of unstable windslab will be present, mainly
on North-West, North and North-East aspects above 900m.
Avalanches are likely in these locations. The avalanche hazard
will be Considerable (Category 3).

CLIMBING CONDITIONS

SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Fresh snow above 550m.
ICING: Remaining cold.
COMMENT: Unstable snow in many gullies.



GLENCOE
AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS THU 16/2/06
Frequent snow showers above 500 metres with very strong SW 
winds have affected the area. The greatest accumulations of new 
snow are in sheltered areas with a NW through to E aspect. 
Windslab has formed in these locations mainly above 900 
metres but especially around the tops of gullies and corrie
headwalls: the snowpack is weakly bonded. Instabilities do exist
on many steep slopes and in gullies with a NW through to E 
aspect above 900 metres and in these areas the avalanche hazard 
is Considerable (Category 3). 

AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK FRI 17/2/06
Through Thursday night more snow showers will occur above 500
metres accompanied by variable winds. These snow showers should
die out during Friday morning. However windslab will continue to
form above 850 metres in many sheltered locations but mostly on
NW through to E aspects, where avalanches are likely. Areas of
weakly bonded snow will exist on many steep slopes and in gullies
but especially scarp slopes. The avalanche hazard will be
Considerable (Category 3).

CLIMBING CONDITIONS 

SNOW DISTRIBUTION: snow above 500m.
ICING: Freezing level 500 metres.

COMMENT: Should be a drier day. Ridges and buttresses the 
safer option; care required on approaches and descents.


SOUTHERN CAIRNGORMS
AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS THU 16/2/06
Overnight snow showers and drifting have formed unstable new
deposits in sheltered locations on NW through NE to E aspects
above 900 metres. This dry snow contains moderately to weakly
bonded layers that shear easily when loaded. Significant depth is
present in gully exits and on scarp slopes. The avalanche hazard
is Considerable (Category 3).

AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK FRI 17/2/06
Overnight snow showers on variable winds should result in a more
even snow cover. Moderately to weakly bonded windslab will be
present in sheltered locations on NW through NE to E aspects
above 900 metres. Gully exits and scarp slopes are likely to
present the greater hazard. The avalanche hazard will be
Considerable (Category 3).

CLIMBING CONDITIONS 

SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Light cover from 700 metres. Deeper 
drifts on NW through NE to E aspects.
ICING: Improving. 500 metre freezing level on Friday.
COMMENT: Buttresses are white but this is mainly due to 
unconsolidated snow.


CREAG MEAGAIDH
AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS THU 16/2/06
South-East to South-West winds and snow showers created new
weakly bonded windslab on sheltered lee slopes above 900 metres.
The deepest deposits lie at the top of North to East aspects and
here stability was poor.  New slab was also beginning to gain
depth on West to North-West facing scarp slopes and gully heads.
Field tests revealed notable easy shears in several layers.  The
avalanche hazard is Considerable (Category 3).

AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK FRI 17/2/06
Snow showers will continue overnight but die out during the day.
New weakly stabilised soft slab will continue to form on very
steep West through North to East aspects above 900 metres, where
avalanches are likely.  The avalanche hazard will be Considerable
(Category 3).

CLIMBING CONDITIONS 

SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Fresh snow down to 500m with 
better, deeper cover above 750m.
ICING: Staying cold.  Freezing at 600m overnight and 500m on 
Friday.
COMMENT: Hazard expected to be confined to deeper deposits of new
slab at gully tops and immediately below cornices on corrie rims.




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