NORTHERN CAIRNGORMS AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS TUE 21/2/06 Easterly winds with frequent snow showers have affected the area today. Weakly bonded windslab accumulations have developed in sheltered areas on South-Easterly to Westerly aspects above 900 metres. Windslab accumulations have also formed in gully flanks, exits and aprons as a result of cross wind loading. Avalanche activity was noted on a Northerly aspect at 1000m. The avalanche hazard is Considerable (Category 3). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK WED 22/2/06 Easterly winds will continue overnight becoming North-Easterly during the day. No snowfall is expected. Some drifting will occur with a continuing build up of weakly bonded windslab on mainly Southerly to North-Westerly aspects above 800 metres where avalanches are likely. Cross loaded windslab will also continue to form on gully flanks and exits in Northerly facing corries. The avalanche hazard will be Considerable (Category 3). CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Improving snow cover above 650m. ICING: Loose snow on buttresses COMMENT: Remaining cold LOCHABER AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS TUE 21/2/06 The snowpack is gradually consolidating at all levels. Localised areas of moderately well bonded snow are still present on many steep aspects above 900m. The avalanche hazard is Moderate (Category 2). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK WED 22/2/06 Cold and dry conditions will continue overnight and during Wednesday. The snowpack will continue to gradually consolidate and stabilise at all levels. Localised areas of moderately bonded snow will still be present on many aspects above 900m. The avalanche hazard will be Moderate (Category 2). CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Snow above 550 metres. ICING: Some rime on high cliffs. Freezing level around 500 metres. COMMENT: Might see the sun again on Wednesday. GLENCOE AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS TUE 21/2/06 Settled and mainly dry conditions have improved the general snowpack stability. The greatest accumulations of snow are in areas with a North-West through to Easterly aspect. Windslab, deep in places exists in these locations mainly above 950 metres but especially around the tops of gullies and corrie headwalls where bonding remains weak on the steepest slopes. The avalanche hazard is Considerable (Category 3). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK WED 22/2/06 Cold, settled and dry conditions with sunny spells will continue. Stability of much of the snowpack will be good but areas of windslab will still be present above 950 metres on the steepest slopes with North-West through to Easterly aspects. Areas of weakly bonded snow will exist particularly in gullies and scarp slopes. The avalanche hazard will be Considerable (Category 3). CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Snow above 500 metres. ICING: Freezing level 600 metres. COMMENT: Ridges and buttresses the safer option. Excellent settled weather on Tuesday good outlook for Wednesday. SOUTHERN CAIRNGORMS AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS TUE 21/2/06 Snow showers have continued to form windslab on S to W aspects above 600 metres. Greatest hazard is to be found in steeper sheltered locations such as gully exits and corrie rims above 800 metres where moderately to weakly bonded snow is present. The avalanche hazard is Considerable (Category 3). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK WED 22/2/06 No fresh snow has been forecast for the period but moderately to weakly bonded windslab will be found in steeper sheltered locations on S to W aspects above 800 metres. Corrie rims and gully exits are likely to present the greatest hazard. The avalanche hazard will be Considerable (Category 3). CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Snow above 400 metres. Better general cover from 700 metres. ICING: No visibility today but buttresses are white and the turf remains frozen. COMMENT: Trail breaking required if you are off the beaten track. CREAG MEAGAIDH AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS TUE 21/2/06 Fresh North-East winds have re-distributed snow as windslab on steep South to West aspects. This slab gained depth and became poorly stabilised in very sheltered accumulation zones above 900 metres during the course of the day. Cold temperatures helped maintain poor stability in these locations. Avalanche debris noted below a steep Southerly aspect in Coire nan Gall on Tuesday morning. Wind-scoured slopes showed better stability. The avalanche hazard is Considerable (Category 3). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK WED 22/2/06 It will remain dry with lighter winds and cold summit temperatures. Windslab build up on steep South to West aspects above 900 metres will ease as winds diminish but cold overnight temperatures will maintain poor bonding within recently formed layers of the snowpack. Warmth from the sun during Wednesday will bring only marginal consolidation to the newest and deepest slab deposits on these sun-exposed slopes. The avalanche hazard will remain Considerable (Category 3). CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Deep drifts in places above 800m. Crusty snow surface elsewhere. ICING: Buttresses draped in unconsolidated snow. COMMENT: Cold and wintry up high on Tuesday. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------