GLENCOE AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS TUE 25/12/01 A Very light cover of fresh snow exists above 400m. The greatest accumulations of snow are in sheltered hollows and gullies above 930m on slopes with a Northerly aspect. These accumulations are lying as isolated patches. There is insufficient snow to warrant issuing an avalanche hazard. Ice has started to reform on rocks above 600m. AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK WED 26/12/01 Cold conditions will continue to influence the area during Tuesday evening and through Wednesday. Fresh/strong northwesterly winds with light snow showers above 300m. The snow showers will mainly affect the area during the latter part of the day. These new accumulations of snow are not expected to be significant enough to produce an avalanche hazard. CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Light snows above 400m. ICING: Ice reforming above 600m lowing to most levels. COMMENT: Climbing conditions improving. More snow is still required to complete most routes. MERRY CHRISTMAS ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- LOCHABER AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS TUE 25/12/01 A light dusting of fresh snow is present on many aspects. A limited amount of old snow is present in some of the main gullies, with accumulations being generally restricted to above 1050m.The avalanche hazard is Low (Category 1). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK WED 26/12/01 Snow showers overnight and during Wednesday will see fresh accumulations at most elevations. Where these accumulations form on existing old snow, avalanche hazard will develop. These deposits will generally be restricted to deep gullies and hollows above 1000m on E and SE aspects. The avalanche hazard will be Moderate (Category 2). Elsewhere fresh snow accumulations will constitute any significant avalanche hazard. CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: A light dusting at most levels on Tuesday. ICING: Small amounts of ice present, mainly on the paths. COMMENT: Climbing conditions limited, Aonach Mor seems the best bet. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- LOCHABER AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS TUE 25/12/01 A light dusting of fresh snow is present on many aspects. A limited amount of old snow is present in some of the main gullies, with accumulations being generally restricted to above 1050m.The avalanche hazard is Low (Category 1). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK WED 26/12/01 Snow showers overnight and during Wednesday will see fresh accumulations at most elevations. Where these accumulations form on existing old snow, avalanche hazard will develop. These deposits will generally be restricted to deep gullies and hollows above 1000m on E and SE aspects. The avalanche hazard will be Moderate (Category 2). Elsewhere fresh snow accumulations will not constitute any significant avalanche hazard. CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: A light dusting at most levels on Tuesday. ICING: Small amounts of ice present, mainly on the paths. COMMENT: Climbing conditions limited, Aonach Mor seems the best bet. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- SOUTHERN CAIRNGORMS AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS TUE 25/12/01 There has been a return to wintry conditions with strong winds from the NW and some new snow down to valley level. Deeper areas are to be found in sheltered locations on S aspects but remain generally well bonded. The avalanche hazard is Low (Category 1). Snow cover in all exposed areas remains thin. AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK WED 26/12/01 Conditions will remain wintry with further snow showers and strong NW winds. Windslab will continue to develop in sheltered locations mainly on SE and S aspects. On steeper slopes the snow will be moderately well bonded. The avalanche hazard will be Moderate (Category 2). Elsewhere snow cover will remain thin. CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: A thin covering with deeper areas on S aspects. ICING: Starting to refreeze but running water is at all levels. COMMENT: Snow showers will ease later in morning. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- NORTHERN CAIRNGORMS AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS TUE 25/12/01 Winds continued from the North-West with some heavy snow showers. Although there has been some snow build up in lee locations this has not appreciably changed the snow stability which is good. The avalanche hazard is Low (Category 1). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK WED 26/12/01 Snow forecast to low elevations will be deposited in South and South-East aspect slopes. On these aspects above 1000 metres some isolated pockets of instability will exist on previously identified patches of snow. The avalanche hazard will be Moderate (Category 2). CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Slowly improving but in most locations rocks are very near the snow surface. ICING: Also slowly improving, somewhat more in Coire an Lochan than in Coire an t-Sneachda. COMMENT: Pretty lean for skiing and climbing but some isolated opportunities exist and the plateau would be good skiing if the visibility improves. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- CREAG MEAGAIDH AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS TUE 25/12/01 Snow showers on a North-West wind have caused isolated pockets of unstable soft slab to form in the most sheltered of gullies and hollows on East to South aspects above 900 metres. These deposits only present a hazard where they form on top of old existing snow in the deeper gullies. These areas remain easily avoidable. The avalanche hazard is Moderate (Category 2). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK WED 26/12/01 Snow showers will continue on a gale force North-West becoming West-North-West wind causing further drifting onto East to South aspects above 900 metres. Only in the deeper gullies where windslab forms over old existing snow will there be any hazard. Although these areas will remain isolated, there will be little consolidation in the cold conditions and areas of slab will be fragile. The avalanche hazard will be Considerable (Category 3) in these isolated and easily avoidable areas. CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: New snow at all levels. Cover remains thin. ICING: Poor. COMMENT: A bit wintrier today. Enjoy your Xmas. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------