NORTHERN CAIRNGORMS AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS TUE 31/12/02 Temperatures have returned to more reasonable winter values with a minimum of minus 6 degrees. Some wind transport of snow was evident in Southerly winds on the plateau but loading in the lee was restricted to small pockets on North aspect above 1050 metres. In Coire an Lochan there was up to 30 centimetres of foot penetration in soft slab but the cross and down slope distribution was very limited. The avalanche hazard is Low (Category 1). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK WED 1/1/03 Snow is forecast with the freezing level at the valley floor. There will be some additional build-up in the areas with pockets of soft slab on North aspects above 1000 metres. The new snow will bond reasonably well to the old roughened snow-ice surface. The avalanche hazard will be Moderate (Category 2). CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Still very sparse but better than elsewhere in this country. ICING: Turf firming up but there are still soft areas. COMMENT: By definition 'Moderate' hazard means "avalanche triggering is possible with high additional loads." LOCHABER AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS TUE 31/12/02 A cold strong SE airflow over the forecast area has had little effect on the existing snowpack. The patchy and thin snowpack is hard frozen and generally restricted to high N and E aspects. A dusting of fresh snow and surface hoar is the only noticeable change. The avalanche hazard is Low (Category 1). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK WED 1/1/03 Snow showers with strong SE winds will move into the forecast area early on Wednesday morning. Areas of fresh snow will start to form mainly on W through to N aspects. Where these fresh deposits overlie old hard snow areas, shallow accumulations of windslab will form. Accumulations will be generally restricted to the tops of high W through to N facing sheltered gullies. The avalanche hazard will be Moderate (Category 2). CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Remaining thin and patchy. ICING: Freezing above 300m tomorrow, (Wednesday). COMMENT: Looking a bit better for 2003! Happy New Year. GLENCOE AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS TUE 31/12/02 There is not enough new snow to warrant any avalanche hazard. The snow cover is very limited with some isolated deeper patches above 940m. These exist mainly in sheltered areas on the highest Northerly slopes and in deep gullies. Colder conditions have refrozen these snow patches and also produced verglas on rocks and paths. The avalanche hazard is Low (Category 1). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK WED 1/1/03 Light snow showers during Tuesday night becoming more persistent during Wednesday morning these will be accompanied by strong SE winds. The greatest accumulations of snow will be in sheltered locations mainly with a Northerly aspect above 600m. These snow showers are not expected to be significant and there is no snowpack as yet. The avalanche hazard will remain Low (Category 1). Rocks and paths will be icy. CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Patches of snow above 900 metres mainly in sheltered gullies with a Northerly aspect. ICING: Freezing level 300m. COMMENT: HAPPY NEW YEAR. Winter climbing conditions slowly appearing. SOUTHERN CAIRNGORMS AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS TUE 31/12/02 There are isolated areas of deeper fresh deposits above 900 metres mainly on NW and N aspects. Where they overlie older snow ice they show poor stability. These are generally avoidable although some gully exits require care. The avalanche hazard is Moderate (Category 2). Exposed older snow is firm and well bonded. AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK WED 1/1/03 New snow will arrive early morning and fall to valley level. Accumulations will quickly form in sheltered locations on NW and N aspects above 900 metres. In some locations deposits will form over existing weakly bonded areas and avalanches are likely. Starting zones will be difficult to detect but gully exits in particular will be suspect. The avalanche hazard will be Considerable (Category 3). CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: New deposits are highly localised, older snow still very patchy. ICING: Starting to form again, mostly on footpaths! COMMENT: A few climbers on Lochnagar today doing mainly lean mixed routes. Most gullies remain broken. CREAG MEAGAIDH AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS TUE 31/12/02 It has remained dry and cold with a strong Easterly wind. A light dusting of snow still exists on most aspects above 950 metres, but amounts remain insignificant and pose no hazard. Very isolated patches of old well-bonded snow can also be found in the most sheltered of hollows above 900 metres. The avalanche hazard is Low (Category 1). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK WED 1/1/03 Snow showers on a strong South-East wind will begin a more widespread distribution of snow throughout the area. As drifting occurs fresh snow deposits will begin to build although remaining shallow untill later in the forecast period. The tops of sheltered gullies and hollows of a West to North aspects above 850 metres will be worst affected. The avalanche hazard will be Low (Category 1). CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Extremely poor with all main gully lines broken and rubble filled. ICING: Improving a little, but not enough for climbing and still very poor. COMMENT: At least it's dry and cold. Great day to be out on the tops again! -------------------------------------------------------------------------------