GLENCOE
AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS THU 18/1/01
A trace of new snow exists above 300m. This has not 
significantly affected the snowpack. Pockets of dense windslab 
remain in summit gullies and on NW to NE facing corrie 
headwalls. Shallow surface layers are weakly bonded and buried 
layers are potentially unstable. The avalanche hazard is 
Moderate (Category 2).

AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK FRI 19/1/01
Although cloudy the cold conditions will continue. The 
snowpack will remain generally stable with pockets of layered 
windslab in summit gullies and on NW to NE corrie headwalls. 
Surface layers will be weakly bonded on steep scarp slopes. The 
avalanche hazard will be Moderate (Category 2).

CLIMBING CONDITIONS 

SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Trace of new snow above 300m.
ICING: Ice on rocks and paths above 200m.

COMMENT: Crampons and axe essential in icy conditions.
 


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CREAG MEAGAIDH
AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS THU 18/1/01
With only a trace of fresh snow and continuing cold conditions, 
there has been little change to the existing snowpack. Isolated 
areas of weakly bonded hard slab are present in the most 
sheltered gullies and hollows of a North West through North 
East to South East aspect above 850 metres. A sub surface layer 
of depth hoar is still evident. Considerable (Category 3) 
avalanche hazard.

AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK FRI 19/1/01
Isolated areas of weakly bonded hard slab will persist on North 
West through North East to South East aspects above 850 
metres. Additionally, moderate Easterly winds with light snow 
showers will gradually form shallow, fresh windslab deposits in 
the most sheltered gullies and hollows on South through West to 
North aspects above 850 metres. The avalanche hazard will 
remain Considerable (Category 3)


CLIMBING CONDITIONS 

SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Main cover above 750 metres. 
Excellent cover on the plateau.

ICING: Good on the Post Face and in the Inner Coire.

COMMENT: Enjoying the peace and quiet before the masses 
arrive at the weekend!



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LOCHABER
AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS THU 18/1/01
Stable cold conditions overnight and during Thursday have had 
little effect on the existing snowpack. Areas of hard windslab 
are present on sheltered steep slopes and the tops of gullies with 
a NW through NE to E aspect above 1000m. The avalanche 
hazard is Moderate (Category 2). Wind blown slopes are hard 
frozen and generally stable.

AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK FRI 19/1/01
Cold, dry conditions will continue for the forecast period. Areas 
of hard windslab will remain on sheltered steep slopes and the 
tops of gullies with a NW through NE to E aspect above 1000m. 
The avalanche hazard will be Moderate (Category 2). 


CLIMBING CONDITIONS 

SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Main accumulations remain above 
800m.
ICING: Remaining cold at all levels.
COMMENT: Ice on rocks and paths above 300m. Crampons 
and ice axe essential. 


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SOUTHERN CAIRNGORMS
AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS THU 18/1/01
A little fresh snowfall has had little effect on the snowpack 
which remains generally well bonded. Surface instability 
remains widespread and areas of moderately bonded snow 
persist on Northerly aspects above 900 metres. The avalanche 
hazard is Moderate (Category 2).

AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK FRI 19/1/01
Light snowfall will add little to the snowpack and the situation 
will remain relatively unchanged. Widespread surface instability 
will persist and areas of moderately bonded slab will be found 
on NW to NE aspects above 900 metres. The avalanche hazard 
will be Moderate (Category 2). 


CLIMBING CONDITIONS 

SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Reasonable cover above 900 metres 
but expect variable quality.

ICING: Improving slowly. Turf very firm.

COMMENT: Exposed slopes are firm and icy.


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NORTHERN CAIRNGORMS
AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS THU 18/1/01
The snowpack stability remains poor on NW through to NE 
aspects. Isolated areas of weakly bonded hard windslab exists on 
steeper slopes and gullies above 900m. In these locations the 
avalanche hazard is Considerable (Category 3).  Elsewhere the 
snowpack is generally stable.
AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK FRI 19/1/01
Remaining cold with fresh Easterly winds and snow flurries. 
There will still be areas where the wind slab is unstable this will 
be mainly above 900 metres on West, North and East aspects.  
During the snow flurries new soft slab will start to form on most 
sheltered Westerly aspects these accumulations are not expected 
to be extensive but will require caution. Avalanches are likely 
where the old slab remains weakly bonded and in these areas the 
avalanche hazard will be Considerable (Category 3).

CLIMBING CONDITIONS 

SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Reasonable cover on the plateau. 
Some small wind effected patches show interesting shear 
properties on low angle terrain.   
ICING:  Very few areas showing any growth at all. 
COMMENT:  Terrain traps right now are the unsupported 
convex slopes that have the slab and weak layer combination.


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