Northern Cairngorms

NC for 24.3. Unstable windslab building NW,N,NE,E aspects above 1000m. Stable elsewhere. Avalanche Hazard Moderate.

NC for 24.3. Unstable windslab building NW,N,NE,E aspects above 1000m. Stable elsewhere. Avalanche Hazard Moderate.

Forecast Snow Stability: As the day progresses unstable windslab will be deposited on North-West through North to East aspects above 1000 metres. Areas most affected will be steep wind sheltered locations, such as coire rims, headwalls and gully tops. Fresh cornices will continue to develop above the same aspects. Outwith these locations the snow pack will be consolidated and stable. At lower elevations the snow cover will remain patchy and limited in extent. The avalanche hazard will be Moderate.

Forecast Weather Influences: Wet snow will fall at summit elevations overnight. After a dry period snow will resume in the morning falling above 900 metres. Winds will be strong and from the South-South-East overnight veering to West-South-West by midday. The freezing level will be around 1200 metres overnight, falling to 900 metres by dawn before rising slowly to 1200 metres by the end of the forecast period. Observed Weather Influences: Overnight snow gave way to a dry day. Winds were gale force and mainly from a South-South-Westerly direction during daylight hours. The freezing level was around 1100 metres at midday. ObservedSnowStability: Fresh accumulations of unstable windslab were deposited throughout the day on North to East aspects above 1000 metres. These were generally found in steep wind sheltered locations such as coire rims, headwalls and ridge flanks. Fresh cornices also developed above the same aspects. Outwith these areas the old snowpack was firm and stable. The avalanche hazard is Moderate.