NORTHERN CAIRNGORMS AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS THU 23/2/06 Today the area has been affected by light rain at summit levels and below, and moderate Northerly winds. The moisture has penetrated the snowpack and generally promoted settlement and stabilisation of the snowpack at all levels. Instabilities remain in the snowpack above 1000 metres in isolated locations at the tops of gullies and around corrie rims on all aspects, the saturation of the snowpack will weaken the snowpack further. The avalanche hazard is Considerable (Category 3). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK FRI 24/2/06 Colder temperatures and North-Easterly winds with snow are expected overnight and during the day. Generally the snowpack will stabilise and re-freeze above 800 metres. New accumulations of unstable windslab snow will form in sheltered locations on South through to North-Westerly aspects such as in the tops of gullies and in isolated pockets on slopes mainly above 1000 metres. The avalanche hazard will be Considerable (Category 3). CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Good cover above 800 metres. ICING: Wet snow on buttresses. COMMENT: Cold temps will improve climbing conditions. LOCHABER AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS THU 23/2/06 The settled conditions are continuing slowly to consolidate and stabilise the existing snowpack. Areas of moderately bonded hard windslab are still present on many steep slopes above 1000m. The avalanche hazard is Moderate (Category 2). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK FRI 24/2/06 Light snow showers on Friday are not expected to produce significant new snow accumulations. Areas of moderately bonded hard slab will remain on many steep aspects above 1000m. The avalanche hazard will be Moderate (Category 2). CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Fresh snow lying above 550m. ICING: Becoming colder again on Friday. COMMENT: GLENCOE AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS THU 23/2/06 Trace amounts of new snow fell this morning on a North - Easterly wind. A gradual rise in temperatures is now affecting the area moistening the snow at lower levels. Most of the snowpack is stable but instabilities remain on the steepest slopes. These areas are mainly around the tops of sheltered gullies and scarp slopes above 950 metres. The avalanche hazard is Moderate (Category 2). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK FRI 24/2/06 Milder dry conditions will continue overnight with a return to cooler conditions on Friday when fresh North-Easterly winds will be accompanied by very light snow showers. Much of the existing snow will start to re-freeze giving fair stability but pockets of windslab and soft slab will form in sheltered areas. These accumulations will be greatest on West to Northerly slopes and around the tops of sheltered gullies mainly above 900 metres. Where these localised accumulations attain any depth or have formed on older re-frozen snow bonding will be poor. The avalanche hazard will be Moderate (Category 2). CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Snow above 500 metres. ICING: Freezing level 1200 metres overnight, 800 metres on Friday. COMMENT: Fresh windslab accumulations are not expected to be deep or extensive. SOUTHERN CAIRNGORMS AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS THU 23/2/06 Milder temperatures are thawing the snowpack at lower elevations. Above 900 metres strong NE winds are re-distributing deposits. Moderately to weakly bonded windslab is present in steeper sheltered locations on S to W aspects above 900 metres. The avalanche hazard is Considerable (Category 3). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK FRI 24/2/06 Light snow showers on fresh to strong winds will form windslab in sheltered locations on S to W aspects. Deep seated weakness will also be present due to buried graupel layers. Above 900 metres deposits will be moderately to weakly bonded. The avalanche hazard will be Considerable (Category 3). CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Good from 800 metres with much improved ski touring cover on higher plateau areas. ICING: Recent temperature fluctuations should improve conditions. COMMENT: Snow cover is likely to remain reasonable for the next few days. CREAG MEAGAIDH AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS THU 23/2/06 A moist airflow has affected the area. This has resulted in low level cloud during the day but no significant precipitation. Surface layers have moistened and although at highest elevations some shears are still evident within sub-surface layers, the snowpack has become reasonably well consolidated in the slow thaw conditions. The avalanche hazard is Moderate (Category 2). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK FRI 24/2/06 There will be a return to slightly cooler conditions overnight with light snow showers both overnight and during the day. The fluctuating temperatures will further help consolidate the existing snowpack and stability will generally improve. In the moderate North-Easterly winds there will be some drifting of fresh snow and bonding is likely to be marginal where deepest accumulations occur in steep, mostly South-West facing gully tops and sheltered aspects around corrie rims. The avalanche hazard will be Moderate (Category 2). CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Reasonable cover still in plateau areas. ICING: Some improvement with thaw-freeze cycles. COMMENT: Return to minus temperatures on summits. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------