NORTHERN CAIRNGORMS AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS SUN 19/2/06 Light Easterly winds and snow showers have affected the area. Fresh accumulations of weakly bonded windslab snow have developed above 1000 metres on Westerly aspects, especially in gully exits and on corrie rims. Slope tests produced easy releases in weak layers on a West aspect at 1100 metres. The avalanche hazard is Considerable (Category 3). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK MON 20/2/06 There will be moderate North-Easterly winds with some snow showers overnight, which will become more frequent during the day. Accumulations of weakly bonded windslab will continue to form on South to Westerly aspects above 650 metres where avalanches are likely. Crossloaded accumulations of windslab snow will also occur in gully exits, gully flanks and corrie rims in Northerly facing corries. The avalanche hazard will be Considerable (Category 3). CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Increasing snow depth on plateau. ICING: Loose snow on buttresses, deep snow near gully exits. COMMENT: Cold temperatures and continuing snow will improve cover on hills. LOCHABER AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS SUN 19/2/06 Moderate North-Easterly winds have caused some light drifting and areas of unstable windslab to accumulate in gully exits and on scarp slopes with a South to West aspect above 900 metres. Instabilities in the snowpack remain on steep slopes with a North West through North to East aspect above 800 metres. The avalanche hazard is Considerable (Category 3). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK MON 20/2/06 The cold conditions and moderate North Easterly winds will continue overnight and during Monday. Instabilities will remain on steep slopes with a North-West through North to East aspect above 800 metres and further drifting will occur, accumulating unstable windslab in gully exits and scarp slopes with South to West aspects above 900 metres. The avalanche hazard will be Considerable (Category 3). CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Snow above 550 metres. ICING: Some rime on high cliffs. Freezing level around 500 metres. COMMENT: A possibility of a few light snow showers tomorrow. GLENCOE AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS SUN 19/2/06 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 MON 20/2/06 A mainly dry dayis 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. Elsewhere the snowpack is generally well bonded. The avalanche hazard will be Considerable (Category 3).) CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Snow above 500m. ICING: Freezing level 500 metres. COMMENT: Another dry day but could feel cool with the strong NE wind. Ridges and buttresses the safer option. Care required on approaches and descents. SOUTHERN CAIRNGORMS AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS SUN 19/2/06 Surface layers remain moderately to weakly bonded in very sheltered locations on NW through NE to E aspects above 950 metres. Snow showers and drifting are starting to form unstable windslab in sheltered locations on SW to NW aspects above 800 metres. The avalanche hazard is Considerable (Category 3). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK MON 20/2/06 In steeper sheltered locations on NW through N to E aspects above 950 metres surface layers will be moderately bonded. Light snow showers and drifting will continue to form moderately to weakly bonded windslab in sheltered locations on S through W to NW aspects above 800 metres. Stability will be poorest where a snow-ice base is present or where significant depth is achieved. The avalanche hazard will be Considerable (Category 3). CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Fairly even cover above 700 metres with deep drifts in places. ICING: Remaining cold with a 500 metre freezing level. COMMENT: Variable winds have deposited windslab in sheltered locations on a variety of aspects. CREAG MEAGAIDH AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS SUN 19/2/06 It has been dry and cool on the summits with some consolidation of the existing snowpack. However, above 950 metres on steepest sheltered North-West to North-East facing gully exits and corrie rims, some instabilities persist. Freshening winds have also seen some cross-loading of wind-blown snow at these higher elevations, mostly on to Easterly slopes and above 950 metres these accumulations are only moderately bonded. The avalanche hazard is Considerable (Category 3). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK MON 20/2/06 A cool North-Easterly and mostly dry airflow will continue to affect the area. On steepest sheltered North-West to North-East facing gully exits and corrie rims above 950, metres pockets of instability will remain. With cool conditions persisting at summit levels any re-distributed snow which forms layers of windslab in sheltered lee locations at highest elevations will be unstable. The avalanche hazard will remain Considerable (Category 3). CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Best in plateau areas. Disappearing at lower elevations. ICING: Crags remain white. COMMENT: A wintry feel but sporting opportunities remain limited. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------