NORTHERN CAIRNGORMS AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS WED 22/12/04 Last night and today warm strong North-Westerly winds have stripped the majority of the snow from the mountains. Isolated areas of snow have remained on North to East aspects above 850 metres. The avalanche hazard is Low (Category 1). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK THU 23/12/04 With the freezing level well above summits and precipitation falling as rain in the Westerly winds the snowcover will continue to diminish. In isolated accumulations on North to Easterly slopes any cornice formations will be unstable. The avalanche hazard will be Low (Category 1). CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Black is Back ! Only thin snow strips remain. ICING: Any build up from the last few days may have disappeared by the next cold period. Keep your fingers crossed that some will stay! COMMENT: Cold air is to return late Thursday. LOCHABER AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS WED 22/12/04 A thaw at all levels accompanied by a period of high instability on Tuesday night have been followed by further rain at all levels during Wednesday. The snowpack is now gradually consolidating and thawing at all levels. Localised surface instabilities are still present on some steep scarp slopes. The avalanche hazard is Moderate (Category 2). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK THU 23/12/04 Rain at all levels will continue through out the forecast period. The snowpack will continue to gradually consolidate. Localised surface instabilities will still be present on remaining steep snow spatches. The avalanche hazard will be Moderate (Category 2). CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Wet patchy snow cover, mainly in high east facing corries. ICING: Freezing level remaining above the summits. COMMENT: Cooler conditions expected later on Thursday evening. GLENCOE AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS WED 22/12/04 Heavy thaw conditions at all levels has left a very moist snowpack above 850m. All lower slopes have been stripped of snow. Wet snow instabilities exist on most steep slopes and in gullies above 850m. Where these accumulations lie on steeper slopes stability is moderate but these areas are generally avoidable. The avalanche hazard is Moderate (Category 2). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK THU 23/12/04 Overnight gale force Westerly winds will bring rain at most levels with snow just reaching the summits only. This will maintain the moist snowpack. The snowpack stability will be suspect on steeper slopes and in gullies where any deeper accumulations of snow are present above 850m. The avalanche hazard will be Moderate (Category 2). CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Snow cover above 850m. ICING: Any remaining ice below 1100m is thawing. COMMENT: A wet soggy snowpack is present in only the higher gullies with some more acceptable snow just on the summit tops. Maybe some improvements later on Thursday night. SOUTHERN CAIRNGORMS AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS WED 22/12/04 Overnight thaw conditions have removed most of the snow. Pockets of deeper snow still exist in sheltered locations on N to E aspects above 900 metres. Surface layers are now moist but generally well bonded. The avalanche hazard is Low (Category 1). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK THU 23/12/04 Moderate rainfall on strong W winds will not alter the current situation. Surface layers will remain moist but generally well bonded. Greatest amounts of snow will be found in high N to E facing corries. The avalanche hazard will be Low (Category 1). CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Limited cover mainly on N to E facing corries above 900 metres. ICING: Only remnants left. COMMENT: Lochnagar buttresses are black with most gullies thin or incomplete. Approach slopes are bare. CREAG MEAGAIDH AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS WED 22/12/04 Mild, wet conditions have moistened the snowpack at all levels. Several recently formed cornices have collapsed and their remains litter the lower slopes of some North to South-East aspects. The snowpack is now much depleted and confined to patches above 800 metres. Stability remains marginal where larger accumulations lie on steep North to South-East facing slopes and gullies. The avalanche hazard is Considerable (Category 3). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK THU 23/12/04 Heavy rain will continue to lubricate and add weight to what remains of the snowpack on steep North to South-East facing aspects above 850 metres. Any remaining cornices will be prone to collapse in the sustained wet and mild conditions. The avalanche hazard will remain Considerable (Category 3) and there will be some potential for full depth avalanches. CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Now poor. Effective snow line now 800 metres. ICING: Heavy thaw conditions prevail. COMMENT: Poor mountain conditions forecast. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------