Northern Cairngorms

NC for 4.4: Wet snow instabilities on N, E to S asp. above 950m. Cornice collapse. Later isolated windslab on E to SW asp. Mod Haz.

NC for 4.4: Wet snow instabilities on N, E to S asp. above 950m. Cornice collapse. Later isolated windslab on E to SW asp. Mod Haz.

Forecast Snow Stability: The snowpack will thaw at all altitudes. Wet snow instabilities will affect steep and convex North through East, Southerly aspects above 950 metres. On these aspects cornices will become increasingly unstable. As it turns cooler the old snowpack will begin to consolidate at the highest levels. Through the afternoon isolated windslab accumulations will develop above 1000 metres on East to South aspects. The avalanche hazard will be Moderate.

Forecast Weather Influences: Gale force Westerly winds will gradually decrease through the day and veer to become North-Westerly in direction. Rain at all levels throughout the night and early part of the day. As it turns cooler, this will turn to light snowfall at the highest levels by midday. The freezing level will be above the summits overnight, cooler through the day, freezing at around 1000 metres by the afternoon. Observed Weather Influences: A dry morning followed by precipitation, this was heavy at times, initially falling as snow above 700 metres. Light Westerly winds increased moderate to strong through the afternoon. The freezing level rose to 900 metres by midday. ObservedSnowStability: Localised accumulations of moderately bonded windslab were observed within steep and convex terrain on South-East to South-West aspects above 950 metres. Through the afternoon new unstable windslab developed on wind sheltered Northerly to Easterly aspects above 950 metres. Areas most affected were below coire rims and the tops of gullies. The avalanche hazard is Moderate.