Southern Cairngorms

SC18/02 Unstable windslab on NE to SE aspects above 900m, Cornices! Moderate below 900m and on N and S aspects. Av Haz Considerable.

SC18/02 Unstable windslab on NE to SE aspects above 900m, Cornices! Moderate below 900m and on N and S aspects. Av Haz Considerable.

Forecast Snow Stability: Moderately to weakly bonded windslab will be found in wind sheltered locations on mainly North-East to South-East aspects above 900 metres with fragile cornices present. Below this altitude and on North and South aspects, areas of moderately bonded windslab will be encountered. These will be deepest in any wind sheltered features. Cover will improve on other aspects but will not become significant. The avalanche hazard will be Considerable.

Forecast Weather Influences: A mainly dry night followed by moderate snowfall to glen level throughout the day. Gale force Westerly winds easing overnight to moderate Southerly. Fresh Easterly winds by morning, backing and strengthening to become strong Northerly, then North-Westerly by the end of the day. Observed Weather Influences: Overnight snowfall above 600 metres. Light, intermittent snow showers during the morning with more frequent, heavier snow showers to glen level during the afternoon. Gale to storm force Westerly winds. ObservedSnowStability: Snowfall and persistent drifting have rapidly formed unstable windslab on mainly North-East to South-East aspects. Greatest amounts are present in wind sheltered locations above 1000 metres but accumulations are starting to gain depth below this altitude and above 700 metres. Multiple small cornice collapses were noted on North and North-East aspects at 1000m. Moderately bonded accumulations are also present on North aspects above 900 metres. The avalanche hazard is Considerable.