Northern Cairngorms

NC for 13.1: Instabilities will persist before beginning to consolidate on NW to NE asp. abv. 1000m. Cornice collapse! Moderate Haz.

NC for 13.1: Instabilities will persist before beginning to consolidate on NW to NE asp. abv. 1000m. Cornice collapse! Moderate Haz.

Forecast Snow Stability: Initially localised unstable windslab will persist on North-West to North-East aspects above 1000 metres. This will begin to slowly consolidate through the course of the forecast period. Areas most affected will be corrie rims, ridge flanks, the tops of gullies, crag aprons and corrie headwalls. Cornices overhanging these aspects could potentially collapse, triggering slopes below. Elsewhere the snowpack will be generally stable. The avalanche hazard will be Moderate.

Forecast Weather Influences: Gale to storm force South-Westerly winds will ease a little during the day. Dry overnight with light rain expected at all levels during the day. The freezing level will be above the summits throughout the forecast period. Observed Weather Influences: A dry day with light, increasing strong to gale force South-South-Westerly winds. Inversion conditions; the freezing level rose to above the summits by midday, around minus 2 Celsius recorded at 950 metres at the same time. ObservedSnowStability: Drifting snow during the afternoon. Further accumulations of weakly bonded windslab developed in localised places above 1000 metres on North-West to North-Easterly aspects. Coire rims, gully tops and ridge flanks were most affected. Elsewhere, deep unconsolidated but stable snow lies on all aspects above glen level. The avalanche hazard is Moderate.