Lochaber

LO for 31/01/23. Frequent snow showers above 500m. Windslab will develop on NE to SE above 900m. Hazard Moderate.

LO for 31/01/23. Frequent snow showers above 500m. Windslab will develop on NE to SE above 900m. Hazard Moderate.

Forecast Snow Stability: During the day unstable windslab will develop on North-East to South-East aspects above 900 metres. On wind sheltered locations such as scarp slopes, gully tops and corrie rims this will gain depth and become more widespread. Fresh, fragile cornices will also form above these aspects. Features on North and South aspects could also be affected by cross loading. Wind scoured slopes will become icy and hard. The avalanche hazard will be Moderate.

Forecast Weather Influences: Overnight the freezing level will briefly rise above the summits accompanied by rain. The freezing level then falls back to around 500m by dawn. There will be frequent and occasionally heavy snow showers during the day above 500 metres. Summit winds will be Westerly and very strong to gale force throughout the period. Observed Weather Influences: It was a mainly dry day, with one or two brief showers, of snow, above 700 metres. Winds were Westerly and fresh to strong on the summits. Freezing level was around 700 metres rising slowly to 850 metres by the end of the day.

ObservedSnowStability: The existing snowpack has refrozen and is stable and well bonded. There are small pockets of fresh, moderately bonded windslab on steep, wind sheltered, North-East to South-East aspects above 900 metres. The snowpack on wind scoured aspects has firmed up in the cooler temperatures. The avalanche hazard is Low.