Northern Cairngorms

NC for 7.3: Drifting snow, unstable windslab and cornices developing on NW to NE aspects above 900m. Cross loading. Moderate Hazard

NC for 7.3: Drifting snow, unstable windslab and cornices developing on NW to NE aspects above 900m. Cross loading. Moderate Hazard

Forecast Snow Stability: Drifting snow. Unstable windslab will develop and become more widespread through the course of the forecast period on North-West to North-East aspects above 900 metres. Areas most affected will be steep wind sheltered locations, gully exits and below coire rims. Fragile cornices will develop. Cross loading onto other aspects. Unstable windslab around coire rims on Southerly facing slopes will gradually erode. Elsewhere will be icy and stable. The avalanche hazard will be Moderate.

Forecast Weather Influences: Dry conditions are expected throughout the forecast period with sunny spells developing during the afternoon. Moderate to strong Southerly winds will increase through the afternoon and back to become South-South-Easterly in direction. Zero degrees C at around summit levels, cooler later in the day, but the airmass over the mountains will remain cold due to inversion conditions. Observed Weather Influences: A cool, sunny day with light Southerly winds. The freezing level at midday was around 700 metres. ObservedSnowStability: A cover of soft, cold, loose snow overlies an icy crust on all aspects. Localised accumulations of unstable windslab were observed on East through South to South-West aspects above 950 metres. Instabilities were also observed below coire rims on North-West to Northerly aspects above 950 metres. In some locations large cornices overhang these aspects. The avalanche hazard is Moderate.