Lochaber

LO for 21/1. Stormy! Unstable windslab on N through E to SE aspects above 900m. Cornices prone to collapse. Considerable hazard.

LO for 21/1. Stormy! Unstable windslab on N through E to SE aspects above 900m. Cornices prone to collapse. Considerable hazard.

Forecast Snow Stability: After some wet snow instabilities early in the night, the colder conditions in the early hours will help to consolidate the existing snowpack. However, through the morning areas of windslab will be deposited on North through East to South-East aspects above 900 metres. These will be unstable, particularly during the afternoon when the freezing level rises well above the summits. Cornices will be prone to collapse. The avalanche hazard will be Considerable.

Forecast Weather Influences: Early in the night there will be a period of precipitation which will fall as wet snow on the highest summits. Later in the night and through the morning, the freezing level will be around 800 metres, with showers falling as snow above this level. Early afternoon the freezing level will rise well above the summits with precipitation turning heavy and to rain at all levels. Gale to storm force South-Westerly winds will back to the South. Observed Weather Influences: It was a grey day with some periods of drizzle. The freezing level was around 1200 metres with gale force South-Westerly winds. ObservedSnowStability: Above about 900 meters the surface of the snowpack had started to thaw, but it remained sub-zero at depth. Overall the snowpack is slowly consolidating. However, some instabilities remain on mainly North through East to South-East aspects above 900 metres. Some unstable cornices exist, mainly on these aspects. Below 900 metres the snowpack tends to be wet throughout, and stability is better. The avalanche hazard is Considerable.