Northern Cairngorms

NC for 6.4: Wet snow instabilities on NE to SE aspects above 1000m Unstable cornices, later, new windslab on N to E aspects. Mod Haz

NC for 6.4: Wet snow instabilities on NE to SE aspects above 1000m Unstable cornices, later, new windslab on N to E aspects. Mod Haz

Forecast Snow Stability: Overnight there will be a period of wet snow instabilities on steep and convex North-East to South-East aspects mainly above 1000 metres. Cornices will become unstable. As it turns cooler new windslab accumulations will develop on Northerly to Easterly aspects above 1000 metres. Areas particularly affected will be below coire rims and gully exits. The avalanche hazard will be Moderate.

Forecast Weather Influences: Precipitation throughout the forecast period. This will initially fall as sleet and drizzle at around summit levels before turning to snow above 800 metres from the middle of the night onwards. Strong to gale force West-South-Westerly winds will ease a little during the day and back to become South-Westerly in direction. The freezing level will fall to 900 metres. Observed Weather Influences: During the morning there were mild temperatures with snowfall turning to sleet and rain at all levels. Cooler during the early afternoon, rain turned to snow, and summit temperatures fell to around minus 4 degrees C. Moderate to strong winds were from the West. ObservedSnowStability: A thin cover of wet snow lies on all aspects above 700 metres. During the afternoon new windslab accumulations developed on North-East to South-East aspects above 1000 metres. Areas most affected were below coire rims and the tops of gullies. The avalanche hazard is Low.