Weather

FELLTOP CONDITIONS REPORT from Helvellyn at 120pm on Tuesday 9th February 2010.There was a light dusting of snow at all levels, but it has only settled above 500m with the main snow level being above 650m. Below 650m only patches of old, icy snow remain and these are generally, but not always, avoidable. Above 650m, snow depth increases with height to reach over 70cm in drifts although as the main snowpack is icy you should not sink down into it, apart from the recent snow that has only added up to 5cm in drifts. Well-used footpaths are covered in compacted snow and ice making the going - with crampons - easy, although treacherous without. Both Striding and Swirral Edges are in full winter condition. The exits have a light covering of unstable snow over a layer of consolidated snow and ice; so care needs to be taken. Cornices have formed along the summit ridges, so please keep well back from the edge and advise others to do likewise. Full winter clothing, footwear and equipment are essential for anyone venturing out onto the fells as are crampons and ice axes for anyone going above the snowline. Several Lakeland tarns, such as Red Tarn, have frozen the ice is not very thick, so please do not be tempted out on them! Climbing Conditions : Still good, although care needs to be taken with the intermittent top layer of spindrift; so if you are experienced, properly equipped, and can assess any changes to the snowpack and conditions, come and enjoy! Summit statistics today (these are taken when the Fell Top Assessor is on the summit - they do not represent max/min figures for the past 24 hours) Temperature minus 3.9 c Wind chill minus 14.5 c Max wind speed 40.2 mph Average wind speed 22.7 mph