NORTHERN CAIRNGORMS AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS THU 31/1/02 There has been a brief period with some settlement and stabilization of the snowpack but by this afternoon moderate to heavy snow and strong Southerly winds have quickly put new slab on Northerly and Easterly slopes. The new snow is presently falling above 650 metres. Over the past few days there has been considerable filling in of terrain above 900 metres. The avalanche hazard is Considerable (Category 3). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK FRI 1/2/02 Another major storm is forecast with snow followed by rain and temperatures at the summit of 2 degrees. Avalanches will occur mainly on Northerly and Easterly terrain above 900 metres. There will be potential for avalanches to have longer fracture lines and run longer distances now that avalanche terrain is more filled in. The warming and additional load will be enough to seriously stress the soft weak layer that still remains buried up to 50 centimetres down in various locations on all aspects. The avalanche hazard will be High (Category 4). CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Plateau cover improved. ICING: Quality, not quantity, is there. COMMENT: Cornice collapse may release the big ones. LOCHABER AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS THU 31/1/02 Snow showers, some heavy during Thursday have continued to form areas of unstable soft slab on a strong SW airflow. Greatest accumulations are on sheltered NW through NE to E aspects above 1000m, crag aprons, gullies and scarp slopes are particularly effected. The avalanche hazard is Considerable (Category 3). Cornices reforming over the above aspects. AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK FRI 1/2/02 Light amounts of snow overnight with strong to gale force SW winds will continue to see deposits build on sheltered NW through NE to E aspects above 1000m. As winds increase to Storm force, with rain at all but the highest summits on Friday, the existing snowpack will become increasingly suspect with wet snow avalanches occurring. Steep slopes, gullies and scarp slopes with NW through NE to E aspects will be particularly affected. The avalanche hazard will be High (Category 4). Cornices will be prone to collapse above these aspects. CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Fresh snow at 500m on Thursday. ICING: Rising above the summits on Friday COMMENT: Another challenging day expected on the hill on Friday, 90-100mph SW winds and rain. GLENCOE AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS THU 31/1/02 South-Westerly winds have continued to bring snow to sheltered areas above 850m. Accumulations of windslab are present in sheltered gullies and on slopes with a NNW through NE aspect. The greatest accumulations of windslab have formed around the tops of gullies and on lee slopes sheltered from the prevailing wind, mainly above 850m. The avalanche hazard is these areas is Considerable (Category 3). The temperature has risen during the day leading to further instabilities. AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK FRI 1/2/02 A very strong showery S-SW airflow will affect the area during Thursday night. Snow showers above 850m will continue to form windslab in sheltered locations. Conditions are expected to become very stormy, wet and mild during Friday with severe gales or storm force SW winds. Heavy rain at all levels will saturate the snowpack leading to wet snow instabilities on most slopes. Where deep accumulations of unstable windslab existed in sheltered locations, mainly on NW through to NE aspects above 850m, avalanches will occur. The avalanche hazard will be High (Category 4). CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Wet snow above 800m ICING: Ice in sheltered locations above 900m COMMENT: Very stormy conditions are expected during Friday with 90-100mph SW winds and rain over the summits. It's a pity the routes were just getting good! SOUTHERN CAIRNGORMS AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS THU 31/1/02 Surface layers are moderately to weakly bonded in sheltered locations mainly on N through to E aspects above 900 metres. New snowfall is adding further accumulations to these unstable areas. The avalanche hazard is Considerable (Category 3). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK FRI 1/2/02 Overnight the freezing level will begin to rise and by day will be above all summits. Snow will generally turn to rain accompanied by hurricane force winds. On N through to E aspects and in other sheltered locations above 900 metres where deeper deposits exist over a harder snow-ice base avalanches will occur. The avalanche hazard will be High (Category 4). CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Improved above 900 metres. ICING: Buttresses white but all will be subject to thaw. COMMENT: Will be a very poor day on the hill. CREAG MEAGAIDH AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS THU 31/1/02 Snow continued to drift overnight on a strong to gale force mainly Westerly wind. Winds eventually swung through South and latterly to South-East. Due to the variable wind direction a number of aspects have been loaded by significant accumulations of unstable windslab. Sheltered slopes on North- West through North-East to South-East aspects above 800 metres are most affected. Fresh avalanche debris was noted on a Northerly aspect. The avalanche hazard is Considerable (Category 3). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK FRI 1/2/02 Overnight, snow showers and drifting of existing snow driven on a storm force South to South-West wind will continue to rapidly load unstable windslab on to sheltered lee slopes of a North-West through North-East to South-East aspect above 800 metres. During the day the freezing level will climb to well above the summits with heavy rain driven on winds of up to a 100 mph. These conditions will saturate new snow deposits. Cornices will collapse and wet slab avalanches will occur on the above mentioned aspects. The avalanche hazard will be High (Category 4). CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Fresh snow falling to 700 metres. Main cover above 700 metres. ICING: Poor. Lower ice is still running with water. COMMENT: Blizzards over the summits today (31.1.02). There are large cornices growing over North to East aspects. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------