Snow and Avalanche Report
Issued at 17.15 hrs Friday 15/12/2000
Most Highland ranges have had a dry day, with  little fresh 
snowfall. Recent accumulations are generally light and on 
Northerly aspects, avoidable.  Some slab exists on mainly E 
and S aspects and this gave a moderate shovel shear on an 
E-facing test site at 900 metres in the Northern Cairngorms.  
The old snowpack is frozen after a much colder day on the 
tops. Remaining accumulations are in higher corries and 
gullies mainly above 900 metres.  Some easier gullies remain 
complete, but climbing conditions are generally very poor, with 
only some atmospheric riming on buttresses and turf not yet 
hard-frozen.  The avalanche hazard is Moderate (Category 2).  
 
Avalanche Hazard Outlook Saturday 16/12/2000
Most Highland ranges will have a dry day, although a period of 
snowfall is likely in the Glencoe area in the morning.  Winds 
will be mainly light North-Westerly, but some drifting of this 
new snow may occur, leading to additional accumulation on E 
and S aspects, mainly above 900 metres.  Northerly aspects 
will be generally stable, with limited and mostly avoidable 
areas of fresh snow lying on the old re-frozen snowpack.  In 
areas where the greatest accumulations of recent slab exist, 
mainly above 900 metres on E and S aspects in Glencoe, the 
avalanche hazard will be Considerable (Category 3). 


Note: This report will be updated on Saturday 16/12/2000.  
Detailed daily Reports for 5 areas will commence on 
20/12/2000.




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