NORTHERN CAIRNGORMS AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS MON 14/1/02 Overnight strong West-South-Westerly winds have further depleted the snowpack. Patchy cover remains mainly above 700 metres. There are some wet surface instabilities which gave clean shears on a North-North- East aspect at 1060 metres. The avalanche hazard is Low (Category 1). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK TUE 15/1/02 A cooler day is forecast with South-Westerly winds and snow showers above 300 metres. Slopes with a North or Easterly aspect above 800 metres will have some fresh slab accumulation. Where this lies on old snow-ice instabilities will exist. The avalanche hazard will be Moderate (Category 2). CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Old snow patches from 600m: New snowfall above 300m. ICING: Returning colder conditions will help. COMMENT: The cold spell is likely to be short lived. LOCHABER AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS MON 14/1/02 The mild conditions continue to deplete the snowpack. Snow stability remains generally good though wet. The avalanche hazard is Low (Category 1). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK TUE 15/1/02 Snow showers and a South-Westerly wind are expected overnight and during Tuesday. The patchy cover of existing snow will re-freeze at all levels. Significant accumulations of fresh snow are likely to be restricted to the tops of slopes and gullies above 900m with a NE and E aspect. Where this fresh snow overlies older snow, the avalanche hazard will be Moderate (Category 2). CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Patchy cover remaining mainly above 900m. ICING: Snow showers lying above 300m during Tuesday. COMMENT: The hills should at least look wintry again on Tuesday. GLENCOE AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS MON 14/1/02 The remaining snowpack is generally very thin and patchy with greatest amounts to be found in sheltered locations in the higher corries and gullies with a North to Easterly aspect above 900m. Very wet and mild conditions today have saturated the remaining snowpack. The avalanche hazard is Low (Category 1) on steep slopes and gullies of a North through to East aspect above 900m. AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK TUE 15/1/02 Snow showers falling above 300m overnight and tomorrow will at least give a sensation of winter to the hills. Strong South-Westerly winds will deposit areas of shallow windslab on North to East facing slopes and in sheltered gullies mainly above 900m. Where windslab deposits form on existing old snow the avalanche hazard will be Moderate (Category 2). Fresh deposits of windslab are not expected to be deep or extensive and generally should be avoidable. CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Existing cover very poor, improving with new snow showers above 300m ICING: Very little existing ice. COMMENT: Climbing conditions will start to improve with colder conditions and new snow. Windy!! SOUTHERN CAIRNGORMS AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS MON 14/1/02 Severe gale force winds and mild temperatures continue the thaw at all levels. The remaining snow is soft and moist but generally well bonded on all aspects. The avalanche hazard is Low (Category 1). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK TUE 15/1/02 There will be a return to wintry conditions with the freezing level dropping to around 600 metres and some snow showers. New accumulations will form on N to E aspects and where they are at their greatest and formed over existing snow-ice stability will be marginal. The avalanche hazard will be Moderate (Category 2). CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Higher E facing corries have most snow. Plateau areas are sparse. ICING: Thawing at all levels. COMMENT: Scattered snow showers throughout the day. CREAG MEAGAIDH AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS MON 14/1/02 Heavy rain showers combined with continuing mild temperatures on a gale force South-West wind have left depleted snow deposits soft and wet. The snowpack remains well bonded and stable on all aspects above 850 metres with largest deposits being retained in the beds of gullies on North-West to North- East aspects. The avalanche hazard is Low (Category 1). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK TUE 15/1/02 Moderate snowfall overnight and on Tuesday with a strong South-West wind will build moderately bonded fresh windslab deposits on North-West through North to East aspects above 850 metres. As temperatures drop and old snow deposits harden areas most affected will be where fresh windslab deposits build on top of existing snow-ice. These will be mainly at the tops of steep sheltered slopes, gullies and hollows of the above mentioned aspects. The avalanche hazard will be Moderate (Category 2). CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Very patchy and sparse above 800 metres. ICING: More running water than ice on the cliffs of Coire Ardair. COMMENT: -------------------------------------------------------------------------------