Northern Cairngorms

NC for 19.01 Poorly bonded windslab continuing to build on N, NE, E, SE aspects above 800m. Unstable cornices. Considerable hazard.

NC for 19.01 Poorly bonded windslab continuing to build on N, NE, E, SE aspects above 800m. Unstable cornices. Considerable hazard.

Forecast Snow Stability: Areas of poorly bonded windslab will continue to build becoming more widespread. Greatest accumulations will be on North through East to South-East aspects, mostly above 800 metres, where avalanches are likely. Wind sheltered gully tops, ridge flanks and coire rims most affected. Here, fragile cornices will also build. Below this level and above 600 metres unstable accumulations will build in wind sheltered places such as steep banks and depressions. The avalanche hazard will be Considerable.

Forecast Weather Influences: Overnight, Westerly winds will gradually increase in strength to gale force, backing West-South-Westerly becoming storm force around day break, lessening in strength to gale force Westerlies during the day. Precipitation falling as snow at all levels at first, then above 400 metres during the day, heaviest in the morning. Freezing level at glen level overnight rising to 600 metres during the day. Observed Weather Influences: A very cold day with summit temperatures around -10 degrees Centigrade. Winds fresh to strong West-North-Westerly throughout the day, calmer in the coires. A mostly dry day but with snowfall in the afternoon and with drifting snow above 800 metres. ObservedSnowStability: Areas of very poorly bonded windslab are present on mostly North-East through East to South aspects above 900 metres. Wind sheltered coire rims, ridge flanks, and gully tops being most affected. Below this level, and above 700 metres, localised accumulations are present in wind sheltered places but these are not extensive. Elsewhere, most areas of snow are generally stable. The avalanche hazard is Considerable.