NORTHERN CAIRNGORMS AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS SAT 27/1/01 A calmer day with afternoon sunshine has led to some stabilisation of the snowpack. SW, becoming NW winds with some overnight snow have created areas of fresh, poorly bonded slab on NE to SE facing slopes above 950 metres. Some fresh cornices exist above these aspects. However, some scouring of W and N facing slopes has made safe approach to some Sneachda climbs possible. The avalanche hazard is Considerable (Category 3). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK SUN 28/1/01 Light SW to W winds and only a little overnight snow will bring little appreciable change to the snowpack. Areas of soft and hard slab will persist on slopes of most aspects above 900 metres. The most recent loading is on slopes of NE to SE aspects, with crag aprons and scarp slopes above 1000 metres most affected. The potential still remains for large avalanches, particularly on convex open slopes. The avalanche hazard will be Considerable (Category 3) and avalanches are likely. CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Improved cover in Northern Corries. General cover from around 800m. ICING: Some ice exists, but build-up remains poor. COMMENT: Many parties making sound route choices. LOCHABER AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS SAT 27/1/01 Large areas of unstable windslab exist on many slopes with a N, NE and E aspect above 900m. Greatest accumulations are to be found on scarp slopes, crag aprons and in gullies. The avalanche hazard is Considerable (Category 3). Unstable cornices are also present above these aspects. Avalanche activity observed on East aspects at 1150m on Aonach Mor. AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK SUN 28/1/01 A light SW-W wind with light snow showers will affect the area over the forecast period. Areas of unstable snow will be present, mainly on slopes with a N, NE and E aspect above 900m. Greatest accumulations will be on scarp slopes, crag aprons and in gullies, where avalanches are likely. The avalanche hazard will be Considerable (Category 3). Fresh cornices will remain unstable and prone collapse. CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: General snow cover above 600m. ICING: Remaining relatively cold. COMMENT: Pleasant mountain conditions expected on Sunday. Care should be exercised in route choice, especially above 1100m. GLENCOE AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS SAT 27/1/01 Strong W winds and heavy showers above 500 metres have added further layers of weakly bonded soft slab to the snowpack. NW to N facing slopes contain sastrugi and dense windslab. N through to SE slopes and sheltered gullies contain deep layered soft slab which is very unstable. Avalanche activity was observed on a NE facing slope at 900 metres. The avalanche hazard is High (Category 4). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK SUN 28/1/01 Although the W airflow and associated snowfall will ease by Sunday morning, soft slab will continue to accumulate in sheltered areas. N through to SE facing corrie headwalls and sheltered summit gullies will contain deep deposits of unstable windslab. Layered soft slab lying on steep scarp slopes will be very weakly bonded. On N through to SE aspects avalanches will occur. The avalanche hazard will be High (Category 4). CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: New snow above 500m. ICING: Ice on rocks and paths above 650m. COMMENT: Ridges and buttresses the safer option, approaches require caution. SOUTHERN CAIRNGORMS AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS SAT 27/1/01 Fresh snowfall and drifting have continued the formation of windslab on some sheltered NW aspects but mainly on N to E aspects above 600 metres. Some consolidation is taking place but where windslab has depth and overlies snow ice stability remains generally poor. The avalanche hazard is Considerable (Category 3). Recent debris was noted under some Lochnagar gullies on N to NE aspects. Cornices in some locations are becoming large. AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK SUN 28/1/01 Windslab will exist in sheltered locations on NW through to SE aspects above 600 metres. Stability will remain particularly poor on steeper slopes of N to E aspects above 700m where avalanches are likely. Slopes facing the sun at lower altitudes will also be affected. The avalanche hazard will be Considerable (Category 3). CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Good for touring above 800m. ICING: There still isn't a lot around. Some buttress routes are holding lots of unconsolidated snow. COMMENT: Lochnagar avalanches are beginning to run a long way on harder base. CREAG MEAGAIDH AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS SAT 27/1/01 There have been moderate snow amounts from about 600 metres up. This with strong Westerly winds has contributed to further slab build up on North East and East aspects. The foot penetration in lee locations is up to 40 cm providing ample snow for redistribution into slab or cornice. Avalanche debris was noted in the Inner Coire. The avalanche hazard is High (Category 4). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK SUN 28/1/01 Weather conditions will ease somewhat with some snow showers and cooling. In the current snowpack conditions this will maintain the hazard and avalanches will occur above 700 metres on North and East aspects. Convex rolls, cornices and zones of weakness around previously thin snowpack areas are particularly suspect. The avalanche hazard will be High (Category 4). CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Skiable snow line moving down slightly, just about 600 metres. ICING: All but the very steepest ice is covered in snow. COMMENT: Most climbers were on retreat this morning after an up-close inspection. Seemed a wise choice. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------