Northern Cairngorms

NC for 7/4. New snow and strong N winds. Windslab SE to SW above 900m. Also E and W due to cross loading. Considerable hazard.

NC for 7/4. New snow and strong N winds. Windslab SE to SW above 900m. Also E and W due to cross loading. Considerable hazard.

Forecast Snow Stability: Accumulations of fresh unstable windslab will develop in steep wind sheltered locations mainly on South-East to South-West aspects above 900 metres. More localised accumulations will be present on West and East aspects due to cross loading. Fragile cornices will develop above all these aspects. Isolated windslab accumulations will also be present in steep banks at lower elevations. Slopes exposed to the Northerly winds will be scoured and stable. The avalanche hazard will be Considerable.

Forecast Weather Influences: Precipitation throughout the period will initially be snow above 750 metres becoming snow at most levels by morning. Snowfall will be heaviest during the night. Very strong Northerly winds overnight, will ease to moderate and back to become North-Westerly during the day. The freezing level will gradually fall to around 400 metres by morning rising slightly during the day. Observed Weather Influences: A dry clear day with moderate to strong West-South-Westerly winds. The freezing level was around 1000 metres. ObservedSnowStability: The existing snowpack is well bonded and stable throughout. Isolated deposits of fresh moderately bonded windslab exist on North to East aspects above 1000 metres. These deposits are very shallow and confined to gully tops and coire rims. The avalanche hazard is Low.