NORTHERN CAIRNGORMS AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS MON 13/1/03 Rain showers, at times heavy, have continued to soak the snowpack. The top 40 centimetres of snowpack where sampled at 1035 metres have been rain soaked . There is still a dry layer of snow above the old crust. There is a clean shear of the moist on dry snow. The avalanche hazard is Considerable (Category 3). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK TUE 14/1/03 Moderate to strong Westerly quarter winds will continue with more rain for the forecast period. There are areas on North, South and East aspect above 1000 metres where there will still be snow up to 2 metres deep. Generally these do not extend very far up or across slope. The snowpack stability will be fair. The avalanche hazard will be Considerable (Category 3). CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: The important ingredient is disappearing quickly. ICING: Fat ice survives, thin ice becoming very thin. COMMENT: Some hope for winter from Wednesday but avalanche thinking still required. LOCHABER AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS MON 13/1/03 Rain with a freezing level above the summits is thawing the existing snow cover. Accumulations are wet, and restricted to sheltered hollows and high N and E facing gullies. Cover is thin and patchy. The avalanche hazard is Low (Category 1). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK TUE 14/1/03 The current mild WSW airflow will continue for the forecast period. Rain with a freezing level above the summits on Tuesday will see the sparse snowpack continue to thaw. Remaining accumulations will be wet and restricted to sheltered hollows and high N and E facing gullies. The avalanche hazard will be Low (Category 1). CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Snow cover reducing in the thaw ICING: Freezing above the summits on Tuesday. COMMENT: Hazard of falling rock and ice in thaw conditions. GLENCOE AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS MON 13/1/03 It was a very mild wet day with no new snow, only heavy rain at all levels. There is very little snow cover as the mild SW airflow has washed away all but the odd patch of old snow. These areas of old snow exist above 950m and are mainly in sheltered corries and on the higher Northerly slopes as well as in deep gullies. However, there is not enough snow to create an avalanche hazard. The avalanche hazard is Low (Category 1). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK TUE 14/1/03 Gale force West-South-Westerly winds and moderate to heavy rain at all levels will continue to affect the area. This will continue to strip the sparse snowpack leaving only patches of old snow. Wet snow instabilities will exist on steep slopes where accumulations of old snow are deep enough. The greatest accumulations of snow will be in sheltered locations but mainly on slopes with an N through to E aspect above 950m. The avalanche hazard is Low (Category 1). CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Patchy snow above 900m. ICING: Freezing level 2000m. COMMENT: Heavy rain and mild SW airflow will leave very little snow. Storm gale force South-Westerly winds. The weather has been good! SOUTHERN CAIRNGORMS AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS MON 13/1/03 The snowpack has been rapidly thawed at all levels. Snow loss is significant but instabilities remain in some deeper patches mainly on NE through to SW aspects above 900 metres. Remaining snow is fast becoming saturated, layers of slush were found at several pit locations. Glide cracks were noted around corrie rims. The avalanche hazard is Considerable (Category 3). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK TUE 14/1/03 Freezing levels will be over the summits and there will be some further rain. Remaining snow will continue to thaw at all levels but stability will have improved. Deeper deposits are mainly to be found on NE through to SW aspects above 900 metres. The avalanche hazard will be Low (Category 1). Falling rock and ice will continue to be a hazard. CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: RIP. ICING: Few ice pitches left, disappearance immanent. Ground and turf soft. COMMENT: Winds will make mountain conditions difficult. CREAG MEAGAIDH AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS MON 13/1/03 There has been heavy persistent rain on a gale to storm force South-West wind. This combined with freezing levels well above the summits has had a devastating effect on snow cover. Only very isolated well bonded patches of old wet snow exist in sheltered hollows and at the tops of gullies of a Northerly aspect above 900 metres. The avalanche hazard is Low (Category 1). Rock and ice fall from steep ground continue to be a risk throughout the mild conditions. AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK TUE 14/1/03 Freezing levels will be well above the summits with heavy rain on a storm force Westerly wind. Very isolated patches of well-bonded wet snow will persist in hollows and the tops of gullies of a Northerly aspect above 900 metres. The avalanche hazard will be Low (Category 1). All gullies remain incomplete with even Easy gully and Raeburn's rock filled. Ice and rock fall will continue in mild conditions from steep ground and caution is advised. CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Only very isolated patches exist on some Northerly aspects. ICING: Most of the ice is on its way to the sea! COMMENT: A little like being in a high-pressure car wash on the summits, lovely! -------------------------------------------------------------------------------