NORTHERN CAIRNGORMS AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS WED 15/1/03 After more heavy rain the temperatures finally fell rapidly from midnight. The new snow line is at about 600 metres with continuing very strong Westerly winds. The snow zone is essentially a band above 1050 metres on the rim of the plateau and some near complete gullies. The older snowpack is rained soaked and stable, the newer snow forms a new slab of unknown stability on any slope that may be loaded from the Westerly winds. The avalanche hazard is Considerable (Category 3). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK THU 16/1/03 Strong winds will continue from the West and South-West. Snow will turn to sleet later in the forecast day. It will be possible to trigger the new slab with low additional loads on selected slopes where avalanche threshold has been reached; particularly on North-East aspect above 1000 metres. Cross loaded slopes with a Northerly and South-Easterly aspect will also be suspect. The avalanche hazard will be Considerable (Category 3). CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Starting over in lee locations above 650 metres; still mostly negative balance to windward. ICING: Varies from lean to dire. COMMENT: Limited safe access to plateau. LOCHABER AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS WED 15/1/03 Storm force WSW winds and snow showers have started to form isolated, shallow areas of fresh snow on sheltered NE aspects above 1000m. Accumulations are restricted to where they overlie old hard snow areas, and are generally avoidable. Elsewhere the snowpack remains thin and patchy with a light dusting of fresh snow above 800m. The avalanche hazard is Low (Category 1). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK THU 16/1/03 Snow showers overnight with strong W winds will form isolated areas of unstable snow. Greatest accumulations will be on NE through to E aspects above 1000m, and will be restricted to where they overlie old snow areas. Deposits will be shallow and easily avoidable. During Thursday a rise in the freezing level to summit level will see the existing snowpack gradually thaw at all levels. The avalanche hazard will be Moderate (Category 2). CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Dusting of fresh snow above 800m ICING: Freezing level around the summits on Thursday. COMMENT: 112mph across the tops today (Wednesday), making life a little challenging at times! GLENCOE AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS WED 15/1/03 Stormy conditions and snow showers today have given a dusting of new snow above 750 metres. The very strong South-Westerly airflow has scoured windward slopes and has formed shallow pockets of windslab and small cornices around the tops of North to East slopes and sheltered gullies. These deposits are neither extensive nor deep and are generally avoidable The avalanche hazard is Low (Category 1). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK THU 16/1/03 General snow cover is very thin and is mainly restricted to the higher North and East facing corries. Moderate precipitation falling as sleet on the higher slopes overnight will turn to rain at all levels by Thursday morning. Further accumulations will initially occur on existing pockets of windslab and cornice formations mainly with a North-East to South-East aspect above 900 metres. As the freezing level rises and precipitation turns to rain a brief period of instability will occur. During this period the avalanche hazard will be Moderate (Category 2). CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Light cover of new snow above 750m in sheltered Northern and Eastern corries. ICING: No ice at present. COMMENT: Gale force winds forecast for Thursday with light rain at all levels. SOUTHERN CAIRNGORMS AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS WED 15/1/03 Moderate snow falling in storm force winds led to some new deposits forming in very sheltered locations on N to E aspects. Above 900 metres where they developed over older snow-ice patches on steeper slopes they were moderately to weakly bonded. In general these areas are avoidable. The avalanche hazard is Considerable (Category 3). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK THU 16/1/03 Another windy day but with freezing levels rising any wintry precipitation will turn to rain at all levels. On N to E aspects above 900 metres stability of deeper recent accumulations will be poor. These localised areas will mainly be found in sheltered locations such as scarp slopes and gully exits. The avalanche hazard will be Considerable (Category 3). CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Limited new snow in very sheltered areas. ICING: Ground was frozen from around 800 metres. COMMENT: Another wet and windy day forecast. CREAG MEAGAIDH AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS WED 15/1/03 Snow showers driven on a hurricane force South-West wind have put down a light covering of fresh snow above 800 metres. As this fresh snow consists mainly of rimed particles (graupel), slab build up has been minimal. Areas of loose snow can be found in gullies and hollows on North to East aspects but as there is no base, deeper deposits are extremely isolated and easily avoidable. The avalanche hazard is Moderate (Category 2). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK THU 16/1/03 Snow showers will continue overnight on a severe storm force South-West wind before turning to rain, as it becomes mild again. Deeper snow deposits and shallow windslab will continue to build for a time in gullies and hollows on North to East aspects above 800 metres. As the freezing level climbs once again above the summits this new snow will rapidly bed down and begin to melt. Early in the period the avalanche hazard will be Moderate (Category 2). CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Fresh thin cover down to 800 metres. The bigger gullies are still very bare. ICING: There isn't any! COMMENT: Not a bad day if clinging to the mountain in a 70 mph wind is your sort of thing! -------------------------------------------------------------------------------