NORTHERN CAIRNGORMS AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS TUE 28/12/04 Strong Westerly winds with heavy snow showers have deposited snow at all levels. Above 1000 metres snow is being transported into sheltered locations on North-East through East to South-West aspects. New accumulations are forming as windslab and contain weak layers which shear easily when tested. The avalanche hazard is Considerable (Category 3). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK WED 29/12/04 Overnight snow showers will turn to rain from the South-West with very strong winds. The freezing level will be well above the summits. A rapid thaw will affect the snowpack. Avalanches are likely in areas where snow has accumulated on North-East through East to South-West aspects above 1000 metres. The avalanche hazard will be Considerable (Category 3). CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Generally a thin cover with deep accumulations in sheltered places. ICING: Cold temperatures have produced some good climbing. COMMENT: Strong drifting of snow into the tops of gullies and topouts has produced unstable windslab. LOCHABER AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS TUE 28/12/04 Strong WSW winds and snow showers are building fresh areas of unstable windslab in sheltered locations. Greatest accumulations are at the tops of North-East, East and South-East facing slopes and gullies above 1000m. The avalanche hazard is Considerable (Category 3). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK WED 29/12/04 Snow showers will continue overnight before being replaced by rain at all level on Wednesday. The snowpack will become moist and unstable. Wet snow avalanches will occur mainly on steep North-East, East and South-East facing slopes and gullies above 1000m. The avalanche hazard will be High (Category 4). CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Greatest snow accumulations in East facing corries above 800m. ICING: Freezing level expected to rise to 2800m on Wednesday. COMMENT: Wet and windy on Wednesday. GLENCOE AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS TUE 28/12/04 The old snowpack has consolidated with the colder conditions: some light snow showers with Westerly winds have formed new accumulations of windslab above 800m on N through to SE facing slopes and in all sheltered gullies mainly in Northerly corries . The greatest hazard is on steep slopes around the tops of gullies where windslab has formed. The avalanche hazard is Considerable (Category 3). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK WED 29/12/04 Light snow showers wwill occur with strong NW winds during the early part of Tuesday night. Milder conditions will soon affect the area for Wednesday with rain at all levels and gale force SW winds. The freezing level will rise to well above the summits. This will lead to very wet snow instabilities on all slopes and at all levels. Avalanches are likely especially where deep snow accumulations exist on steep slopes. The greatest hazard will be above 750m on N through to SE facing slopes and gullies The avalanche hazard will be Considerable (Category 3). CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Snow cover above 350m. ICING: Any ice will start to thaw by Wed morning. COMMENT: Forecast is for wet and very windy SWs. A lot of snow will disappear in the thaw conditions! SOUTHERN CAIRNGORMS AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS TUE 28/12/04 New accumulations have developed on mainly E aspects. In sheltered locations above 900 metres they overlie a re- frozen snow-ice base. Some localised deposits have achieved reasonable depth and in these areas stability is poor. Elsewhere cover is very thin. The avalanche hazard is Considerable (Category 3) AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK WED 29/12/04 The cool conditions will give way to rapid thaw. Rain and very strong winds will remove the mostly superficial cover at all levels. Deeper areas of snow will be found in mainly N to E facing corries above 900 metres. Here stability will be poor and avalanches are likely, particularly on steep ground and scarp slopes. The avalanche hazard will be Considerable ( Category 3). CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Thin cover with deeper patchy areas above 900 metres. ICING: Any improvements are unlikely to last. COMMENT: It will not be a pleasant day on the hills! CREAG MEAGAIDH AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS TUE 28/12/04 Prolonged snow showers overnight and during Tuesday have resulted in windslab build up on North-East to South- East aspects above 700 metres. Field tests revealed easy surface shears on steep Easterly aspects. The avalanche hazard is Considerable (Category 3). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK WED 29/12/04 Further snow showers overnight followed by thaw conditions and heavy rain will result in poor snow stability. Avalanches will occur on North-East to South-East aspects, particularly during the transition from snow to rain. The avalanche hazard will be High (Category 4). CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: General cover at all levels, with deep drifting in sheltered locations. ICING: Poor with a heavy thaw forecast. COMMENT: Much of the low-lying deposits expected to disappear on Wednesday. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------