Northern Cairngorms

NC for 30.12: Mild, a spell of rain, wet snow instabilities on steep W, N to NE aspects above 1000m. Cornice collapse. Moderate Haz.

NC for 30.12: Mild, a spell of rain, wet snow instabilities on steep W, N to NE aspects above 1000m. Cornice collapse. Moderate Haz.

Forecast Snow Stability: Recent storm windslab accumulations will begin to consolidate, however; wet snow instabilities will develop especially during the onset of rain. Areas most affected will be on steep and convex West through North to North-Easterly aspects mainly above 1000 metres. On these aspects recently developed cornices will also be prone to collapse and could potentially trigger slopes below. The avalanche hazard will be Moderate.

Forecast Weather Influences: Mostly dry with a spell of rain at all levels during the early morning. Winds will be strong to gale force and generally West-South-West in direction. The freezing level will be above the summits throughout the forecast period. Observed Weather Influences: Up until the early afternoon there was persistent snowfall above 800 metres on storm force South-South-Easterly winds. The freezing level rose to 900 metres by midday. Later in the day snow turned to sleet and rain at all levels as the temperature rose. ObservedSnowStability: New accumulations of unstable windslab have developed on North-West to North-East aspects above 900 metres. Cross loading has also affected West and East aspects. The greatest instability is within wind sheltered steep terrain such as around coire rims, gully exits, scarp slopes and crag aprons. On these aspects isolated areas of old weaknesses persist at depth beneath the new windslab. Developing cornices are fragile. The avalanche hazard is Moderate.