NORTHERN CAIRNGORMS AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS FRI 18/1/02 The strongest winds have been over 80 mph from the West with temperatures remaining below freezing through the day. Light snow showers to low elevations did not significantly add to accummulations in avalanche terrain. Stability tests showed a strong snowpack with one clean but very hard shear 20 centimetres down. The avalanche hazard is Low (Category 1). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK SAT 19/1/02 Very active weather systems are moving through in the forecast period. This will bring changing freezing levels and periods of moderate snow. Some slab development will occur on North and East aspects particularly at gully exits. This slab will not bond well due to the underlying crust that in areas also has a thin dusting of dry unconsolidated snow on it. The avalanche hazard will be Considerable (Category 3). CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Very strong winds will contribute to uneven distribution of the new snow. ICING: Some improvement with cooling. COMMENT: Watch for distribution of the new slab. LOCHABER AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS FRI 18/1/02 Snow showers and strong SW winds overnight and during Friday have continued to form isolated areas of soft slab in sheltered locations. Greatest accumulations are mainly restricted to scarp slopes, gullies and hollows with a NW to N through to E aspect above 900m. The avalanche hazard is Moderate (Category 2). Some thin cornices present. AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK SAT 19/1/02 Rising temperatures with rain overnight will lead to a brief period of wet snow instability. From early on Saturday any wet snow instabilities should start to consolidate as temperatures begin to fall again. With the fall in temperature, heavy snow showers and a strong WSW airflow areas of unstable soft slab will continue to form in sheltered locations. Main accumulations will be on corrie headwalls, gullies and scarp slopes with N though to E aspects above 900m. The avalanche hazard will be Considerable (Category 3). CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Fresh snow lying above 700m . ICING: Route conditions improving slowly. COMMENT: Thaw-freeze should improve conditions in the next 24hrs. Winds remaining strong. GLENCOE AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS FRI 18/1/02 During Thursday night colder conditions affected the area with new snow above 600m accompanied by strong Southwesterly winds. The greatest accumulations of new snow have formed in sheltered locations and in gullies above 800m with a North through to East aspect. Isolated shallow windslab has also formed in the above mentioned areas. Where the deeper accumulations of snow and windslab has formed on the steeper slopes the avalanche hazard is Considerable (Category 3). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK SAT 19/1/02 Snow showers will continue during Saturday with variable gale force SW winds. Accumulations of windslab will continue to form in all sheltered areas but more especially on North through to East facing slopes and also in sheltered gullies above 800m. On steeper slopes snow instabilities will exist and avalanches are likely. The avalanche hazard will be Considerable (Category 3). CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION:New snow above 700m. ICING: Thawing ice above 800m. COMMENT: Strong showery S-WSW airflow bringing winter stormy conditions. We need the snow! But caution is required, as it will be unstable for the period. SOUTHERN CAIRNGORMS AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS FRI 18/1/02 It has remained cold throughout the forecast period. Any remaining old snow is well frozen. There is a dusting of more recent snow with an insignificant amount of slab build up in a few sheltered locations on E aspects. The avalanche hazard is Low (Category 1). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK SAT 19/1/02 Snow arriving late on Friday afternoon will turn to rain for a period overnight. Snow showers will return above 900 metres by early morning lowering to 700 metres later in the day. Windslab will accumulate in sheltered locations on N to E aspects. Stability will be marginal where this develops over snow-ice on steeper ground. The avalanche hazard will be Moderate (Category 2). CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Very limited. A few easy gully lines complete in the higher N to E facing corries. ICING: Thin but refrozen from around 850 metres today. COMMENT: Blizzard conditions at times on 19/1/02. CREAG MEAGAIDH AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS FRI 18/1/02 Fresh snowfall overnight on a strong South-South-West wind has caused localised areas of unstable windslab to form in the most sheltered gullies and hollows on North to East aspects above 850 metres. These localised areas are confined to the tops of steep sheltered slopes with half a metre of new slab in places. These areas are generally easily avoidable. The avalanche hazard is Considerable (Category 3). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK SAT 19/1/02 Snow showers will continue overnight and during the day on a storm force South-West becoming Westerly wind. Heavy drifting will occur on to lee slopes of a North to East aspect above 850 metres. Initially the tops of sheltered gullies and hollows will be most affected but as drifting continues, windslab will build on more open slopes. Fresh cornices will continue to grow above North to East aspects. The avalanche hazard will be Considerable (Category 3). CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Fresh snow down to 600 metres. Gullies on North to East aspects above 850 metres retain the deepest deposits. Generally sparse. ICING: Hmmmmmmm? Not so good. COMMENT: Fresh cornices are beginning to form above North to East aspects. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------