NORTHERN CAIRNGORMS AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS TUE 21/1/03 There were mostly clear skies, very light winds and no new precipitation. The strong winds eased and left some new wind slab on Northerly aspects above 1000 metres. This built up on the previously existing snow-ice surface but the distribution downslope was not extensive. The shear was clean and very hard on some partly decomposed grains on the crust. The avalanche hazard is Moderate (Category 2). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK WED 22/1/03 Heavy snow is forecast with increasingly strong winds from the North-North-East and freezing level down to about 600 metres. Principal loading of the new snow will be on Southerly aspects above 850 metres but minor terrain irregularities on North aspect will be loaded also. Avalanches will occur particularly on loaded slopes above 1000 metres. The avalanche hazard will be High (Category 4). CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Possible to link some patches on plateau. ICING: Refreeze cycle in progress on high lochans. COMMENT: Avalanches may run into bare ground. LOCHABER AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS TUE 21/1/03 Calm, dry conditions during Tuesday have replaced the strong SW airflow overnight. Areas of unstable windslab are present on sheltered aspects. Greatest accumulations are on NW through N to NE aspects, notably scarp slopes and sheltered aspects above and below crags. The avalanche hazard is Considerable (Category 3). Cornices are soft and starting to reform on the above aspects. AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK WED 22/1/03 Snow showers with a strong NNE wind will form fresh areas of unstable snow. Accumulations will remain on sheltered N and NW aspects, with fresh deposits forming on S through SW to W aspects as the forecast period progresses. Greatest accumulations will be on sheltered steep slopes and the tops of gullies. The avalanche hazard will be Considerable (Category 3). CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Fresh snow above 650m ICING: Remaining cold into Wednesday. COMMENT: Just about ok on skis today, still better than walking though! Another fine day on the tops. GLENCOE AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS TUE 21/1/03 A light general cover of snow is lying above 750 metres. Areas of windslab remain in sheltered locations. Greatest accumulations are to be found in the higher gullies and on slopes with a West through to North-East aspect mainly above 850 metres. Where this slab remains on steeper slopes and where old snow underlies the avalanche hazard is Moderate (Category 2). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK WED 22/1/03 General snow cover remains quite thin and is mainly restricted to the higher corries. Strong North-Easterly winds and snow showers through the period will continue to develop areas of windslab in sheltered gullies and on slopes with a South-West through to Northerly aspect mainly above 850 metres. Where deeper accumulations form on steeper slopes or where old snow underlies bonding will be poor. The avalanche hazard will be Considerable (Category 3) CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Snow above 750m. ICING: Starting to re-form at highest levels. COMMENT: Higher buttresses and ridges have a cover of fresh snow and should give some good sport. Superb day for hill on Tuesday; dry, calm, even blue skies. SOUTHERN CAIRNGORMS AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS TUE 21/1/03 Recent deposits exist in sheltered locations on NW to NE aspects above 900 metres. Fluctuating temperatures have encouraged consolidation and left a soft crust at lower levels with slightly drier moderately bonded deposits at higher altitudes. The avalanche hazard is Moderate (Category 2). Cover remains generally thin. AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK WED 22/1/03 Overnight snow showers will precede more continuous snow on Wednesday. Strong N winds will build fresh unstable deposits on SE to SW aspects. With the freezing level at 1000 metres deposits below this altitude will tend to be of wet snow. In steeper sheltered locations deposits will be moderately to weakly bonded especially where a snow ice base exists. The avalanche hazard will be Considerable (Category 3) and avalanches are likely. CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Thin cover from 900 metres. ICING: Remaining lean. Higher crags holding most. COMMENT: Expect blizzard conditions on 22/1/03. CREAG MEAGAIDH AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS TUE 21/1/03 It has remained cold and calm with no further snowfall. Snow cover remains thin above 800 metres with only isolated areas of hard slab in the most sheltered gullies and hollows on North to East aspects. Small cornices have started to grow above some steep North facing slopes but are as yet to small to cause any problems. The avalanche hazard is Moderate (Category 2). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK WED 22/1/03 Intermittent snow showers overnight will be followed by more persistent falls during the day. These falls will be driven by a strong North-East wind causing shallow accumulations of windslab to form on South to West aspects above 800 metres. As these aspects have little or no base only the most sheltered of gullies and hollows will be effected by deposits of any depth. Other aspects will become well-bonded and stable. The avalanche hazard will be Moderate (Category 2). CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: The top halves of easier gullies are now looking better. Its still fairly sparse at lower levels. ICING: Very poor. Water still running on many routes. COMMENT: Poor climbing conditions but you can't beat the weather today (21.01.03). -------------------------------------------------------------------------------