NORTHERN CAIRNGORMS AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS TUE 14/1/03 Heavy rain showers and very strong winds from the South-West and West have prevailed through the day. This has further eroded the limited snow cover which in avalanche terrain is confined to bands along the top of the corries and some extension below the major gullies. The snowpack is mostly stable. The avalanche hazard is Moderate (Category 2.) AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK WED 15/1/03 Further rain is forecast with a return to cooler temperatures and some snow above 1000 metres. New pockets of slab will develop on North-East and East aspects above 1000 metres. This slab will not be very extensive but will bond poorly to the re-frozen surface. The avalanche hazard will be Considerable (Category 3). CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Tattered ribbons on the plateau and down the main gullies. ICING: Also tattered remains: some ice bulges looking pretty forlorn. COMMENT: Possibly a return to winter. LOCHABER AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS TUE 14/1/03 Rain at all levels and strong SW winds have further depleted the snowpack. A patchy cover remains, mainly in high N and E facing gullies. The avalanche hazard is Low (Category 1). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK WED 15/1/03 Rain will be replaced by heavy snow showers above 750m and strong SW winds overnight and during Wednesday. Fresh deposits of unstable snow will be begin to form, mainly at the tops of N, NE and E aspects and other areas sheltered from the strong SW winds. The avalanche hazard will be Considerable (Category 3). CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Patchy cover at present. Fresh snow expected above 750m on Wednesday. ICING: Freezing level lowering to around 900m during Wednesday. COMMENT: 70-80 mph winds expected over the summits on Wednesday. GLENCOE AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS TUE 14/1/03 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 coirres 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 WED 15/1/03 Stormy conditions with 70 - 80 M.P.H. Southwesterly winds will affect the area for the period. Heavy rain at all levels overnight will turn to occasional heavy snow showers above 750 metres during the course of Wednesday. In most areas the storm force winds will scour any snow preventing significant deposits. Pockets of windslab will form in sheltered locations mainly on North to East slopes and around the tops of gullies. The avalanche hazard will be Moderate (Category 2). CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Patchy snow above 900m on Tuesday. ICING: No ice at present. Freezing level coming down to 900m on Wednesday COMMENT: Stormy conditions for Wednesday but at least snow has been forecast! SOUTHERN CAIRNGORMS AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS TUE 14/1/03 Freezing levels were well over the summits and there were moderate amounts of rain above 850 metres. Remaining deeper patches are wet throughout and very little layering is left. Deepest deposits are to be found on NE through to SW aspects above 900 metres. The avalanche hazard is Low (Category 1). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK WED 15/1/03 Overnight rain will turn to snow during the day but the main factor will be the winds which will be severe storm force. New snow will be light but deposits will rapidly accumulate in sheltered locations on N to E aspects above 900 metres. New accumulations that have depth and overlie older snow ice will be moderately to weakly bonded. Scarp slopes will be particularly suspect. The avalanche hazard will be Considerable (Category 3). CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Lochnagar buttresses black, broken snow in some gullies. ICING: Few broken areas of ice left. COMMENT: Will be a difficult day on the hill. CREAG MEAGAIDH AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS TUE 14/1/03 The catastrophic thaw continues with driving rain on a storm force West-South-West wind. There is very little snow left and any that does survive is from the falls in October. North facing gullies and hollows above 900 metres contain isolated patches of well-bonded wet snow. Even the bigger gullies like Easy and Raeburn's are devoid of snow. Low (Category 1) avalanche hazard. AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK WED 15/1/03 Rain will turn to snow as the freezing levels drop to around 900 metres overnight. A hurricane force (70-80mph) South-West wind will begin to build fresh moderately bonded windslab on lee slopes of a North to East aspect above 900 metres. As there is no base, sheltered hollows and the tops of gullies of the above mentioned aspects will be affected at first. Shallow deposits will begin to build in these localised areas. The avalanche hazard will be Moderate (Category 2). CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Very isolated patches above 900 metres only. ICING: Your having a laugh! Ain't ya! COMMENT: I wish Wednesday was my day off! -------------------------------------------------------------------------------