NORTHERN CAIRNGORMS AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS MON 21/1/02 Strong winds with snow overnight backed South-Westerly and picked up again in the afternoon. Snow turned to rain showers as temperatures rose with freezing levels above the summits. Wet snow instabilities are limited to the tops of some mainly North and East facing gullies and scarp slopes above 950 metres. The avalanche hazard is Moderate (Category 2). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK TUE 22/1/02 Winds are forecast to remain very strong South-Westerly, with some rain as freezing levels stay above the tops. This will further deplete the already sparse snowpack and maintain some wet snow instabilities on scarp slopes and gully heads above 950 metres on slopes of most aspects, particularly on North and East facing slopes. The avalanche hazard will be Moderate (Category 2). CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Plateau very sparse; some Sneachda gullies hanging in, but very thin. ICING: Some gullies still have a little snow-ice. COMMENT: Colder conditions should arrive, but not yet. LOCHABER AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS MON 21/1/02 Warm temperatures and rain have produced a wet snowpack at all levels. The snowpack is gradually stabilising. Localised instabilities are still present on steep N and E aspects above 1000m. The avalanche hazard is Moderate (Category 2). Remaining cornices are unstable and prone to collapse. AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK TUE 22/1/02 Heavy rain will continue through out the forecast period. The snowpack will continue to thaw and consolidate at all levels. Localised surface instabilities will be present on steep N and E aspects above 1000m. The avalanche hazard will be Moderate (Category 2). Any remaining cornices will be unstable. CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Best above 900m in N and E facing corries. ICING: Unlikely. COMMENT: Remaining windy and wet on Tuesday. GLENCOE AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS MON 21/1/02 Rain with heavy thaw conditions at all levels has saturated the snowpack. Wet snow instabilities are present on steep slopes above 900 metres. The greatest accumulations of snow are in gullies and sheltered hollows with a North to East aspect above 900 metres. The tops of summit gullies and scarp slopes above 930 metres contain wet, unstable snow and in these locations the avalanche hazard is Considerable (Category 3). Cornices are also unstable and prone to collapse. AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK TUE 22/1/02 The mild conditions will continue with gale force South- Westerly winds and heavy rain at all levels. Wet snow instabilities will exist in sheltered gullies and on steep slopes with a North to East aspect above 900 metres. The avalanche hazard will be Considerable (Category 3). Cornices will be unstable. CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Wet snow above 850 metres. ICING: None COMMENT: Gale force SW airflow bringing rain to all levels during Tuesday. Freezing level well above the summits. SOUTHERN CAIRNGORMS AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS MON 21/1/02 It was a mild day with no new snow but plenty of rain. Remaining snow in many locations is becoming water saturated but is moderately bonded. Deeper accumulations are to be found in gully exits. The avalanche hazard is Moderate (Category 2). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK TUE 22/1/02 With conditions remaining mild and windy, snow will be wet and soft but generally well bonded at all levels. The avalanche hazard will be Low (Category 1). CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Higher N to E corries holding most. ICING: Some ice left in higher corries. COMMENT: Freezing level due to be above the tops. CREAG MEAGAIDH AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS MON 21/1/02 There has been no further snowfall and temperatures have remained very mild. The remaining snowpack is in full retreat, with gullies on North through East to South-East aspects above 850 metres retaining the most snow. Wet slab found on these aspects is reasonably well bonded but the hazard of cornice collapse in the very mild air is maintaining the Considerable (Category 3) avalanche hazard. AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK TUE 22/1/02 It will remain mild with no further snowfall. Wet slab will remain in the deeper gullies on North through East to South- East aspects above 850 metres. Although wet slab accumulations will remain reasonably well bonded, snow will sluff from underlying rocks and cornices will be prone to collapse. The avalanche hazard will remain Considerable (Category 3). CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Horrible wet snow down to 750 metres. Northerly gullies retain the biggest deposits. ICING: Its too mild for any ice to form. COMMENT: There are large cornices above Bellevue Buttress and the Inner Coire. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------