NORTHERN CAIRNGORMS AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS TUE 28/1/03 Overnight snow accumulations have resulted in areas with up to 50 centimetres of foot penetration. These areas of build-up are not very extensive while many bare scoured slopes still exist. There was a clean moderately easy shear in the new snow on an Easterly aspect at 1085 metres. The avalanche hazard is Considerable (Category 3). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK WED 29/1/03 Continued rapid build-up on mainly Easterly and Southerly aspects above 900 metres will result in a snowpack with poor stability on the pre-existing snow-ice surface. Localised loading will see storm slab develop on Northerly aspect also. Avalanches are likely in these areas. The avalanche hazard will be Considerable (Category 3). CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: On most skiable terrain snow cover is rebuilding from nothing. ICING: One well known climber is waiting 'like a coiled spring' for when improved conditions return. COMMENT: Any avalanche involvement now will include a very rocky ride. LOCHABER AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS TUE 28/1/03 Strong Westerly winds and snow showers have started to form fresh areas of unstable snow in sheltered locations. Greatest accumulations are at the tops of all Easterly aspects above 1000m. The avalanche hazard is Considerable (Category 3). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK WED 29/1/03 Snow showers will continue for the next 24 hours with a strong NW to N wind. Areas of unstable windslab will continue to form in sheltered locations. Greatest accumulations will be on E and SE facing scarp slopes above 1000m. Gullies and crag aprons of the above aspects will also be affected. The avalanche hazard will be Considerable (Category 3). CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Fresh snow above 600m. ICING: Becoming cold at all levels. COMMENT: Strong Northerly winds continuing. GLENCOE AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS TUE 28/1/03 Stormy conditions with frequent snow showers above 700 metres are forming weak cornices and areas of windslab in the higher sheltered gullies and on slopes with a North-East to South-East aspect. In areas where fresh windslab lies on older firmer snow and on the steepest slopes bonding is moderate, elsewhere stability is generally good with much of the new snow lying on rocks and heather. Avalanche hazard is Moderate (Category 2). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK WED 29/1/03 Cold conditions with snow showers at most levels will continue overnight and through Wednesday. Gale force North-West to North winds will form weakly bonded windslab in sheltered locations. Greatest deposits will form in sheltered summit gullies particularly around the tops and on East to South facing slopes. In areas exposed to the prevailing winds the surface of the snow will become scoured and icy. The avalanche hazard will be Considerable (Category 3). Fresh cornices will be prone to collapse. CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: New snow lying above 750 m. ICING: Start to re-form at highest levels COMMENT: Conditions will start to improve with colder outlook for forecast period. Freezing level 50 metres on Wednesday. SOUTHERN CAIRNGORMS AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS TUE 28/1/03 Very strong winds have ensured that only the most sheltered locations have accumulated any new snow. Exposed areas have retained only a superficial layer but drifted deposits over a metre deep are present on E to S aspects. This localised windslab is multi-layered and weakly bonded within itself and to the base layer. The avalanche hazard is Considerable (Category 3). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK WED 29/1/03 Snow showers on severe gale force winds will continue to build unstable windslab in very sheltered locations on E to S aspects. These localised deposits will be significant in depth, contain multiple layers and be weakly bonded. The avalanche hazard will be Considerable (Category 3) and avalanches are likely. CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Generally very thin cover. Deep drifts in very sheltered locations on E to S aspects. ICING: Very limited due to severe thaw but the turf should be firming up by tomorrow. COMMENT: Continuing windy with blizzard conditions at times. CREAG MEAGAIDH AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS TUE 28/1/03 There has been fairly significant snowfall driven on a gale force North-West wind. Unstable windslab has built in fairly deep accumulations in the most sheltered of gullies and hollows and along the rims of steep North through East to South-East aspects above 800 metres. More open slopes and ridges are less affected but are slowly filling in and building a base. The avalanche hazard is Considerable (Category 3). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK WED 29/1/03 Heavy snow showers will continue on a gale force North-West becoming Northerly wind. Unstable windslab will continue to build primarily in sheltered gullies on North-East through South-East to South aspects above 800 metres and to a lesser extent on South-West facing slopes, where snow cover is thinner. Weak subsurface layers will persist in the cold conditions, so fresh windslab will shear easily. Considerable (Category 3) avalanche hazard. Avalanches are likely on the above mentioned aspects. CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Fresh snow down to 400 metres. The hill is filling in nicely. ICING: There still isn't any! COMMENT: Nice to see a return to proper winter. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------