NORTHERN CAIRNGORMS AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS SAT 25/2/06 There have been snow showers on strong Easterly winds. The snowpack on all aspects above 900 metres has a breakable icy crust; on this pockets of new unstable windslab have developed on South- West to North-West aspects above 1000 metres. At 1100 metres on a West facing slope field tests produced easy releases on the old crust. The avalanche hazard is Considerable (Category 3). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK SUN 26/2/06 Cold temperatures will continue with snow showers developing during the day on strong Northerly winds. Unstable accumulations of windslab will form and avalanches are likely mainly on steep Southerly to Westerly aspects above 900 metres. Gully heads on North aspects may also be affected. The avalanche hazard will be Considerable (Category 3). CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: New snow falling down to 650 metres. ICING: Building in the cold temperatures. COMMENT: A very busy wintry day in the hills. LOCHABER AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS SAT 25/2/06 Easterly winds have prevailed today with a trace of fresh snow. The snowpack is generally well bonded but localised areas of moderately bonded snow are present on slopes above 1100 metres. Isolated pockets of windslab have accumulated in sheltered areas with a West aspect above 950 metres. The avalanche hazard is Moderate (Category 2). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK SUN 26/2/06 Dry conditions are expected overnight with moderate North- Easterly winds, which will back Northerly with light snow showers by Sunday. Windslab will accumulate on steep slopes with a South aspect, mainly on corrie rims and in gully exits above 950 metres. Bonding will be poor where the windslab forms on the older snowpack or develops any significant depth . The avalanche hazard will be Moderate (Category 2). CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Snow cover above 650 metres. ICING: Freezing level around 500 metres. Rocks well rimed. Ice is developing. COMMENT: Whiteout conditions at times on the summits today. GLENCOE AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS SAT 25/2/06 A trace of new snow fell this morning on an Easterly wind. Colder conditions have stabilised most of the snowpack on all but the very steepest slopes where deeper old soft slab remains. These areas are mainly around the tops of sheltered gullies and corniced scarp slopes above 1050 metres. The avalanche hazard is Moderate (Category 2). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK SUN 26/2/06 The strong cold North-Easterly airflow will continue overnight and on Sunday with the possibility of very light snow showers. Good snowpack stability can be expected in most locations but pockets of soft slab will exist in sheltered areas. These accumulations will be greatest around the tops sheltered summit gullies and corniced scarp slopes mainly above 1000 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 600 metres. ICING: Freezing level 400 metres overnight, 550 metres on Sunday. COMMENT: Classic ridges and buttresses popular on Saturday. Fair outlook for Sunday although a bit windier. SOUTHERN CAIRNGORMS AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS SAT 25/2/06 Snow showers on strong winds are forming windslab in very sheltered locations only on S to W aspects above 800 metres. Drifting has formed very localised deeper accumulations that are shearing easily on the firm snow-ice base. The avalanche hazard is Considerable (Category 3). The majority of the snowpack is well bonded. AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK SUN 26/2/06 Light snow showers on strong winds will continue to form localised and generally avoidable areas of windslab. On S to W aspects above 800 metres moderately to weakly bonded windslab will be present in steeper sheltered locations such as gully exits and corrie rims especially where a snow-ice base is present. The avalanche hazard will be Considerable (Category 3). CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Snow above 700 metres. Firm crust now present in many places. ICING: Ice is forming. Remaining cold on Sunday. COMMENT: Re-frozen snow is providing firm conditions underfoot. CREAG MEAGAIDH AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS SAT 25/2/06 Cold North-East winds carried some light snow showers in to the area during daylight hours. Patches of thin, weakly bonded windslab have formed on some steep South to West aspects above 900 metres but it was not deep or extensive. Cold temperatures have re-frozen the surface layers of the snow pack in all others locations giving good stablity. The avalanche hazard is Moderate (Category 2). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK SUN 26/2/06 It will remain cold with North to North-East winds and some snow showers on Sunday. Stability will remain good in all wind-scoured locations. Poorly bonded windslab will continue to form on steep, sheltered South to West-facing slopes and gullies above 900 metres. The avalanche hazard will be Considerable (Category 3). CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Somewhat better above 800 metres on Saturday. Treacherous crust when off the beaten track. ICING: Better quality snow-ice beginning to form. COMMENT: Very wintry weather in prospect for next week. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------