Northern Cairngorms

NC for 14.2: Snow showers, N winds. Unstable windslab on E, S to SW aspects above 900m. Cornices. Cross loading. Moderate Hazard.

NC for 14.2: Snow showers, N winds. Unstable windslab on E, S to SW aspects above 900m. Cornices. Cross loading. Moderate Hazard.

Forecast Snow Stability: New accumulations of unstable windslab will develop on East through South to South-West aspects above 900 metres. The greatest instability will be in steep wind sheltered locations, especially below coire rims and gully exits. Fragile cornices will begin to develop in these areas. Other aspects will be affected by cross loading. Elsewhere the snowpack will be firm well bonded and stable. The avalanche hazard will be Moderate.

Forecast Weather Influences: Snow showers throughout the forecast period. During the night moderate North winds will increase strong to gale force and become generally North-North-Westerly in direction, easing later in the day. The 800 metre freezing level will gradually fall to 600 metres through the afternoon. Observed Weather Influences: A dry morning with occasional light snowfall during the afternoon. Light to moderate winds were Southerly in direction. The freezing level was at 1100 metres. ObservedSnowStability: The snowpack is consolidating at all altitudes. Instabilities were observed on North to East aspects above 1000 metres. Areas most affected are steep, convex terrain, below coire rims and gully exits. Elsewhere the snowpack is well bonded and stable. The avalanche hazard is Moderate.