LOCHABER AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS WED 1/1/03 Some light snow has fallen above 750m during the day but new snow accumulations are not significant. Snowpack stability remains good. The avalanche hazard is Low (Category 1). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK THU 2/1/03 Further snowfall is expected overnight and during Thursday with a moderate E/NE wind. Some significant localised accumulations will form, mainly at the tops of SW and W aspects. Where this overlies old snow deposits, the avalanche hazard will be Moderate (Category 2). Elsewhere snowpack stability will remain good. CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Thin dusting of fresh snow above 750m. ICING: Water-ice reforming on many paths and open slopes above 500m. COMMENT: Freezing level remaining around 500m. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- GLENCOE AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS WED 1/1/03 A light covering of new snow above 500m this is not enough new snow to warrant any avalanche hazard. The snow cover is very thin and limited. Some isolated deeper patches exist above 940m. These are mainly in sheltered areas and 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 THU 2/1/03 Snow showers during Wednesday night above 600m becoming more persistent during Thursday morning above 200m.These snow showers will be light to moderate accompanied by fresh easterly winds strengthening to north easterly. The greatest accumulations of new snow will be in sheltered locations mainly with a SW through to NW aspect above 600m. The new snow is not expected to be significant during the report period. The avalanche hazard will remain Low (Category 1). Rocks and paths will be icy. CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: New snows above 500m. Deeper patches of snow above 900 metres mainly in sheltered gullies with a Northerly aspect. ICING: Freezing level 300m - 200m. COMMENT: HAPPY NEW YEAR. Winter climbing conditions slowly appearing. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- CREAG MEAGAIDH AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS WED 1/1/03 Snow showers on a strong South-East wind have begun a more widespread distribution of snow with a light cover on most aspects above 850 metres. Drifting is minimal with only the most sheltered of gullies and hollows of a West to North aspect worst affected. Accumulations still remain insignificant and pose no hazard. The avalanche hazard is Low (Category 1). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK THU 2/1/03 Snow showers on a strong East then North-East wind will continue throughout the forecast period. Sheltered gullies and hollows of a West to North aspect above 850 metres will be worst affected, but accumulations will remain shallow and pose no hazard. The avalanche hazard will be Low (Category 1). CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Improving, with a light cover on most aspects above 850 metres. ICING: Improving a little, but still not enough for climbing. COMMENT: Hopefully winter is here to stay! ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- SOUTHERN CAIRNGORMS AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS WED 1/1/03 New snow is falling to 500 metres but cover is generally superficial. Localised areas of weakly bonded deposits are to be found in sheltered locations on mainly NW to NE aspects above 900 metres. Where deeper deposits lie over snow ice on steeper ground stability is very poor. The avalanche hazard is Considerable (Category 3). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK THU 2/1/03 There will be further snowfall overnight and tomorrow. Cover will generally remain thin but localised areas of instability will be found where deeper deposits form over firmer snow ice. Steeper NW aspects above 900 metres are most likely to be affected but cross loading of gully exits should be considered and any deeper new deposit should be treated with caution. The avalanche hazard will be Considerable (Category 3). CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Superficial cover to valley level. Old patches above 1000 metres. ICING: Generally lean but reforming. COMMENT: Variable snow amounts forecast. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- NORTHERN CAIRNGORMS AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS WED 1/1/03 Snow arrived for the new year and fell throughout the day down to 500 metres with moderate Southerly winds. Some areas on North aspect above 1000 metres gave up to 25 centimetres of foot penetration. In field tests no consistent shears showed. The avalanche hazard is Moderate (Category 2). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK THU 2/1/03 Moderate amounts of snow are forecast with a slight wind shift to consider when assessing where additional loading will occur. North and West aspect above 1000 metres will be where, on previously loaded slopes, there will be a slab with enough mass and stress that avalanches will be likely. These zones of concern will be mainly on the exit slopes of gullies. The avalanche hazard will be Considerable (Category 3) CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Enough snow to bury a ptarmigan that popped out at our feet from under cover. ICING: Back to a growth stage; wouldn't call it rapid yet. COMMENT: Encouraging start to the new year and some avalanche thinking required. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------