NORTHERN CAIRNGORMS AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS SUN 30/12/01 Some heavy snow showers and light winds have seen accumulations of up to 20 centimetres in many locations. The temperatures have remained cold and today's snow profile was in convex terrain beside the Fiacaill Ridge. The thin snowpack has a very strong temperature gradient and well formed facets were observed at the base. The avalanche hazard is Moderate (Category 2). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK MON 31/12/01 More snow showers are forecast with West-North-West winds up to 25 miles per hour. Once again the areas of concern are steep open slopes with more than one metre of snow, particularly convex rolls. These are on a variety of aspects above 950 metres. The continued cold temperatures are slowing settlement rates and maintaining the situation of only fair stability. The avalanche hazard will be Considerable (Category 3). CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: There is little base to the more recent snow but cover is improving. ICING: Lot of ice climbing noises in the Coire. COMMENT: Careful terrain choice will avoid the weak spots. LOCHABER AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS SUN 30/12/01 Snow showers and a moderate Easterly wind during the forecast period has started to form soft slab deposits in sheltered locations. Greatest accumulations are present at the top of West aspects above 1000m. The avalanche hazard is Moderate (Category 2). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK MON 31/12/01 Snow showers and a NNW airflow will have little effect on the existing avalanche hazard. Areas of soft slab will be present mainly on steep slopes and gullies above 1000m. The avalanche hazard will be Moderate (Category 2). CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Fresh snow lying at all levels. ICING: Remaining cold. COMMENT: Deep soft drifts making hard going in places. GLENCOE AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS SUN 30/12/01 Cold conditions with snow showers last night have formed a thin general cover at all levels. Northerly winds have formed areas of layered soft windslab in sheltered locations mainly around the tops of gullies and steep East facing slopes above 900m. Where deeper accumulations of windslab exist the avalanche hazard is Moderate (Category 2). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK MON 31/12/01 The cold North-Westerly airflow will continue to affect the area, becoming milder on Monday. Snow showers, initially at all levels, will add further layers to existing windslab. Instabilities will remain in deeper accumulations where they lie on steep ground. These will mainly be around the tops of steep East slopes and sheltered gullies above 900m. Milder conditions later will increase the avalanche hazard to Considerable (Category 3). CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Light cover of new snow lying at all levels. Deep soft snow in some higher gullies ICING: Ice continues to form on rocks above 200m. COMMENT: Light cover of new snow on ridges and buttresses, several of these receiving ascents today. SOUTHERN CAIRNGORMS AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS SUN 30/12/01 Moderately to weakly bonded windslab is to be found in sheltered locations on E to S aspects. Some accumulations have become substantial and are marginally stable on steeper ground, especially where they overlie older snow ice. The avalanche hazard is Considerable (Category 3). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK MON 31/12/01 Light snow showers and cold temperatures will maintain the current situation. Moderately to weakly bonded windslab will be found in sheltered locations on E to S aspects. Steeper scarp slopes and gully exits are most likely to provide the greatest hazard. The avalanche hazard will be Considerable (Category 3). CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Deepest drifts on S and E aspects, less cover elsewhere. ICING: Watercourses well frozen, elsewhere powder snow predominates. COMMENT: Fairly arduous trail breaking required on some approaches - don't be first! CREAG MEAGAIDH AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS SUN 30/12/01 Snow showers combined with continued drifting on a strong Northerly wind have deposited weakly bonded windslab on North-East through East to South-West aspects above 850 metres. As temperatures remain below zero these weak sub- surface layers will persist. Sheltered gullies, hollows and lee slopes below cornices of the above mentioned aspects are particularly affected. The avalanche hazard is Considerable (Category 3) with debris from a natural loose snow avalanche observed on a South-East aspect. AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK MON 31/12/01 Weakly bonded windslab will continue to be present on North- East through East to South-West aspects above 850 metres as drifting continues on a strong North becoming North-West wind. Sheltered gullies and hollows of the above mentioned aspects will continue to hold the deepest deposits of weakly bonded windslab. The avalanche hazard will remain Considerable (Category 3) with avalanches likely. CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Reasonable cover at all levels. ICING: Improving in exposed areas, snow still insulating the rest. COMMENT: Fresh unstable cornices still present above sheltered aspects. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------