GLENCOE AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS WED 22/1/03 A light general cover of snow is lying above 750 metres much of this has undergone a melt-freeze cycle and is stable. Isolated areas of windslab remain in sheltered locations. Greatest accumulations are to be found around the tops of the higher sheltered gullies and on slopes with a West to North aspect mainly above 950 metres. Stability of this slab remains marginal on steeper slopes and where old snow underlies. The avalanche hazard is Considerable (Category 3). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK THU 23/1/03 General snow cover remains quite thin and is mainly restricted to the higher corries. Dry conditions and fresh variable winds will affect the area for the period. Areas of windslab will remain in sheltered summit gullies and around the tops of West to Northeasterly slopes. Stability of this windslab will improve with a gradual rise in temperature during the course of Thursday. The avalanche hazard will be Moderate (Category 2) CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Snow above 750m. ICING: Ice forming above 850 m. COMMENT: Higher buttresses and ridges have a cover of snow and should give some reasonable sport, general conditions however remain lean. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- CREAG MEAGAIDH AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS WED 22/1/03 Snow showers have persisted throughout the day on a gale force North-East wind. Fresh moderately to weakly bonded windslab deposits have formed on East through South to West aspects above 900 metres. Variable winds and cross loading has affected localised Easterly aspects and a very easy shear of 30cm hard slab was obtained. The tops of gullies, sheltered hollows and steep scarp slopes are affected particularly where windslab has formed over old hard snow deposits. The avalanche hazard is Considerable (Category 3). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK THU 23/1/03 Remaining cold with no further precipitation. Winds are due to move round to the South-West and remain strong. Re- distribution of fresh deposits will begin and moderately bonded windslab will again form in localised areas of a North-West through North to East aspects above 900 metres. Sheltered hollows, tops of gullies and steep scarp slopes will be particularly affected and the avalanche hazard will remain Considerable (Category 3). CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Snow down to 650 metres. ICING: Still very poor and insulated by fresh snow. COMMENT: If you like clinging to the heather in a gale and hail thrown in your face then today was the day to be on the tops. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- LOCHABER AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS WED 22/1/03 Heavy snow showers and a strong NE wind have formed fresh areas of unstable snow on many aspects. Accumulations are still localised, and exist mainly on scarp slopes and below the main climbing crags. The avalanche hazard is Considerable (Category 3). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK THU 23/1/03 Little change is expected to the snowpack over the next 24 hours. Localised areas of unstable snow will be present on many slope aspects. Main accumulations will be on scarp slopes and below the main climbing crags. The avalanche hazard will be Considerable (Category 3). CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Fresh snow above 600m. ICING: Freezing level rising later on Thursday. COMMENT: Winds easing again by Thursday. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- SOUTHERN CAIRNGORMS AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS WED 22/1/03 Significant quantities of unstable windslab are rapidly building in sheltered locations on mainly S to W aspects from around 900 metres. Terrain features with multiple aspects also contain weakly bonded deposits. Heavy drifting is producing firm windslab that shears easily and cleanly during stability tests. The avalanche hazard is Considerable (Category 3). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK THU 23/1/03 A dry and generally calm day is expected. Moderately to weakly bonded windslab will be found in sheltered locations on mainly S to W aspects above 900 metres. All recent deposits should be treated with caution as they will remain unstable especially on steeper slopes. The avalanche hazard will be Considerable (Category 3). CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Thin cover from 900 metres. Deeper drifts on S to W aspects. ICING: Difficult observation conditions today. COMMENT: Gully exits will contain cross loaded deposits. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- NORTHERN CAIRNGORMS AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS WED 22/1/03 There has been rapid build-up of storm snow particularly on South and West aspects. Where sampled in Coire an Lochan on a West aspect at 1080 metres there is an easy shear of soft slab on a very soft layer on the old firm crust. Reduced visibility limited observations of avalanche activity but the snowpack has poor to very poor stability. The avalanche hazard is High (Category 4). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK THU 23/1/03 Precipitation will ease off today and be dry through the forecast period. Snowpack stability will remain poor until there is strengthening of the very soft layer below the surface slab. Avalanches will occur where this condition exists mainly South and West aspects above 1000 metres but also localised loading on terrain irregularities. The avalanche hazard will be High (Category 4). CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Foot penetration from 20-40 centimetres in new accumulations. ICING: The temperatures are right; lower angle ice becoming buried. COMMENT: Somewhat surprisingly there are areas with 2 metres of snow on the ground, mostly these are in avalanche terrain. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------