Northern Cairngorms

NC for 19.2:Avalanches likely on N to E aspects above 900m. Cross loading. Stabilizing, daytime. Unstable cornices. Considerable Haz

NC for 19.2:Avalanches likely on N to E aspects above 900m. Cross loading. Stabilizing, daytime. Unstable cornices. Considerable Haz

Forecast Snow Stability: Overnight poorly bonded windslab will develop with avalanches likely on North to East aspects above 900m. Areas most affected will be coire rims, gully tops and steep convexities. Also on these aspects, localised instabilities on steep banks below 900m. Cross loading onto other aspects. During the day the snowpack will begin to consolidate; however, instabilities will persist where deeper deposits of windslab remain. Cornices will be prone to collapse. The avalanche hazard will be Considerable

Forecast Weather Influences: Light snowfall will peter out during the night. Light Westerly winds will gradually increase through the night to become gale then storm force during the day. The 700 metre freezing level will rise through the night to reach summit levels by dawn, later rising to well above the summits for the rest of the forecast period. Observed Weather Influences: Snowfall cleared to leave a dry day with sunshine and bands of low cloud. Winds were fresh to moderate South-Easterlies. The midday freezing level was around 900 metres. ObservedSnowStability: There is a widespread blanket of soft snow on most aspects above 600 metres. New accumulations of soft unstable windslab have developed on Westerly to Northerly aspects above 1000 metres. The greatest instability is around coire rims, gully tops and steep convexities. On these aspects soft fragile cornices are beginning to develop. The avalanche hazard is Moderate.