NORTHERN CAIRNGORMS AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS WED 22/2/06 Today it has been clear and cold on the tops with a light Easterly wind. The snowpack below 1000 metres on all aspects is generally well bonded and stable. Some instabilities remain in localised windslab accumulations on South-Westerly to North-Westerly aspects above 1000 metres especially at the tops of gullies and corrie rims. The avalanche hazard is Moderate (Category 2). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK THU 23/2/06 Overnight the wind will be Northerly becoming North-Easterly during the day when the freezing level will rise to 1500 metres. In the early part of the day precipitation will fall as snow on the tops but this will turn to rain later. Generally the snowpack will be stable below 1000 metres but the moistening snowpack will weaken further the unstable layers that exist above 1000 metres on South-Westerly to North-Westerly aspects., in particular accumulations in localised sheltered areas such as gully exits, cornices and corrie rims. The avalanche hazard will be Considerable (Category 3). CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Good snow cover above 1000m, thin below. ICING: Loose snow on buttresses COMMENT: A lovely day! LOCHABER AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS WED 22/2/06 Hard windslab overlies soft temperature weakened snow in many locations. 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 THU 23/2/06 The dry conditions will continue into Thursday with summit temperatures gradually increasing. The snowpack will continue to 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. Positive summit temperatures expected during Thursday. COMMENT: Good cover for ski-touring but some of the snow is "challenging". GLENCOE AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS WED 22/2/06 Settled, dry and cold conditions continue to improve 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 suspect on the steepest slopes. In these areas the avalanche hazard is Moderate (Category 2). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK THU 23/2/06 The cold North-Easterly airflow will become a little milder on Thursday as freezing levels rise to 1200 metres. A few light snow flurries are possible during the day but these should not be significant. Stability of much of the snowpack will remain good but areas in the steepest sheltered gullies and scarp slopes in particular where cornices exist will have areas of moderate to weakly bonded deep soft slab. These areas will mainly be above 950 metres on North-West through to Easterly aspects. The avalanche hazard will be Moderate (Category 2). CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Snow above 500 metres. ICING: Freezing level 800 metres overnight rising to 1200 metres on Thursday. COMMENT: Hazard of falling rocks and cornice collapse will increase with milder conditions. SOUTHERN CAIRNGORMS AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS WED 22/2/06 It was a fine sunny day on the hill with no new snow fall and light winds. Bonding of surface layers is poor but generally windslab stability has shown some improvement. Moderately to weakly bonded windslab can still be found on steeper sheltered locations on S to W aspects above 800 metres. The avalanche hazard is Considerable (Category 3). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK THU 23/2/06 It is forecast to become milder with some rain. Areas of windslab will become increasingly unstable with greatest hazard being found in steeper sheltered locations such as gully exits and corrie rims on S to W aspects above 800 metres and avalanches are likely. The avalanche hazard will be Considerable (Category 3). Cornices will be prone to collapse. CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Good from around 600 metres with excellent ski touring cover on higher plateau areas. ICING: Nothing of significance noted. COMMENT: Unfortunately not likely to be a good day on the hill on Thursday. CREAG MEAGAIDH AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS WED 22/2/06 It has been dry and cold overnight with clear skies and sunshine during the day. Some consolidation of the snowpack has taken place on sun exposed slopes. In shaded mostly North-West to North-East locations, pockets of windslab persist with some easy shears within sub-surface layers still evident. The avalanche hazard is Considerable (Category 3). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK THU 23/2/06 There will be a change overnight and tomorrow when a milder and moist airflow will affect the area. Freezing levels will rise to just above summits with rain and sleet during the day. Any significant rainfall will reduce stability at the highest elevations around corrie rims and in steep gully exits. Recent cornice lines will also become unstable and best avoided during the period of change. At lower elevations further consolidation of the snowpack will continue. The avalanche hazard will remain Considerable (Category 3). CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Deep drifts in places above 800m, nothing below 600m. ICING: Buttress becoming visible with some build up evident. COMMENT: Hopefully just a brief thaw. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------