SOUTHERN CAIRNGORMS AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS FRI 26/12/03 There has been a very light general covering of wet snow from 900 metres. Slightly deeper amounts are to be found on NW to NE aspects. New deposits are relatively well bonded and have not achieved sufficient depth to alter the avalanche hazard which remains Low (Category 1). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK SAT 27/12/03 Snow showers will clear during the evening to give a mainly dry day. New deposits will be found on N to E aspects from valley level. Above 900 metres where new accumulations achieve sufficient depth over older snow ice deposits will be moderately bonded. The avalanche hazard will be Moderate (Category 2). CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Patchy with a very light general cover from 900 metres. ICING: None observed but freezing level is due to lower to 400 metres on Saturday. COMMENT: Only a trace of snow expected on Saturday. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- NORTHERN CAIRNGORMS AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS FRI 26/12/03 Trace amounts of snow have fallen above 1000 metres with a few patches of up to 2 centimetres on the old snow-ice surface. Snow cover on the plateau and in climbing terrain is very limited. The avalanche hazard is Low (Category 1). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK SAT 27/12/03 Snow showers and Westerly winds are forecast with temperatures down to -4 degrees at 1245 metres. The new snow amounts will not contribute to any avalanche hazard which will remain Low (Category 1). CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Patches on the plateau and around the rim of some ridge lines. ICING: Some development possible with the forecast temperatures. COMMENT: It's early in the winter yet. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- LOCHABER AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS FRI 26/12/03 A brief thaw-freeze cycle overnight and during Friday has helped consolidate any areas of fresh snow. Above 1100m isolated areas of fresh windslab are present. Accumulations are generally restricted to the tops of gullies and steep slopes with N, NE and E aspects. The avalanche hazard is Moderate (Category 2). Thin fragile cornices present. AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK SAT 27/12/03 Snow showers with strong W winds overnight and during Saturday will continue to form fresh areas of unstable snow. Accumulations will be isolated and generally restricted to the tops of gullies and steep slopes with N to E to SE aspects above 1100m. The avalanche hazard will be Considerable (Category 3). Elsewhere the snowpack will be well frozen and generally stable. CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Snow cover above 800m, still thin. ICING: Freezing level lowering to 400m by Saturday. COMMENT: Tops of the high gullies on the Ben and Aonach Mor starting to fill, notably different from the start of the routes. Colder for Saturday. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- GLENCOE AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS FRI 26/12/03 A light cover of new snow is lying above 850 metres. In most locations this cover is too thin to present any hazard. Variable winds have formed pockets of soft windslab around the tops of corries and in sheltered gullies. This has caused some light sluffing from around 1000 metres. Soft debris noted below Forked Gully. The avalanche hazard is Moderate (Category 2) where deeper deposits of new snow exist. AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK SAT 27/12/03 Snow showers are forecast for the period with the possibility of some heavier ones overnight. The new snow will be accompanied with Westerly winds strengthening on Saturday to around 35 M.P.H. on the tops. This will form areas of unstable windslab in sheltered areas such as gullies and on slopes with a North to South-Easterly aspect mainly above 800 metres. Stability in areas where deeper windslab forms will be poor. The avalanche hazard will be Considerable (Category 3) CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Light cover of new snow above 850 metres. ICING: No ice at present but will start to re-form. COMMENT: Wind transportation of snow will form unstable windslab and cornices mainly above 800 metres. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- CREAG MEAGAIDH AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS FRI 26/12/03 Light, generally South to South-West winds and a few light showers have produced a thin dusting of fresh snow above 800m. Colder conditions have created a thin crust on the few old snow patches that remain after the recent thaw. The avalanche hazard is Low (Category1). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK SAT 27/12/03 Very little change is expected in avalanche conditions over the forecast period. Some very light snow showers on West then South-West winds will again bring a dusting of new snow. Snow stability will be good in nearly all locations. Any new windslab development is expected to be very localised and confined to steep North-East to East-facing aspects above 900m. The avalanche hazard will rise to Moderate (Category 2) where slab build up is greatest in these areas. CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: A new thin dusting but larger patches are few and far between and confined to the most sheltered areas above 900m. ICING: Some limited improvement expected with the return of colder conditions. COMMENT: Coire Ardair very quiet on Boxing Day. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------