Northern Cairngorms

NC for 27.1. New snow! Just a dusting above 800 metres. Old snowpack hard and icy on NW,N,NE and E aspects. Avalanche Hazard Low.

NC for 27.1. New snow! Just a dusting above 800 metres. Old snowpack hard and icy on NW,N,NE and E aspects. Avalanche Hazard Low.

Forecast Snow Stability: The snowpack will quickly become hard and icy due to the fluctuation in temperature, remaining stable at all elevations. Greatest amounts are located on steep coire back walls, scarp slopes and ridge flanks of a North-West through North to East aspects above 1000 metres. A light dusting of new snow will lie above 800 metres. Shallow accumulations will be limited in extent and inconsequential, these being located mainly on South-East and Easterly aspects. The avalanche hazard will be Low.

Forecast Weather Influences: Rain in the evening will initially fall at all elevations, before a mainly dry night. Precipitation will resume before dawn, this falling as snow above 800 metres, although amounts are expected to be small. Winds will be Westerly overnight veering to the West-North-West by dawn. Initially gale force and then remaining strong during daylight hours. The freezing level will rapidly drop to around 800 metres. Observed Weather Influences: A mainly dry day but with rain arriving late in the forecast period. Winds quickly backed to the South-West increasing to gale force. The freezing level rose above the summits by early morning. ObservedSnowStability: Little change. The snowpack is very patchy and remains firm, stable and well bonded at all elevations. Coire back walls and ridge flanks hold the greatest amounts, particularly those of a North-West through North to East aspect above 1000 metres. Outwith these areas bare ground is abundant with just isolated snow patches in hollows, depressions and stream beds. The avalanche hazard is Low.