NORTHERN CAIRNGORMS AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS FRI 26/1/01 With plateau temperatures in the -4 degree range, strong winds from the S and W and moderate new snow amounts there is continued build up of new slab. At 1000 metres this slab is 30 cm thick and over 50 cm thick at higher elevations on N and E quadrant aspects. Two well formed facet layers were noted at the snow profile location on a N aspect at 1000 metres. These were 40 and 70 cm down from surface. All field tests gave clean shears on the facets. The avalanche hazard is High (Category 4). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK SAT 27/1/01 Continuous snow overnight will further aggravate the situation. Air temperatures will remain cold with strong W winds. Avalanches will occur due to new slab on convex terrain and deeper releases linking zones of facet weakness around boulders. Nearly all aspects above 850 metres will be suspect due to either the new slab instability or the facet layers below crust. The avalanche hazard will be High (Category 4). CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Plateau reports not available; snow is accumulating in lee locations. ICING: Snow covered on some aspects and angles, glazed by wind on others and some growth expected in the temperature regime. COMMENT: The avalanche probe will be helpful to identify layers. LOCHABER AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS FRI 26/1/01 Strong SW winds and accompanying heavy snow above 500 metres have produced fresh areas of unstable windslab. Greatest accumulations exist on N, NE and E aspects, notably on scarp slopes and the tops of gullies. Other sheltered locations are also affected. The avalanche hazard is High (Category 4). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK SAT 27/1/01 Showers and strong Westerly winds are expected to continue through out the forecast period. Large areas of unstable windslab will continue to form on lee slopes. Greatest accumulations will be on N, NE, E and SE aspects above 800 metres, notably on scarp slopes, crag aprons and in gullies. Avalanches will occur in these locations. The avalanche hazard will be High (Category 4). Unstable cornice formation is also expected on the above mentioned aspects. CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Wet snow falling down to 400m in showers during Friday. ICING: Remaining cold above 500m. COMMENT: Winds gradually easing. GLENCOE AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS FRI 26/1/01 Gale force South-Westerly winds have scoured and redistributed large amounts of snow to sheltered slopes. Below 700 metres the once moist snowpack has refrozen leaving an icy surface crust. Above 700 metres areas of deep soft slab have accumulated in many sheltered places but mainly on corrie headwalls facing N through to E but also in all sheltered gullies. Some of these deposits are lying on an icy refrozen layer shearing easily. Several deep layered deposits are very weakly bonded particularly on steep scarp slopes above 700 metres. The avalanche hazard has increased to High (Category 4). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK SAT 27/1/01 Strong Westerly winds and further snow showers during Friday night will become less frequent during Saturday. Layers of soft slab will continue to accumulate on N through to SE facing slopes and in all sheltered gullies above 600 metres. Existing accumulations and new snow and windslab will be weakly bonded and unstable. Avalanches will occur on slopes with an N through to SE aspect. The avalanche hazard will be High (Category 4). CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: New snow above 450m. 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 FRI 26/1/01 Fresh snowfall and drifting have formed deep accumulations of weakly bonded windslab in sheltered locations on NW through to E aspects above 700 metres. Stability is poor with the avalanche hazard High (Category 4). Rapidly forming cornices are highly unstable. AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK SAT 27/1/01 There will be snowfall overnight with redistribution continuing through Saturday on strong W winds . These fresh deposits will further load the already unstable windslab that will be found in sheltered locations on NW through to SE 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:Poor observation conditions but likely to be buried by recent drifting snowfall. COMMENT: Extremely careful route choice required. CREAG MEAGAIDH AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS FRI 26/1/01 Continuous heavy snow on a gale force South West wind has caused deep accumulations of unstable windslab to form on lee slopes of a North-West through North-East to East aspect above 800 metres. Windslab has formed on open slopes as well as in the most sheltered gullies. Large fresh cornices have formed and fresh avalanche debris was reported in Easy Gully (Coire Ardair). The avalanche hazard is High (Category 4). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK SAT 27/1/01 Overnight, strong Westerly winds and further snowfall will continue to build windslab onto the already loaded lee slopes of a North-West through North-East to South-East aspect above 800 metres. With temperatures remaining cold there will be little or no consolidation of these fresh deposits. Large, fresh cornices will continue to grow and remain unstable. The avalanche hazard will be High (Category 4) and avalanches will occur. CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Main cover above 750 metres. Fresh snow at all levels. ICING: Good on the Post Face and in the Inner Coire. Thinner on Pinnacle Buttress. COMMENT: The ice may be good but the snow isn't. Remember very few climbs on Creag Meagaidh have safe exits. Be very careful! -------------------------------------------------------------------------------