Northern Cairngorms

NC for 2.3 Well bonded and stable. Cosmetic dusting disguising firm and icy old snowpack. Avalanche Hazard Low.

NC for 2.3 Well bonded and stable. Cosmetic dusting disguising firm and icy old snowpack. Avalanche Hazard Low.

Forecast Snow Stability: The snow will be generally well bonded and stable in all locations. Overnight a cosmetic dusting of light snow will fall, overlying the older snowpack, which will be firm and icy on North through East to South-East aspects above 1000 metres. Elsewhere the snow will be firm and feature a surface crust. The avalanche hazard will be Low.

Forecast Weather Influences: A dry day is expected, following light snow flurries overnight. Winds will be strong and generally from the North-East. Summit temperatures will be just below freezing due to the stable airmass, with icy surfaces at lower elevations. Observed Weather Influences: Overnight light precipitation fell as snow above 800 metres, before gradually turning to rain showers at all levels. Winds were generally from the North-East and fresh in strength. The temperature inversion continues with summit temperatures around -1 degrees Celsius. ObservedSnowStability: An insignificant dusting of fresh snow overlies bare ground above 800 metres. On North through East to South-East aspects above 1000 metres this fresh snow overlies the older snowpack, which is consolidated and stable. Further accumulations of well bonded, patchy, fresh snow have been deposited in sheltered hollows on South to West aspects above 1000 metres, where they feature a thin rain crust. The avalanche hazard is Low.