NORTHERN CAIRNGORMS AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS SUN 14/1/01 Fine, dry conditions again prevailed throughout the day. Fresh SW winds re-distributed lying snow on to N and E aspects, mainly above 800 metres. Yesterday's avalanche site on Coire Cas headwall has accumulated further slab loading. Fresh dry slab debris was noted on a NE aspect at 850 metres in Coire Laogh Mor. The avalanche hazard is Considerable (Category 3). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK MON 15/1/01 Strong SE to S winds will cause further slab accumulation on all N and W aspects. Existing instabilities on NE and E facing slopes will persist. Due to recent variable winds, avalanches are likely on slopes of most aspects, mainly above 750 metres. The avalanche hazard will be Considerable (Category 3). CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: General cover above 700 metres. Plateau cover reasonable. ICING: Climbs still thin. Some icing on open hillsides. COMMENT: Steep slopes in Northern Corries will be prime avalanche terrain. LOCHABER AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS SUN 14/1/01 Areas of hard slab are still present, mainly on steep N, NE and E facing slopes and gullies above 1000m. Strong Southerly winds have started to form fresh slab on sheltered NW to N aspects. The avalanche hazard is Moderate (Category 2). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK MON 15/1/01 Cold and dry conditions, with a strong S to SE airflow will affect the area during the next 24 hours. Areas of hard slab will remain, mainly on steep N, NE and E aspects above 1000m. Fresh slab will continue to form on sheltered NW and N aspects. The avalanche hazard will be Moderate (Category 2). CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Main accumulations remain above 800m. ICING: Remaining cold at all levels. COMMENT: Water ice and old frozen snow present even at lower altitudes. GLENCOE AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS SUN 14/1/01 Above 850m the stronger Southerly winds have re-distributed snow to the sheltered Northerly aspects. Isolated patches of soft unstable windslab have formed on NW through to NE slopes and in other sheltered areas. Also in summit gullies layered soft slab exists on an icy crust. The avalanche hazard is Moderate (Category 2) where these conditions prevail. Elsewhere the snowpack is generally stable. AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK MON 15/1/01 Cold conditions will continue to affect the area with no significant new snow but with strong Southerly winds. This wind will continue to re-distribute and form areas of layered unstable windslab on to sheltered slopes and gullies. The greatest accumulations of windslab can be expected on NW through to NE facing slopes above 800m. The avalanche hazard will remain Moderate (Category 2). CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Snow cover above 750m. ICING: Ice on rocks above 350m. COMMENT: Colder conditions have improved climbing conditions. Higher buttresses and gullies are receiving ascents. SOUTHERN CAIRNGORMS AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS SUN 14/1/01 A little wind transportation is taking place with shallow deposits building in sheltered locations on N to NE aspects but generally conditions are unchanged. A thin crust is present with moderately bonded snow being found on most aspects. The avalanche hazard is Moderate (Category 2). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK MON 15/1/01 No new snow is forecast for the period but stronger winds will cause weakly bonded redistributed deposits to build in sheltered locations on NW to NE aspects. Deepest accumulations will tend to be on scarp slopes, gully exits and similar features. Recent surface hoar and faceted crystals will also become a weak layer in the snowpack as they are buried by drifting. The avalanche hazard will be Considerable (Category 3). CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Good above 900 metres. Best on high plateau areas. ICING: Quite lean and variable in quality. COMMENT: An unwelcome return to Gale Force winds. CREAG MEAGAIDH AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS SUN 14/1/01 Drifting of existing snow on a strong Southerly wind has continued to build isolated areas of highly unstable windslab in the most sheltered gullies and hollows of a North West through North East to South East aspect above 800 metres. Windslab has formed over a layer of surface hoar, which is a very efficient sliding surface. Spontaneous avalanches were observed on a North East aspect. Considerable (Category 3) avalanche hazard AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK MON 15/1/01 Drifting of existing snow on a gale force Southerly wind will continue to build highly unstable windslab on North West through North East to South East aspects above 800 metres. Additionally, cold conditions will maintain the buried layer of surface hoar. Sheltered gullies and hollows will continue to be most affected, but windslab areas will become more widespread as the day wears on. The avalanche hazard will be Considerable (Category 3) and avalanches are likely. CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Main cover above 750 metres. ICING: Good on the Post Face and in the Inner Coire. Pinnacle Buttress needs more. COMMENT: Climbs have seen a lot of traffic this weekend and will be pretty chopped up. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------