Northern Cairngorms

Forecast Snow Stability: The old snowpack will become firm and stable throughout. Overnight accumulations of unstable windslab will develop above 800 metres on South-East to South-West aspects. During the day there will be a redistribution of lying snow and new unstable windslab will develop above 800 metres on North-West to North-East aspects. Areas especially affected will be coire rims, ridge flanks and gully exits. Cornices will be fragile. The avalanche hazard will be Moderate.

Forecast Weather Influences: Snowfall during the first part of the night on strong easing to fresh Northerly winds. Dry conditions will follow up until the end of the afternoon when snowfall is expected on fresh increasing to strong Southerly winds. The 500 metre freezing level will rise to 900 metres during the afternoon. Observed Weather Influences: Mild during the morning with rain at all levels, cooler later with rain turning to snowfall by mid afternoon. Winds were gale force Westerly, later Northerly. The freezing level was above the highest summits at midday before falling to 900 metres by mid afternoon. ObservedSnowStability: The snowpack is thawing at all altitudes. Accumulations of moist windslab remains on Easterly aspects above 1000 metres. Snowpack instabilities persist on steep locations such as around coire rims convexities and gully exits. Elsewhere the snowpack is generally stable. The avalanche hazard is Moderate