NORTHERN CAIRNGORMS
AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS SAT 21/12/02
Trace amounts of new snow were observed but accumulations 
were negligible.  The wind prevailed from the South-East with 
below freezing temperature from 750m up. The snowpack 
where sampled on the Great Slab in Coire an Lochan gave an 
easy shear in the top 20cm.  It requires more than high 
additional load for fracture propagation.  The avalanche hazard 
is Low (Category 1).

AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK SUN 22/12/02
There will be a significant change in the weather of the past 
several days.  Some snow above 600m will be followed by rain 
near the tops.  Avalanches are likely on  North aspect slopes 
above 1000m where the soft slab instability has been previously 
identified.  The avalanche hazard will be Considerable 
(Category 3).


CLIMBING CONDITIONS 

SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Still complete cover on plateau with 
thin areas.
ICING:  Little change from thin on most steep ground, except 
for some of the ice bulges.
COMMENT: Rapid warming and rain will weaken the large 
glide zone in the Vent.
 


LOCHABER
AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS SAT 21/12/02
Continuing cold conditions have had little effect on the existing 
snowpack. Above 900m the snowpack remains well bonded and 
generally stable. High gullies with N and E aspects hold the 
greatest accumulations The avalanche hazard is Low (Category 
1).

AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK SUN 22/12/02
Increasing SE winds with snow overnight will see areas of fresh 
unstable snow form on sheltered N and W aspects. Rain will 
gradually replace snow at all but the highest levels overnight 
and during Sunday. Any significant deposits of unstable snow 
will generally be restricted to above 1200m. The avalanche 
hazard will be Moderate (Category 2).


CLIMBING CONDITIONS 

SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Remaining thin. Best cover in high 
N and E facing gullies. 
ICING: Still lean. Freezing level expected around the summits 
on Sunday
COMMENT: Looks like an end to the cold conditions for a 
wee while.


GLENCOE
AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS SAT 21/12/02
A light cover of snow remains above 900 metres mainly on 
Northerly aspects. Isolated pockets of shallow soft snow exist in 
some sheltered locations at the highest levels. These deposits are 
not significant and are generally avoidable. The avalanche 
hazard is Low (Category 1).

AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK SUN 22/12/02
Light snow showers will fall above 500 metres before turning to 
heavy rain at all levels overnight. Strong South-Easterly winds 
will initially form pockets of windslab mainly around the tops of 
sheltered gullies where any older snow deposits remain. A brief 
period of instability will occur in these areas during the 
transition to milder wetter conditions. Stability will improve  
later as rainfall decreases during the course of Sunday. The 
avalanche hazard will be Moderate (Category 2).

CLIMBING CONDITIONS 

SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Light cover above 900 metres.
ICING: Ice forming in watercourses and on rocks above 700 
metres on Saturday. Freezing level rising to 1200 metres with 
rain at all levels on Sunday 
COMMENT: Hazard of falling rocks and ice during thaw 
period. 



SOUTHERN CAIRNGORMS
AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS SAT 21/12/02
A slightly warmer day but the snow remains much the same. 
Snow cover is thin on most aspects with deeper deposits being 
found in sheltered locations on NW to NE aspects above 960 
metres. The snowpack is generally well bonded with the 
avalanche hazard Low (Category 1).

AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK SUN 22/12/02
Precipitation overnight will start as snow but change to heavy 
rain. The overnight rain will ensure new deeper accumulations 
will pass through an unstable period overnight. Where localised 
deeper deposits on steeper slopes on NW aspects above 960 
metres exist, stability will be moderate. The avalanche hazard 
will be Moderate (Category 2). 


CLIMBING CONDITIONS 

SNOW DISTRIBUTION: A thin covering on most aspects 
likely to be affected by snow/rain mix.
ICING: Subject to thaw. 
COMMENT: Climbing remains lean.
 


CREAG MEAGAIDH
AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS SAT 21/12/02
It has remained cold and dry with light West South West winds 
and no further snowfall. Snow cover remains thin with only a 
dusting at altitudes above 900 metres. Easy gullies remain 
mostly incomplete with only isolated patches of old well-frozen 
snow remaining from snowfall in October. The avalanche 
hazard is Low (Category 1).

AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK SUN 22/12/02
A band of heavy snow will cross the region before turning to 
rain as the freezing level rises above the summits. 
Initially snow will be driven on a gale force South-East wind 
into gullies of a West to North aspect above 900 metres. As 
there is no base to many slopes, this new snow will quickly bed 
down and settle in the milder air. The avalanche hazard will 
remain, Low (Category 1).


CLIMBING CONDITIONS 

SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Very light dusting above 900 
metres.
ICING: Some good ice in some of the higher side Coires. Not 
so good in Coire Ardair as most is frozen at source.
COMMENT: It looks like goodbye to the little snow we've got. 




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