NORTHERN CAIRNGORMS AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS SAT 30/12/00 Continuing cold temperatures with moderate, mainly North- West winds and some drifting, have continued windslab accumulation on East and South aspects above 850 metres. However, variable winds over the past few days have contributed to loading on other aspects, particularly on scarp slopes, plateau rims and gully heads . Unstable cornices exist above some slopes. The instability caused by buried surface hoar is evident in many places and slab failed easily on underlying snow-ice in all field tests. The avalanche hazard is High (Category 4). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK SUN 31/12/00 Forecasted heavy snow on rising Southerly winds will not reach the area until late in the period. However, moderate South-West winds will re-distribute lying snow as windslab on to North and East aspects. Fresh windslab will form and particularly where it lies on old snow-ice, mainly above 850 metres, instabilities will exist. Existing unstable deposits on other aspects will remain. The avalanche hazard will be High (Category 4). CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Most aspects above 850 m now have cover, but boulder terrain still evident. ICING: Improving in persistent cold conditions. COMMENT: Snow arriving late tomorrow should help ski-ing, if not climbing. LOCHABER AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS SAT 30/12/00 Cold conditions overnight and during Saturday have had little effect on areas of existing unstable windslab. This windslab is generally restricted to localised deposits in sheltered locations, notably on SW through to N aspects. The avalanche hazard is Considerable (Category 3). Exposed old snow remains hard frozen and stable. AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK SUN 31/12/00 The current settled conditions will be replaced later on Sunday with strong S-SSE winds with heavy snow. Localised windslab will remain on SW through to N aspects. As conditions change unstable deposits will start to form on many sheltered locations, greatest accumulations will be on sheltered NW to NE aspects where avalanches are likely. The avalanche hazard will be Considerable (Category 3). Cornices will start to reform. CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Light cover at all levels. Old frozen snow mainly in N and E facing corries. ICING: Large areas of water ice exist on paths and open slopes under a thin layer of fresh snow. COMMENT: Blizzard conditions later on Sunday. GLENCOE AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS SAT 30/12/00 A very cold Northeast airflow continues to affect the area. Light snow cover exists on all aspects with localised deep drifting on SW to N facing slopes and in sheltered areas such as gullies above 850m. These deeper accumulations are weakly bonded to the underlying snow ice. Avalanche hazard Considerable (Category 3). Slopes exposed to the wind remain firm and icy. AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK SUN 31/12/00 Cold and clear conditions initially with heavy snow and gale force Southerly winds expected later on Sunday afternoon. Unstable deposits of windslab will form on slopes with a Northwest to Northeast aspect and in sheltered areas such as gullies as new snow affects the area. Where deep windslab overlies firm snow ice, avalanches are likely. The avalanche hazard will be Considerable (Category 3). CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Snow at all levels. ICING: Ice on paths and rocks all levels. COMMENT: Snow cover generally thin but deep unstable accumulations in some gullies.Ice forming on many routes even at lower levels. Conditions on hill will deteriorate during course of Sunday with blizzards and heavy drifting expected. Early start advisable!! SOUTHERN CAIRNGORMS AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS SAT 30/12/00 Unstable windslab continues to be a hazard on SE to SW aspects above 900 metres. Deepest accumulations are to be found in sheltered locations with steep slopes providing the greatest hazard. The avalanche hazard is Considerable (Category 3). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK SUN 31/12/00 Overnight wind transportation will cause recent deposits to be redistributed on to initially NE aspects. By Sunday windslab will be forming in sheltered locations on NW to NE aspects. As the wind strength increases during the day a significant amount of drifting will occur. Where these rapidly forming deposits lie over firm snow ice bonding will be minimal and avalanches are likely. Heavy snowfall arriving by late afternoon will further aggravate the situation. The avalanche hazard will be Considerable (Category 3). CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: A general thin cover with deeper drifts on S aspects at present. ICING: Quantity still a little thin. COMMENT: Expect blizzard conditions by late Sunday afternoon. CREAG MEAGAIDH AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS SAT 30/12/00 Cold conditions with light winds have left isolated patches of soft windslab persisting on South-East through South to North- West aspects above 900 metres. These accumulations are greatest in sheltered gullies and hollows of the above mentioned aspects. The avalanche hazard is Moderate (Category 2). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK SUN 31/12/00 Heavy snow and gale force S to SSE winds arriving later in the period will form accumulations of highly unstable windslab on W through N to NE aspects above 750 metres. This will lead to a Considerable (Category 3) hazard of avalanche with avalanches likely later in the day. Fresh unstable cornices will form above the same aspects. CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: A dusting at all levels. Main accumulations in Northerly gullies. ICING: Ice evident on both Post Face and Inner Coire, thin in places. COMMENT: Blizzard conditions later tomorrow. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------