Over the last 24hours a significant amount of new snow has fallen at all levels. Yesterday the A5 was only passable by 4x4 and the Llanberis Pass was closed.
Last night SARDA Wales were called to search an avalanche site at Aber Falls. A lit headtorch had been found but fortunately no person attached to it. Whilst probing the debris the snow as 5 metres deep in places.
In addition to the large accumulation of new snow temperatures are set to rise over the weekend. This will cause the snow to melt and water will add to the weight of the snowpack and undermine its stability. The ground will remain frozen so the water will have nowhere to go other than under the snowpack. The water running under the snowpack will further undermine its stability. Unstable windslab has formed on may aspects due to cross loading.
Be safe!
Rob
This came in this morning from a friend of mine who is on the Llanberis MRT and a helicopter instructor at RAF Valley:
Just thought I'd take this opportunity to warn you all of what would appear to be a significant avalanche risk at the mo.
I had the opportunity today to fly for an hour and a half in the hills (not checking out conditions, honest!). What I saw was quite frightening. There was a significant full depth avalanche on the ridge line directly above Nant on the ridge between Cwm Dudodyn and Llyn y Cwn, grid 614 584. Debris was almost down to Nant and it had a 3' headwall. I saw plenty of significant fractures on the ridge line on Esgair Felen, Glyder Fawr towards Llyn y Cwn also, grid 633 583. I think that there will be plenty of slips to come, especially so with the warmer/wetter weather forecast this weekend. Just thought it worth a warning if anyone is planning to make the best of the weather before it craps out this weekend. However the met office at Valley is quite confident that it will start to get very cold again next week though (probably means that we are in for a heat wave then!)
On a positive side though, the kitchen, Black Ladders and anything on the side of the Valley with the name I shan't mention! Looks fantastic. Great ski touring to be had in the Carneddau.
Be safe out there.
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