Southern Cairngorms

SC 22.01 THAW! Increased instability overnight. Cornice collapse. Fresh windslab N,NE,E,SE asp abve 800m later. Av Haz Considerable

SC 22.01 THAW! Increased instability overnight. Cornice collapse. Fresh windslab N,NE,E,SE asp abve 800m later. Av Haz Considerable

Forecast Snow Stability: There will be a period of increased instability overnight as the rain and mild conditions take effect. Cornices will be prone to collapse. Worst affected locations will be North to East aspects above 900 metres. Stability will improve during the day as the wet snow slowly refreezes before fresh windslab starts to form over a firm base, in wind sheltered locations on mainly North through East to South-East aspects above 800 metres. The avalanche hazard will be Considerable.

Forecast Weather Influences: Rain at all levels overnight will turn to snow above 600 metres by early morning. Gale force West or West-South-Westerly winds. The freezing level will be well above all summits during the evening, lowering to 700 metres by daylight. Observed Weather Influences: Precipitation, falling as snow initially above 600 metres, turned to rain up to 850 metres during the morning, as the freezing level rose to around 900 metres by midday. Winds were strong, increasing to gale force, South-South-Westerly. ObservedSnowStability: Thaw conditions had prevailed overnight with snow loss at lower elevations. During the morning, fresh windslab formed in wind sheltered locations on mainly North to East aspects above 900 metres but with some cross-loading onto North-West and South-East aspects. Moderately bonded deposits are present in steep locations below this altitude. A rising freezing level and rainfall is further destabilising the snowpack. The avalanche hazard is Considerable.