NORTHERN CAIRNGORMS AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS FRI 25/1/02 There has been heavy snow and strong winds loading all aspects and elevations. The principal concern is a very soft layer preserved between the old crust and storm slab. All field tests even on lower angle terrain give an easy shear at this interface. In places the slab is over 50 centimetres thick. The avalanche hazard is High (Category 4). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK SAT 26/1/02 The snow will change to rain up to summit elevation. During the warming and early part of the rain cycle the snowpack will be very unstable and recently formed cornices extremely weak. Avalanches will occur on all aspects above 750 metres where accumulations have filled in terrain irregularities. The avalanche hazard will be Very High (Category 5). CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: There is still some thinly covered and bare ground but many areas have slow travel with deep foot penetration. ICING: Recovering well on terrain above 50-60 degrees, well buried or scoured on lower angle slopes. COMMENT: There will be a critical period at the onset of the warming cycle when travel in avalanche terrain should be avoided. LOCHABER AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS FRI 25/1/02 Strong SE winds and snow has affected the area during Friday. Areas of fresh unstable windslab have formed in areas sheltered from the SE winds. Main accumulations are at the tops of W, NW and N aspects. Other sheltered locations are also affected. The avalanche hazard is Considerable (Category 3). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK SAT 26/1/02 A dramatic thaw with rain at all levels is expected overnight and during Saturday. This will lead to a period of high wet snow instability overnight. By Saturday, snow stability will slowly improve during the day. Wet snow instabilities will be present, mainly on steep W, NW and N aspects. The avalanche hazard will be Considerable (Category 3). CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Fresh snow lying above 100m on Friday. ICING: Freezing level rising again by Saturday. COMMENT: Winds moderating for the weekend. GLENCOE AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS FRI 25/1/02 Stormy conditions with heavy snowfall and South-Easterly winds have caused some heavy drifting at higher levels Unstable windslab has built up rapidly in many sheltered locations. Greatest accumulations have formed on slopes with a West through North to North-East aspect and in gullies sheltered from the full force of the wind. Avalanche hazard Considerable (Category 3) AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK SAT 26/1/02 A return to mild conditions with rain at all levels by Saturday morning will reduce and saturate the snowpack. As existing windslab becomes wetter further weaknesses within the snowpack will develop. Avalanches are likely in sheltered gullies and on slopes with a West through North to North-East aspect. The avalanche hazard will be Considerable (Category 3). CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: New snow all levels on Friday ICING: Ice on rocks and paths above 300m COMMENT: Cornices will be prone to collapse as thaw conditions affect the area SOUTHERN CAIRNGORMS AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS FRI 25/1/02 Heavy snow and drifting are rapidly forming highly unstable windslab in very sheltered locations on mainly W through to NE aspects but with cross loading also occurring. These weakly bonded deposits have acquired considerable depth. The avalanche hazard is High (Category 4). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK SAT 26/1/02 With the arrival of rain and a rapidly rising freezing level there will be a further period of avalanche activity. The increased loading of the weakly bond snowpack will cause avalanches to occur on mainly W through to E aspects but also in any steeper location that holds deeper recent deposits. The avalanche hazard will be High (Category 4). Cornice collapse will be a serious hazard. CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Heavy drifting and erosion. ICING: Limited but refreezing up well today (25/1/02). COMMENT: Serious thaw forecast for 26/1/02. CREAG MEAGAIDH AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS FRI 25/1/02 Heavy continuous snowfall combined with significant drifting on a gale force Easterly wind has accumulated deep deposits of weakly bonded windslab. South-West through West to North- East aspects above 800 metres are affected and as temperatures remain below freezing bonding of windslab layers will remain poor. A very easy shear was obtained in field tests. The avalanche hazard is Considerable (Category 3), loose snow avalanche activity was observed. AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK SAT 26/1/02 Moderate rainfall combined with the freezing levels rising above the summits overnight will cause a period of instability through out the area. Deep weakly bonded windslab layers found on South-West through West to North-East aspects above 800 metres will become moist and heavy. The avalanche hazard will be High (Category 4) and wet snow avalanches and cornice collapse will occur from above mentioned aspects. CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Improving cover at all levels, main snow cover above 600 metres. ICING: Fragile ice observed; still generally poor. COMMENT: A rather savage return to winter. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------