Southern Cairngorms

SC 17/03 Overnight unstable windslab on W, NW, N, NE aspects above 1000m. Thaw. Consolidating during the day. Av Hazard Moderate.

SC 17/03 Overnight unstable windslab on W, NW, N, NE aspects above 1000m. Thaw. Consolidating during the day. Av Hazard Moderate.

Forecast Snow Stability: During the evening, snowfall and drifting of recent deposits will form localised windslab in wind sheltered locations on West through North to North-East aspects above 1000m. Rain and a rising freezing level will destabilise these fresh deposits overnight. By morning consolidation will be taking place and the majority of snow will be soft but generally stable with only minor surface instability being displayed in recent deposits on the steepest of terrain. The avalanche hazard will be Moderate.

Forecast Weather Influences: Early evening snowfall above 700 metres will eventually turn to sleet, then rain on all summits by the end of the evening. No precipitation from the early hours onwards, giving a dry day. Near gale force South-Easterly winds during the evening, easing to become moderate Southerlies during the day. The freezing level will climb above the summits by midnight, staying there for the rest of the period. Observed Weather Influences: No precipitation. Strong sunlight during the morning. Summit level cloud building from midday. Light Southerly winds initially, increasing to strong during the afternoon. Freezing level rising to around 900 metres by mid-afternoon. ObservedSnowStability: A uniform, thin covering of recent snow above 800 metres with shallow accumulations of drier windslab present on Southerly aspects above 1000 metres. Isolated wind sheltered locations on South aspects hold deeper accumulations but distribution is limited. Drifting deposits are starting to redistribute onto Northerly aspects above 1000 metres. The avalanche hazard is Low.