NORTHERN CAIRNGORMS AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS TUE 30/12/03 After the cold clear night there is an extensive layer of surface hoar on all aspects. Snowpack stability has generally improved with the continued cold and less windy conditions. The avalanche hazard is Moderate (Category 2). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK WED 31/12/03 Heavy snow is forecast with strong Southerly winds; this may arrive late in the day. Northerly aspects will have poor stability where the new snow accumulates on surface hoar or areas that have the older, previously reported snow-ice. Avalanches are likely on the named aspects above 950 metres. The avalanche hazard will be Considerable (Category 3). CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Skiable on the plateau. ICING: 'Escalator' appears complete. COMMENT: More complete winter conditions arriving along with higher degree of avalanche hazard for the last day of the year. LOCHABER AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS TUE 30/12/03 The cold settled weather is gradually consolidating the snowpack. Areas of moderately well bonded snow are present on many aspects. Main accumulations are on scarp slopes and crag aprons above 1000m with a North through East to South aspect. The avalanche hazard is Moderate (Category 2). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK WED 31/12/03 Heavy snow and strong Southerly winds are expected during Wednesday afternoon and evening. As the snow arrives, areas of unstable windslab will develop in sheltered locations. Greatest accumulations will be on North-West through North to East aspects, where avalanches are likely. During the day, the avalanche hazard will increase to Considerable (Category 3). CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Fresh snow above 400m. ICING: Limited ice build up on buttresses. COMMENT: Avalanche hazard increasing as the new snow arrives later in the afternoon. GLENCOE AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS TUE 30/12/03 Recent snow is lying above 300 metres. Above 900 metres areas of windslab exists on slopes mainly with a North-East to South-East aspect and also in sheltered locations such as summit gullies. Where deeper accumulations of windslab exist bonding is moderate to weak, particularly on steeper slopes. The avalanche hazard is Moderate (Category 2). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK WED 31/12/03 Cold conditions will continue with fresh South-Easterly winds for most of Wednesday. Heavy snow showers are expected to affect the area with strong Southerly winds during the afternoon. Windslab will continue to form in all sheltered locations. Greatest accumulations of windslab will be in sheltered summit gullies, hollows and around the tops of all slopes sheltered from the prevailing wind mainly above 900 metres lowering to 700m in the afternoon. Stability in areas where deeper windslab exists on steeper slopes will be poor. The avalanche hazard will be Considerable (Category 3). CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Snow above 300 metres. ICING: Ice on rocks and paths at most levels. COMMENT: Ridges and buttresses have a light cover of snow most gullies are still quite thin. SOUTHERN CAIRNGORMS AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS TUE 30/12/03 Some consolidation of recent deposits has taken place but localised patches remain moderately to weakly bonded. These are mainly to be found in shaded steeper locations on E to S aspects. Elsewhere the snow cover remains stable. The avalanche hazard is Considerable (Category 3). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK WED 31/12/03 With the arrival of blizzard conditions unstable deposits will rapidly build in sheltered locations on mainly NW through to E aspects from valley level. Above 600 metres where these new deposits acquire depth over existing snow they will be weakly bonded and avalanches will occur. The avalanche hazard will be High (Category 4). CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Cover likely to improve with the arrival of new snow on Southerly winds. ICING: Buttresses remain dry and under powder. COMMENT: Mountain conditions will become difficult with the arrival of blizzards. CREAG MEAGAIDH AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS TUE 30/12/03 Cold and clear with light variable winds have led to no significant change in present conditions. Deepest accumulations of windslab exist on North-East through East to South aspects above 800 metres. Field tests found sub-surface instabilities at 20cm depth, but as yet these do not pose a significant hazard. The avalanche hazard is Considerable (Category 3). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK WED 31/12/03 Heavy snow is forecast with South-East winds increasing to severe-gale force and becoming Southerly. Significant re- distribution of fresh and existing snow deposits will take place. Deepest deposits of fresh windslab will form on North-West through North to East aspects above 800 metres. Avalanches are likely on scarp slopes below cornices, tops of gullies and sheltered hollows of the above aspects. The avalanche hazard will be Considerable (Category 3). CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Snow at all levels, skis recommended for travel off the beaten track! ICING: Still forming but generally very poor. COMMENT: Very poor mountain conditions forecast for the afternoon. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------