NORTHERN CAIRNGORMS AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS SAT 18/2/06 Today has been a cloudy and windless day with warm temperatures on the summits. A thin loose snow cover exists on all aspects above 600 metres. Cornices have formed on rims and gully exits in North facing corries. Instabilities are present in the snowpack above 900 metres where snow tests produced easy releases on North-Easterly aspects. The avalanche hazard is Considerable (Category 3). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK SUN 19/2/06 Moderate North-Easterly winds with some snow showers and cold temperatures are expected during the day. The drifting of snow into sheltered locations on South to Westerly aspects above 600 metres will occur and unstable windslab will form. Instabilities that exist in the snowpack above 900 metres on Northerly aspects will be loaded further and here avalanches are likely. The avalanche hazard will be Considerable (Category 3). CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Imaginative ski touring cover on Cairngorm plateau. ICING: Loose snow cover on buttresses COMMENT: Cold temps persisting with top up snow showers expected. LOCHABER AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS SAT 18/2/06 Areas of unstable windslab are present on many slopes with a North-West through North to East aspect above 800m. Areas most affected are sheltered gullies, scarp slopes and crag aprons. The avalanche hazard is Considerable (Category 3). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK SUN 19/2/06 Cold and settled conditions will continue overnight and during Sunday. Areas of unstable windslab will be present on many slopes with a North-West through North to East aspect above 800m. Areas most affected will be sheltered gullies, scarp slopes and crag aprons. The avalanche hazard will be Considerable (Category 3). CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Fresh snow above 550m. ICING: Remaining cold . COMMENT: Looks like another sunny day tomorrow. GLENCOE AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS SAT 18/2/06 It was another fine winters day. The greatest accumulations of snow are in 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: in these areas the snowpack is weakly bonded. The avalanche hazard is Considerable (Category 3). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK SUN 19/2/06 Another fine dry day is forecast with North-Easterly winds. Windslab will still be present above 850 metres in many locations but mainly on NW through to E aspects. Areas of weakly bonded snow will exist on some 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 600 metres. COMMENT: Another good dry day. Ridges and buttresses the safer option care required on approaches and descents. SOUTHERN CAIRNGORMS AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS SAT 18/2/06 There has been further light snowfall accompanied by very light winds. Stability has improved in many locations but moderately to weakly bonded windslab is still present in steeper locations on NW through NE to E aspects above 950 metres. The avalanche hazard is Considerable (Category 3). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK SUN 19/2/06 Light snow showers will continue throughout the period. Stability of windslab will remain reasonable in many locations but on NW through NE to E aspects above 950 metres stability will be suspect on some sheltered scarp slopes and in gully exits. The avalanche hazard will be Considerable (Category 3). CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Fairly even cover above 700 metres with deep drifts in places. ICING: Nothing was observed in the very poor visibility but freezing level will be around 550 metres on Sunday. COMMENT: Ski touring possible on higher plateau areas but snow lacks a base in places. CREAG MEAGAIDH AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS SAT 18/2/06 It has been dry, calm and cold overnight with sunshine during the day. Many areas of poorly bonded snow persist on steep sheltered North-West to North-East aspects above 800 metres. Where slopes have been sun warmed during the day some consolidation is evident, although even better consolidated deposits on South-Easterly aspects produced easy near surface shears. Stability remains marginal particularly in the steeper shaded locations. The avalanche hazard is Considerable (Category 3). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK SUN 19/2/06 It will remain cool with a few light snow showers as North-East winds increase moderate to strong during Sunday. Although new snow is unlikely to be significant, drifting will result in a re- distribution of snow, cross-loaded on to many aspects. Stability will be generally poor throughout. The avalanche hazard will remain Considerable (Category 3). CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Thin general cover above 750m with deeper drifting in many places. ICING: Crags remain plastered with unconsolidated snow. Some clearing on sun warmed buttreses. COMMENT: Some high level ski tourers making the most of conditions. Sunday looking less favourable with an increase in summit winds. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------