LOCHABER AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS MON 28/1/02 After a brief period of wet snow instability overnight colder conditions have helped consolidate the existing wet snowpack. Snow showers and storm force SW winds are forming deposits of unstable snow above 1000m. Greatest accumulations are on steep slopes, gully tops and scarp slopes with N through to E aspects. The avalanche hazard is Considerable (Category 3). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK TUE 29/1/02 As the current conditions give way to a colder SE airflow overnight, moderate amounts of snow will form areas of fresh of unstable slab above 900m. W through to N aspects will at first be effected, but as winds turn SW into Tuesday, N and E aspects will see increasing accumulations form. Avalanches are likely particularly at the tops of sheltered gullies, steep slopes and scarp slopes with the above aspects. The avalanche hazard will be Considerable (Category 3). Wind blown slopes will become hard frozen. Fresh cornices will reform. CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Fresh snow above 1000m. ICING: Thin, but hanging in on the Ben today, COMMENT: Not much fun "on all fours" in the Allt a Mhuilinn today. Better tomorrow after freezing at all levels overnight. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- CREAG MEAGAIDH AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS MON 28/1/02 After a stormy wet night, rain has begun to turn to snow above 700 metres. South-West winds gusting to 90 mph are driving fresh snow onto sheltered lee slopes of a North through East to South-East aspect above 800 metres. Temperatures are still relatively mild and these new windslab deposits are turning readily to unstable wet slab on contact with the very wet ground and underlying snowpack. At the highest elevations windslab deposits are colder and drier. The avalanche hazard is Considerable (Category 3). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK TUE 29/1/02 It will freeze at all levels consolidating the underlying snowpack and fresh wet snow accumulations. Overnight light snow showers on a moderate West-North-West wind will cause shallow, fresh windslab deposits to build onto North-East to South-East aspects above 800 metres. Windslab will be redistributed on to West to North aspects above 800 metres during the day as winds freshen and swing to the South-East. The avalanche hazard will be Considerable (Category 3). CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Fresh wet snow lying down to 700 metres. Blizzards across the summits. ICING: Remains poor. COMMENT: Much more weather like this and I'll need counselling at the end of the season! ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- SOUTHERN CAIRNGORMS AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS MON 28/1/02 With the freezing level around 950 metres there has been sleet and rain below this altitude leaving the snow soft and wet. Above 950 metres snow and high winds have continued to build windslab in very sheltered locations on N through to SE aspects. Stability of this weakly bonded snowpack is poor and the avalanche hazard is High (Category 4). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK TUE 29/1/02 A colder, calmer day with very light snow is forecast. The soft wet snow beneath 950 metres will begin to refreeze and become well bonded. Instability will remain in steeper sheltered locations on N through to SE aspects above 950 metres. Sensible route choice will avoid these areas and recently formed cornices. The avalanche hazard will be Considerable (Category 3). CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Gradually filling in. ICING: Improving with fluctuating temperatures. COMMENT: New cornices should be avoided. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- GLENCOE AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS MON 28/1/02 Stormy conditions with freezing levels above the summits have reduced the snowcover at lower levels. Snow at the highest levels is adding to deep accumulations of soft wet snow in sheltered locations such as gullies and North to East facing slopes mainly above 950m. In these areas the avalanche hazard is Considerable (Category 3) AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK TUE 29/1/02 New snow overnight and tomorrow with colder conditions will affect the area. Strong Southerly winds will form unstable accumulations of windslab in sheltered gullies and on slopes with a North-West through North to East aspect mainly above 900m. Greatest accumulations are expected around the tops of gullies and on lee slopes sheltered from the prevailing wind. The avalanche hazard will be Considerable (Category 3) and avalanches are likely particularly later on Tuesday as temperatures rise. CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Wet snow above 700m ICING: Ice in sheltered locations above 900m COMMENT: Conditions will improve briefly as we get a return to colder temperatures. Fresh windslab will require caution. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- NORTHERN CAIRNGORMS AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS MON 28/1/02 The maximum wind recorded on the summit since the previous report is 141 miles per hour from the West. At 650 metres there have been heavy rain, sleet and snow showers. Mainly on East and North aspects above 950 metres there is a widespread new snow instability. The previously reported weakness on the crust is now even more deeply buried. Limited visibility and difficult travel conditions restricted observations of avalanche activity. The avalanche hazard is High (Category 4). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK TUE 29/1/02 Additional snow with winds easing but changing from West to South-East will contribute to further loading on additional aspects above 750 metres. In the previously extreme winds, the distribution of the storm instability will be highly variable and slab conditions on the approach slopes will be quite different to those on exit slopes from climbs. Avalanches will occur on a variety of aspects above 850 metres. The avalanche hazard will be High (Category 4). CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Improving above 850 metres. ICING: Ice routes may require ice screws soon. COMMENT: At least a 24 hour period of less intense weather is required for the snowpack to stabilize. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------