Northern Cairngorms

NC for 24.12 Isolated areas of avoidable windslab on N,E,SE aspects above 1000m. Especially gully tops, coire rims. Low Hazard.

NC for 24.12 Isolated areas of avoidable windslab on N,E,SE aspects above 1000m. Especially gully tops, coire rims. Low Hazard.

Forecast Snow Stability: During the day isolated areas of fresh windslab will build on North through East to South-East aspects above 1000 metres. The greatest instabilities will be where these fresh accumulations have gained greatest depth such as gully tops and coire rims and will generally be easily avoidable. Fragile cornices will start to build on these aspects. The avalanche hazard will be Low.

Forecast Weather Influences: Light rain overnight will gradually ease for a few hours before becoming more established during the day. The freezing level remains above summit height initially before lowering to 1000 metres around dawn. Westerly gales ease briefly Saturday night before strengthening again from early Sunday. Observed Weather Influences: A brief drop in temperatures overnight resulted with snow falling to low elevations. This was rapidly replaced by persistent rain to all levels as the freezing level rose above summit height during the day. Gale force winds were from the West-South-West. ObservedSnowStability: The fresh snowpack continues to consolidate and thaw in the mild temperatures. This moist snowpack is mainly sitting on bare ground or on top of old stable snow patches. Greatest accumulations can be found in North and East facing coires above 950 metres in steep wind sheltered locations such as gully tops and coire rims. The avalanche hazard is Low.