Northern Cairngorms

Forecast Snow Stability: From the middle of the night onwards, new unstable windslab will build on North to East aspects, cross loading will affect North-West and South-East aspects. The greatest instability will be above 950 metres in steep wind sheltered areas. Cornices will be fragile and potentially trigger slopes below. Below 950 metres localised windslab will develop on steep banks and burn lines. Elsewhere the snowpack will be firm wind scoured and stable. The avalanche hazard will be Considerable.

Forecast Weather Influences: Snow fall is expected from the middle of the night onwards. Strong South-West winds will increase gale to storm force, become Southerly then veer West-South-Westerly for the duration of the day. The 700 metre freezing level will briefly rise to 1000 metres during the early morning before steadily falling to 600 metres by the end of the day. Observed Weather Influences: Occasional snow showers on strong Westerly winds. The freezing level was around 800 metres. ObservedSnowStability: Accumulations of unstable windslab are present on Northerly to Easterly aspects above 950 metres. The greatest instability is in steep wind sheltered terrain, such as coire rims, head walls gullies and convexities. Avalanche debris was observed on a North-East aspect at 1100 metres. Recently formed cornices are fragile. The avalanche hazard is Considerable.