NORTHERN CAIRNGORMS AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS SUN 26/2/06 It has been a cold dry day with moderate winds from the North-East. Yesterday's new snow which lies on South-West to North-West aspects above 1000 metres has begun to consolidate. Due to light drifting pockets of new accumulation have developed on Southerly to Westerly aspects above 1000 metres; this lies on the old icy crust which affects all aspects. The avalanche hazard is Moderate (Category 2). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK MON 27/2/06 Cold conditions are to continue and it will be mainly dry until late afternoon when snow showers move in on moderate Northerly winds. The existing windslab which lies on Southerly to Westerly aspects above 1000 metres will continue to stabilise and later in the day new accumulations will form on Southerly aspects above 950 metres. The avalanche hazard will be Moderate (Category 2). CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Breakable icy crust affecting all aspects with patches of soft snow on S to W aspects. ICING: Buttresses white, reports of plastic ice on some crags. COMMENT: Many routes being done in the Northern Corries today. LOCHABER AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS SUN 26/2/06 Dry conditions and Northerly winds have prevailed today. The snowpack is generally well bonded but isolated areas of windslab are present on scarp slopes and in gully exits with a South-East to South-West aspect above 1100 metres. Where the windslab has accumulated on the older snowpack the bonding is poor. The avalanche hazard is Moderate (Category 2). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK MON 27/2/06 Northerly winds will continue overnight and during Monday with occasional light snow showers. These showers are expected to become more extensive later in the afternoon. Unstable windslab will accumulate on steep slopes with a South- East to South-West aspect above 950 metres: avalanches are likely in these areas. The avalanche hazard will be Considerable (Category 3). CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Snow cover above 650 metres. ICING: Rime ice on some cliffs. Ice developing. COMMENT: Freezing level falling towards sea level by Monday evening. GLENCOE AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS SUN 26/2/06 Dry and cold conditions have stabilised the snowpack on all but the very steepest slopes where deeper old soft slab remains. These areas are mainly to be found around the tops of sheltered gullies and corniced scarp slopes above 1000 metres. The avalanche hazard is Moderate (Category 2). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK MON 27/2/06 The strong cold Northerly airflow will continue overnight and on Monday. Mainly light snow showers will affect the area in the morning with the possibility of some heavier showers later in the afternoon. 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 440 metres overnight, 550 metres on Monday. COMMENT: Classic ridges and buttresses popular on Sunday. SOUTHERN CAIRNGORMS AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS SUN 26/2/06 It was another cold day with strong NE winds and a high wind chill but no new snow. The majority of the snow cover is well bonded with a few isolated areas of windslab in very sheltered locations on S to W aspects above 800 metres. Where these localised accumulations have depth and overlie a harder snow- ice base they are moderately to weakly bonded. The avalanche hazard is Considerable (Category 3). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK MON 27/2/06 There will be little change to current conditions with afternoon snow showers on N winds continuing the development of moderately to weakly bonded windslab. This will be found in steeper sheltered locations on S to SW aspects above 800 metres. These areas will be generally avoidable, elsewhere will remain well bonded. The avalanche hazard will be Considerable (Category 3). CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Icy crust in most locations. ICING: Some ice has formed, continuing cold. COMMENT: Re-frozen snow is providing firm conditions underfoot. CREAG MEAGAIDH AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS SUN 26/2/06 Fresh North-North-East winds brought cold temperatures and only a trace of new snow. Stability was good in all wind- exposed North-West through North to South-East aspects where crusty snow-ice was prevalent. Accumulations of less well- bonded windslab were present on steep South to West aspects above 900 metres but these were not extensive and confined to the tops of scarp slopes and gullies. The avalanche hazard is Moderate (Category 2). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK MON 27/2/06 It will remain cold with strengthening Northerly winds and a few light snow showers on Monday that will become heavier during the afternoon. Stability will remain good in many places until the onset of more significant snow showers later in the day. New, weakly bonded windslab accumulations are expected to form on steep South-East to South-West aspects above 900 metres. Winds may also cross-load slab on to the sides of steep North-West and East-facing gullies. The avalanche hazard will rise to Considerable (Category 3). CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Reasonable cover above 800m ICING: Improved snow-ice in gullies, though a bit narrow in places. Ice continuing to develop. COMMENT: Climbing parties in Raeburn's Gully, South Post, Centre Post and Staghorn Gully on Sunday. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------