NORTHERN CAIRNGORMS AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS WED 24/1/01 Rain sometimes as high as 900 metres is clearly shown in the near surface snow condition. Mixed rain and snow with winds, most recently in the 24 hour period from the West, have added a dense new slab to the existing load. The new slab is reasonably bonded where tested but deeper instabilities are still evident from avalanche debris noted in Coire an t-Sneachda on a West aspect. The avalanche hazard is High (Category 4). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK THU 25/1/01 Strong South-Westerly winds and new snow above 850 metres will add further load particularly on North-East aspects. Recent events and the nature of the deep instability indicate that avalanches will occur on nearly any aspect irrespective of recent loading. The deep instability will continue to exist particularly in the zone between 950-1000 metres. The new instability will be more widespread above 1000 metres. The avalanche hazard will be High (Category 4). CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Distribution of the deep snow instability is tricky to evaluate, surprising experienced observers. ICING: Limited safe access and egress to the changeable feast of ice; it'll still be there in more stable conditions. COMMENT: Limited options for safe travel.. LOCHABER AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS WED 24/1/01 Heavy snow and strong SW winds during the forecast period, have produced significant areas of weakly bonded soft windslab in many sheltered locations. Greatest accumulations are on steep slopes, the tops of gullies, and scarp slopes with a N through to NE aspect above 800m. Some sheltered E aspects have become affected later on Wednesday. The avalanche hazard is Considerable (Category 3). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK THU 25/1/01 Strong to gale force SW winds with snow showers will continue to form areas of unstable windslab during the forecast period. Greatest accumulations will be on sheltered steep slopes and hollows, the tops of gullies and scarp slopes with a N through to E aspect above 800m, where avalanches are likely. The avalanche hazard will be Considerable (Category 3). CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Fresh snow above 700m. ICING: Existing ice remaining well through recent mild conditions. COMMENT: Buttresses and ridges offering the safer options. Avalanche debris out of Observatory gully, Ben Nevis, some of largest seen in recent times. GLENCOE AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS WED 24/1/01 A strong moist but very variable South-Westerly airflow has brought new snow to above 700m. Below this level the snowpack as undergone a rapid thaw leading to instabilities on steeper slopes. Above 700m areas of deep soft slab have accumulated in many sheltered places but mainly on corrie headwalls facing NW through to E and also in sheltered gullies. These layered deposits are very weakly bonded particularly on steep scarp slopes above 700m and the avalanche hazard in these locations is High (Category 4). Avalanche debris noted on a NE aspect Stob Coire Sgreamhach. AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK THU 25/1/01 Strong South-Westerly winds and further snow showers during Wednesday night and continuing through Thursday. Layers of soft slab will continue to accumulate on NW through to E facing slopes and in all sheltered gullies above 700m. New accumulations of snow and windslab will be weakly bonded and unstable: avalanches will occur in these areas. The avalanche hazard will be High (Category 4). CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: New snows above 650m. ICING: Wet ice on rocks and paths above 750m. COMMENT: Ridges and buttresses are the safer option: the approaches to them will require caution. SOUTHERN CAIRNGORMS AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS WED 24/1/01 New snowfall in changing storm force winds has left new accumulations on W through to E aspects above 800 metres. In sheltered locations new deposits overlie existing snow which is moist throughout but still retains a weak layer deeper within the snowpack. The avalanche hazard is High (Category 4). Some cornices have rapidly reformed. Wet slab debris was noted on an N aspect. AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK THU 25/1/01 There will be further new snow falling in storm force winds. Sheltered locations on W through to E aspects above 800 metres will continue to have a combination of hazard from a poorly bonded layer within the snowpack and newly developed windslab. Avalanches will occur and potentially some of these may be big. The avalanche hazard will be High (Category 4). New cornices will be suspect. CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Reasonable from 800m. ICING: Should begin to refreeze. COMMENT: Careful terrain choice required for safe travel. CREAG MEAGAIDH AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS WED 24/1/01 Heavy snowfall on a gale force South West wind has caused deep accumulations of unstable windslab to form on sheltered lee slopes of a North West through North East to South East aspect above 800 metres. Below this down to 550 metres, 10 - 20cm of soft slab has been put down, but has bonded quickly in the milder air. Steep slopes below cornices are particularly hazardous. The avalanche hazard is Considerable (Category 3). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK THU 25/1/01 Further snowfall overnight and during the day on a storm force South West wind will continue to load windslab onto North West through North East to South East aspects above 800 metres. Also the temperature will be lower than the last couple of days, meaning that there will be little consolidation of these fresh deposits. Cornices will continue to grow throughout the period. The avalanche hazard will be Considerable (Category 3) and avalanches are likely. CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Fresh snow lying to 550 metres. Good deep cover on the tops. ICING: Good on the Post Face and Inner Coire, thinner on Pinnacle Buttress. COMMENT: A horrible day on top this morning. Its payback time for all that good weather we had! ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- NORTHERN CAIRNGORMS AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS THU 25/1/01 Light snow amounts above 850 metres have developed into a significant new slab. With strong winds mainly from the S this slab is on N aspects but locally the slab is noted on E to ENE aspect. This slab fails easily on all field tests. The return to cooler temperatures will have preserved any lingering pockets of the old, deep snowpack weakness. The overall stability of the snowpack continues to be poor. The avalanche hazard is High (Category 4). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK FRI 26/1/01 Additional snow and SW winds will add to the new slab load on the previously mentioned NE aspect above 850 metres. Sites that have recently avalanched will, dependent on aspect, have new load and current storm instability. Avalanches will occur due to the pockets of deep instability between 850 and 1000 metres on E through N to W aspects and due to new slab above 850 metres on NE and N aspect. The avalanche hazard will be High (Category 4). CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: To some degree the cooler temperatures are preserving the snow, to a greater degree the strong winds are in a process of redistribution. ICING: Except for the flat bits not much contact for a couple of days. COMMENT: Breezy day with limited observations. LOCHABER AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS THU 25/1/01 Variable SW winds and snow showers during the forecast period have formed areas of weakly bonded dense windslab on many sheltered aspects. Greatest accumulations are on steep slopes and the tops gullies with a NW through to E aspect above 800m. Scarp slopes and crag aprons are particularly affected. The avalanche hazard is Considerable (Category 3). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK FRI 26/1/01 SW winds with snow showers overnight and during Friday will continue to add to existing accumulations of weakly bonded windslab. Greatest accumulations will be on sheltered steep slopes, the tops gullies and scarp slopes with a NW through to E aspect above 800m. Avalanches are likely in these locations. The avalanche hazard will be Considerable (Category 3). Unstable cornices will continue to form. CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Best cover above 700m. ICING: Large areas of water ice present on many paths. COMMENT: Caution with regards to the approach and exits of many routes required. GLENCOE AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS THU 25/1/01 Gale force South-Westerly winds have scoured and redistributed large amounts of snow to sheltered slopes. Below 750 metres the once moist snowpack has refrozen leaving an icy surface crust. Above 750 metres areas of deep soft slab have accumulated in many sheltered places but mainly on corrie headwalls facing N through to E and also in all sheltered gullies. These layered deposits are very weakly bonded particularly on steep scarp slopes above 750 metres and the avalanche hazard is Considerable (Category 3). Elsewhere the snowpack is generally stable. AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK FRI 26/1/01 Strong South-Westerly winds and further snow showers during Thursday night will become less frequent during Friday. Layers of soft slab will continue to accumulate on N through to E facing slopes and in all sheltered gullies above 600 metres. Existing accumulations and new snow and windslab will be weakly bonded and unstable. Avalanches are likely on slopes with an N through to E aspect. The avalanche hazard will be Considerable (Category 3). CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: New snow s above 650m. ICING: Ice on rocks and paths above 600m. COMMENT: Becoming colder. Ridges and buttresses are the safer option: approaches will require caution. SOUTHERN CAIRNGORMS AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS THU 25/1/01 Very little new snowfall but the continuing strong winds are redistributing existing snow. Deep accumulations are to be found in sheltered locations on NW through to E aspects above 700 metres. Stability is poor with the avalanche hazard High (Category 4). Cornices are easily triggered but exposed slopes are icy and stable. AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK FRI 26/1/01 Snow showers overnight becoming more isolated on Friday will be accompanied by gale force winds. This new snowfall will further load the already unstable windslab on NW through to E aspects above 700 metres. The avalanche hazard will be High (Category 4) and avalanches will occur. Cornices will be highly suspect. CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Good above 800m. ICING: Improving after recent melt/freeze cycle. COMMENT: Careful route choice required. CREAG MEAGAIDH AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS THU 25/1/01 Snow showers and drifting of existing snow on a strong South- South-West wind has continued to load windslab into the most sheltered gullies and hollows of a North-West through North- East to East aspect above 900 metres. At lower elevations and on other aspects the snow has bonded following a thaw-freeze cycle. Small, fresh cornices are evident. The avalanche hazard is Considerable (Category 3). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK FRI 26/1/01 Snow showers will continue overnight and during the day on a gale force South-West wind. Unstable windslab accumulations will continue to build in the most sheltered gullies and hollows, and particularly under cornices on North-West through North- East to East aspects above 900 metres. Below 900 metres and on other aspects, the snowpack will remain well bonded and stable. The avalanche hazard will be Considerable (Category 3). CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Main cover above 750 metres. ICING: Good on the Post Face and in the Inner Coire. Thaw-freeze cycles are improving conditions all the time. COMMENT: Recent snowfalls have affected the West of the region (Beinn a Chaorainn) more so than Coire Ardair. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------