Northern Cairngorms

NC for 18.3: Instabilities on steep NW to NE aspects above 1000m. Unstable cornices. Wet snow instabilities S facing slopes. Mod Haz

NC for 18.3: Instabilities on steep NW to NE aspects above 1000m. Unstable cornices. Wet snow instabilities S facing slopes. Mod Haz

Forecast Snow Stability: The snowpack will continue to consolidate at all altitudes. Instabilities will linger within deeper accumulations on steep North-West to North-East aspects above 1000 metres. Areas most affected will be coire rims, gully tops, crag aprons and convexities. Unstable cornices will overhang these areas and threaten slopes below. Wet snow instabilities will develop on sun affected slopes. The avalanche hazard will be Moderate.

Forecast Weather Influences: Fresh South to South-Westerly winds will steadily increase strong to gale force through the afternoon. The freezing level will briefly fluctuate to just below summit levels during the early morning, but in the main it will be above the tops. Dry conditions throughout the forecast period with sunshine during the morning. Observed Weather Influences: A dry day with fresh Southerly winds. The freezing level was above the summits. ObservedSnowStability: After a period of instability overnight the snowpack is beginning to slowly consolidate at all altitudes; however snowpack weaknesses remain on steep North-West to North-East aspects above 900 metres. Areas affected are coire rims, gully exits, crag aprons and convexities. Debris from several recent avalanches was observed on Northerly aspects above 1000 metres. Unstable cornices overhang these areas. Elsewhere the snowpack is becoming well bonded. The avalanche hazard is Moderate.