NORTHERN CAIRNGORMS AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS SAT 17/1/04 Another twenty centimetres of new snow fell in parts of the plateau, lesser amounts at lower elevation. Winds have been very light so accumulations have been on all aspects. Cornice development and avalanche debris was noted on North aspects. The avalanche hazard is Considerable (Category 3). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK SUN 18/1/04 There will be snow and rain during a warming cycle with freezing level rising to 1000 metres. There will be slab instability on East and North aspects and loose snow instability on all aspects During the onset of the warming and for a short period after, the snowpack will be very weak. Avalanches will occur on all aspects and elevations above 900 metres. The avalanche hazard will be High (Category 4). CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Excellent skiing in areas for on and off piste skiing, tricky flat light at times. ICING: Growing under the new snow. COMMENT: Timing of the warming cycle will determine period of highest avalanche hazard in the next 24 hours. LOCHABER AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS SAT 17/1/04 Cold settled conditions have helped to further stabilise the existing snowpack. Large areas of unstable snow are still present on many aspects. Greatest accumulations are on steep North West through to East to South East aspects. The avalanche hazard is Considerable (Category 3). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK SUN 18/1/04 The current cold conditions will be replaced by a gradual warming trend during Sunday. Snow and strong West winds will form areas of unstable windslab on sheltered aspects. Greatest accumulations will be on North West through to East to South East aspects above 1000m, particularly steep slopes and crag aprons. As the snow turns to rain, avalanches are likely. The avalanche hazard will be Considerable (Category 3). Cornices will be prone to collapse. CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Good general cover above 550m ICING: Still lean and will become thinner on Sunday. COMMENT: Looks like hill conditions could become a bit unpleasant as Sunday progresses. GLENCOE AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS SAT 17/1/04 Calm and cold conditions gave sunshine for most of the day. Deep accumulations of soft unconsolidated snow are to be found on slopes and gullies of many aspects. Deposits of layered windslab exist in all sheltered gullies and on slopes with a North-West through North to South-Easterly aspect mainly above 870 metres. Where this windslab lies on steeper slopes stability is poor. The avalanche hazard is Considerable (Category 3). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK SUN 18/1/04 Cold, dry and settled conditions will persist overnight. However, snow showers and strong Westerly winds will affect the area during Saturday morning depositing fresh accumulations of windslab in all sheltered gullies and on slopes with a North-East to South-East aspect mainly above 850 metres. Deposits of layered windslab will also still exist in sheltered gullies and on slopes with a North-West to North aspect mainly above 870 metres. The avalanche hazard will be Considerable (Category 3). CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Snow above 400 metres with deep drifting on many aspects above 850 metres. ICING: Ice on rocks above 300 metres. COMMENT: Many of the higher ridges and buttresses plastered with soft recent snow. Windslab and cornices will require great caution. Becoming milder during Sunday. SOUTHERN CAIRNGORMS AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS SAT 17/1/04 Snow showers overnight have produced unstable windslab in sheltered locations on SW aspects. These new deposits are restricted in distribution but are locally significant in depth and are moderately to weakly bonded. Less recent deposits on N through E to SE aspects above 800 metres are moderately bonded on steeper slopes. The avalanche hazard is Considerable (Category 3). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK SUN 18/1/04 It will be dry overnight but increasing winds will start to re-distribute existing deposits. Snow arriving during Sunday morning will rapidly accumulate on NE to SE aspects above 800 metres. With the freezing level due to rise stability of these weakly bonded deposits will be poor especially in steep and sheltered locations where avalanches will occur. The avalanche hazard will be High (Category 4). New cornices will be highly unstable. CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: A general thin cover from 500 metres but depth varies greatly. ICING: Still remaining quite dry on the crags with crusty snow cover on the rocks. COMMENT: Good cover on Beinn a'Bhuird for ski touring. CREAG MEAGAIDH AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS SAT 17/1/04 Dry and sunny with cold summit temperatures and light Northerly winds. Slow consolidation of deep deposits of moderately bonded windslab on North through East to South- East aspects above 700 metres has continued. Isolated and shallow areas of weakly bonded windslab have begun to form on Southerly aspects above 850 metres but at present pose no hazard. The avalanche hazard is Moderate (Category 2). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK SUN 18/1/04 Westerly winds will increase to gale force with a period of heavy snow showers. Fresh unstable deposits of windslab will quickly form and add to deep deposits on North through East to South aspects above 700 metres. Temperatures will rise to the summits through the day and as snow turns to rain wet snow instabilities will develop and avalanches are likely. The avalanche hazard will be Considerable (Category 3). Large cornices will remain suspect and prone to collapse. CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Good cover above 650 metres. Ski touring fantastic after a little walk! ICING: Remaining generally poor and buried. COMMENT: Large cornices above North through East to South aspects will be prone to collapse in milder temperatures. Debris run outs will be long! -------------------------------------------------------------------------------