NORTHERN CAIRNGORMS AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS WED 12/1/05 The very strong South-Westerly winds with snow showers have left new accumulations of windslab on sheltered North-East to East aspects above 700 metres. Due to the high winds the slab is localised but where tested on a North-East aspect at 750 metres weakly bonded layers were present. The avalanche hazard is Considerable (Category 3). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK THU 13/1/05 The snow showers will continue on strong but decreasing North-West winds. Avalanches are likely due to newly- formed windslab on steep sheltered South-Easterly aspects above 900 metres. North- West through to East aspects will also be affected especially at the tops of gullies and scarp slopes. The avalanche hazard will be Considerable (Category 3). CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Mainly airborne but new accumulations on NE aspects. ICING: Still lean but forming again. COMMENT: Less windy tomorrow. LOCHABER AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS WED 12/1/05 Only small amounts of new snow were deposited on Tuesday night and in the lower temperatures, the snowpack has remained relatively stable. The avalanche hazard is Low (Category 1). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK THU 13/1/05 Heavier snow showers are expected overnight and during Thursday with strong North-West winds. This will deposit windslab in sheltered areas with greatest accumulations on East and South-East aspects. The avalanche hazard will be Considerable (Category 3). CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Most accumulations in East-facing corries, building up elsewhere on Thursday as winds decrease. ICING: Freezing level lowering to 300m on Thursday. COMMENT: A return to winter conditions. GLENCOE AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS WED 12/1/05 Very stormy conditions overnight and this morning have scoured many exposed slopes of snow forming unstable pockets of windslab in the most sheltered areas. Greatest hazard exists in sheltered gullies and on North through to South-Easterly aspects mainly above 900 metres. Where deeper accumulations of windslab lie on older snow deposits bonding is moderate to weak. Avalanche hazard is Moderate (Category 2) AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK THU 13/1/05 New snow and North-Westerly winds will affect the area overnight and for much of the morning. Unstable windslab will form on North-East to South-Easterly aspects and also in sheltered areas such as summit gullies. Avalanches are likely particularly where old snow underlies any new deposits. Avalanche hazard Considerable (Category 3). CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: New snow above 500 metres. ICING: Freezing level falling to 400 metres. COMMENT: A more wintry outlook. Windslab will require caution. SOUTHERN CAIRNGORMS AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS WED 12/1/05 Snow showers on very strong winds have rapidly formed unstable windslab in sheltered locations on NE to SE aspects above 700 metres. Many slopes are wind scoured and hold very little snow, but the localised new deposits that are present are deep and poorly bonded. The avalanche hazard is Considerable (Category 3). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK THU 13/1/05 Snow showers on strong winds will continue to form unstable deposits. Moderately to weakly bonded windslab will be found on NE through SE to S aspects. Avalanches are likely in steeper, sheltered locations such as scarp slopes and gullies. The avalanche hazard will be Considerable (Category 3). Newly formed cornices will be unstable. CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Mostly wind scoured with deeper drifts on NE to SE aspects. ICING: Improving but much remains partially frozen. COMMENT: Very careful route choice required. CREAG MEAGAIDH AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS WED 12/1/05 Cooler temperatures have helped to consolidate a very wet and saturated snowpack. Some new accumulations have developed as windslab and field tests showed moderate, near surface shears at 800m on a steep Easterly slope. The avalanche hazard is Considerable (Category 3). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK THU 13/1/05 Snow showers overnight and on Thursday accompanied by strong North-Westerly winds. With cooler temperatures and easing winds on Thursday the potential for rapid windslab development is high. This is expected primarily on East to South facing sheltered lee slopes and gully tops above 800m, where avalanches are likely. The avalanche hazard will be Considerable (Category 3) CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Storm conditions with snow at all levels. ICING: Should improve with the colder conditions. COMMENT: Deep drifts at higher elevations best avoided on any steep aspect. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- NORTHERN CAIRNGORMS AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS THU 13/1/05 The North-West winds have decreased to leave a cold dry day. Any overnight snow has formed new windslab mainly on South-East aspects. Where tested on this aspect at 1090 metres instabilities were present between the hard and soft layers. The avalanche hazard is Considerable (Category 3). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK FRI 14/1/05 It will remain dry overnight. During the day there will be snow as the wind backs from the North- West to the South followed by rain later in the day. Avalanches are likely due to new slab forming followed by a rise in temperature. The areas affected with be on all North through East to South-East aspects above 950 metres. The avalanche hazard will be Considerable (Category 3). CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: A thin covering at all levels with deeper accumulations above 900 metres. ICING: Some rime on buttresses COMMENT: Less extreme conditions than of late. LOCHABER AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS THU 13/1/05 Snow showers and Westerly winds have formed localised areas of unstable snow 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 FRI 14/1/05 Cool and dry conditions will be replaced by rain at all levels on Friday. Wet snow instabilities will develop where the existing windslab is present. Avalanches are likely on steep North-East, East and South-East facing slopes and gullies above 1000m. The avalanche hazard will be Considerable (Category 3). CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Light dusting of fresh snow above 450m. ICING: Cold today but freezing level rising above the summits again on Friday. COMMENT: Looks like it will be warm again for the next few days. GLENCOE AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS THU 13/1/05 New snow overnight is lying above 500 metres. In general the cover is fairly thin but it is giving a more wintry feel to the glen. Colder conditions have re-frozen the older snowpack forming an icy surface where exposed. Pockets of windslab exist in the most sheltered areas with greatest accumulations in sheltered gullies and on North-East to South-Easterly aspects mainly above 900 metres. Where deeper accumulations of windslab lie on older snow deposits bonding is moderate to weak. Avalanche hazard is Moderate (Category 2). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK FRI 14/1/05 New snow on Friday will turn to sleet or rain later in day as milder conditions arrive. Windslab will initially form on Northerly and Easterly aspects and in sheltered areas such as summit gullies. Stability of windslab will be further reduced as the snowpack becomes wet with rain and rising temperatures. Avalanches are likely particularly where deeper windslab forms. Avalanche hazard Considerable (Category 3). CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: New snow above 500 metres. ICING: Remaining cold overnight, freezing level rising 800 metres to 1700 metres during the course of Friday. COMMENT: Outlook poor later on Friday with sleet and rain at all levels. SOUTHERN CAIRNGORMS AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS THU 13/1/05 More settled weather conditions have allowed the recent snow to consolidate slightly. Most areas are either wind scoured or hold patches of old snow-ice. In sheltered locations on NE to SE aspects above 600 metres moderately to weakly bonded deposits are present. Pronounced terrain features hold deep accumulations. The avalanche hazard is Considerable (Category 3). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK FRI 14/1/05 After a dry night there will be a period of snow before the freezing level rises to above the summits in the afternoon. Initially new deposits will form on NW to NE aspects. Where they acquire depth over snow-ice they will be unstable. Moderately to weakly bonded deposits will also be present in sheltered locations on NE to SE aspects. Avalanches are likely where any recent deposits are present, as thaw conditions become established. The avalanche hazard will be Considerable (Category 3). CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Mostly wind scoured with deeper drifts on NE to SE aspects. Old snow on N aspects. ICING: Much improved but some ice and turf still remain partially frozen. COMMENT: Evening weather forecasts will provide up to date timings for the onset of thaw conditions. CREAG MEAGAIDH AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS THU 13/1/05 The old snowpack is re-frozen and stable. A general cover of new snow and lighter winds have produced pockets of windslab on mostly East to South-East aspects. Field tests produced easy near surface shears at 800m on a steep Easterly slope. The avalanche hazard is Considerable (Category 3). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK FRI 14/1/05 Snow showers on Friday on North-West winds will result in further accumulation of windslab on North-East to South-East facing sheltered lee slopes and gully tops, above 800m. The snow will turn to rain in milder temperatures later on Friday, this will result in a period of high instability of these most recent deposits, and avalanches are likely in the above noted areas. The avalanche hazard will be Considerable (Category 3) CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Light general cover of snow at all levels. ICING: Winter lines developing but quantity and quality variable and suspect - becoming more suspect with a thaw forecast. COMMENT: Winter is here. No it's not. Yes it is? -------------------------------------------------------------------------------