NORTHERN CAIRNGORMS AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS SAT 15/1/05 It has been mild with very strong Southerly winds and rain at all levels. On a steep North-East aspect at 1100m several weaker slush layers were present but elsewhere due to thaw conditions the snowpack is generally well bonded. The avalanche hazard is Moderate (Category 2). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK SUN 16/1/05 Overnight light rain will turn to snow showers for a short time during the morning on South-West winds. The snowpack will be generally well bonded with isolated areas of new slab developing on sheltered North to East aspects above 900 metres. A return of more snow is expected later in the afternoon. The avalanche hazard will be Moderate (Category 2). CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Deeper accumulations exist mainly on NE to SE aspects, elsewhere very patchy. ICING: It's gone again! COMMENT: Lots of fancy staggering and crawling manovers seen today due to high winds. yLOCHABER AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS SAT 15/1/05 Rain at all levels is continuing to consolidate the existing snowpack. Snowpack stability is generally good, although localised instabilities are still present on steep slopes above 1100m. The avalanche hazard is Moderate (Category 2). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK SUN 16/1/05 Cooler temperatures are expected during Sunday. Any early snow showers will quickly die out leaving a dry day. The existing snowpack will re-freeze and become generally stable. No significant new snow accumulations are expected. The avalanche hazard will be Low (Category 1). Fresh snow is expected late on Sunday afternoon. CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Main accumulations on East aspects above 1000m. ICING: Currently +3øc on the summit. COMMENT: Looking colder again on Monday. GLENCOE AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS SAT 15/1/05 Mild conditions with heavy rain at all levels have reduced the snowcover. The snowpack is soft, wet and generally stable on all but the steepest slopes where wet snow instabilities remain. The avalanche hazard is Moderate (Category 2). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK SUN 16/1/05 Rain will continue overnight possibly turning to snow on the higher slopes by Sunday morning. Strong South-Westerly winds will form areas of windslab in sheltered gullies and on slopes with a North to East aspect above 900 metres. Stability of deeper windslab accumulations will be poor on steeper slopes and where old snow underlies. The avalanche hazard will be Considerable (Category 3) where windslab forms any significant depth. CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Main accumulations in higher North and East facing corries and gullies. ICING: Becoming cooler with freezing levels around 1000 metres on Sunday. COMMENT: Slightly more wintry outlook, quite windy. SOUTHERN CAIRNGORMS AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS SAT 15/1/05 Thaw conditions have significantly reduced the snow cover. Surface layers are now soft and wet. In steeper, sheltered locations on North-East to South-East aspects above 800 metres deeper accumulations still exist. These deposits hold drier, moderately bonded snow. The avalanche hazard is Moderate (Category 2). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK SUN 16/1/05 Moderately bonded snow will persist in the deeper accumulations that exist in steeper, sheltered locations on North-East to South-East aspects. The freezing level will lower to 1000 metres gradually firming up surface layers above this height. Snow showers later in the day will start to form fresh deposits on North to East aspects above 900 metres. The avalanche hazard will be Moderate (Category 2). CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Patchy wet snow. Largest amounts are to be found on N through E to SE aspects. ICING: Subject to thaw conditions. Cooling on Sunday. COMMENT: Expect firm conditions underfoot above 1000 metres. CREAG MEAGAIDH AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS SAT 15/1/05 Thaw conditions and some rain produced a period of poor stability in the early hours of Saturday. Debris from a small wet slab avalanche was noted at 790 metres on a steep East-South- East aspect of Sron a Ghoire. Steady thaw conditions have stripped back the most recent fresh snow and what remains of it is now showing some early consolidation. The avalanche hazard is Moderate (Category 2). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK SUN 16/1/05 The snowpack will continue to thaw until the onset of cooler, somewhat more wintry weather early on Sunday. Colder conditions will help stabilise the snowpack at most elevations but accumulations of new windslab will form on North to East facing gully tops and steep scarp slopes above 950 metres. The avalanche hazard will be Moderate (Category 2) wherever new slab build-up is deepest. CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Wet snow at all levels with effective snow line 700m (and holding) on Saturday. ICING: Likely to remain poor. Most gully lines are `lean'. COMMENT: Outlook is a little more wintry. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- NORTHERN CAIRNGORMS AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS SAT 15/1/05 It has been mild with very strong Southerly winds and rain at all levels. On a steep North-East aspect at 1100m several weaker slush layers were present but elsewhere due to thaw conditions the snowpack is generally well bonded. The avalanche hazard is Moderate (Category 2). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK SUN 16/1/05 Overnight light rain will turn to snow showers for a short time during the morning on South-West winds. The snowpack will be generally well bonded with isolated areas of new slab developing on sheltered North to East aspects above 900 metres. A return of more snow is expected later in the afternoon. The avalanche hazard will be Moderate (Category 2). CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Deeper accumulations exist mainly on NE to SE aspects, elsewhere very patchy. ICING: It's gone again! COMMENT: Lots of fancy staggering and crawling manovers seen today due to high winds. LOCHABER AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS SAT 15/1/05 Rain at all levels is continuing to consolidate the existing snowpack. Snowpack stability is generally good, although localised instabilities are still present on steep slopes above 1100m. The avalanche hazard is Moderate (Category 2). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK SUN 16/1/05 Cooler temperatures are expected during Sunday. Any early snow showers will quickly die out leaving a dry day. The existing snowpack will re-freeze and become generally stable. No significant new snow accumulations are expected. The avalanche hazard will be Low (Category 1). Fresh snow is expected late on Sunday afternoon. CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Main accumulations on East aspects above 1000m. ICING: Currently +3øc on the summit. COMMENT: Looking colder again on Monday. GLENCOE AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS SAT 15/1/05 Mild conditions with heavy rain at all levels have reduced the snowcover. The snowpack is soft, wet and generally stable on all but the steepest slopes where wet snow instabilities remain. The avalanche hazard is Moderate (Category 2). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK SUN 16/1/05 Rain will continue overnight possibly turning to snow on the higher slopes by Sunday morning. Strong South-Westerly winds will form areas of windslab in sheltered gullies and on slopes with a North to East aspect above 900 metres. Stability of deeper windslab accumulations will be poor on steeper slopes and where old snow underlies. The avalanche hazard will be Considerable (Category 3) where windslab forms any significant depth. CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Main accumulations in higher North and East facing corries and gullies. ICING: Becoming cooler with freezing levels around 1000 metres on Sunday. COMMENT: Slightly more wintry outlook, quite windy. SOUTHERN CAIRNGORMS AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS SAT 15/1/05 Thaw conditions have significantly reduced the snow cover. Surface layers are now soft and wet. In steeper, sheltered locations on North-East to South-East aspects above 800 metres deeper accumulations still exist. These deposits hold drier, moderately bonded snow. The avalanche hazard is Moderate (Category 2). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK SUN 16/1/05 Moderately bonded snow will persist in the deeper accumulations that exist in steeper, sheltered locations on North-East to South-East aspects. The freezing level will lower to 1000 metres gradually firming up surface layers above this height. Snow showers later in the day will start to form fresh deposits on North to East aspects above 900 metres. The avalanche hazard will be Moderate (Category 2). CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Patchy wet snow. Largest amounts are to be found on N through E to SE aspects. ICING: Subject to thaw conditions. Cooling on Sunday. COMMENT: Expect firm conditions underfoot above 1000 metres. CREAG MEAGAIDH AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS SAT 15/1/05 Thaw conditions and some rain produced a period of poor stability in the early hours of Saturday. Debris from a small wet slab avalanche was noted at 790 metres on a steep East-South- East aspect of Sron a Ghoire. Steady thaw conditions have stripped back the most recent fresh snow and what remains of it is now showing some early consolidation. The avalanche hazard is Moderate (Category 2). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK SUN 16/1/05 The snowpack will continue to thaw until the onset of cooler, somewhat more wintry weather early on Sunday. Colder conditions will help stabilise the snowpack at most elevations but accumulations of new windslab will form on North to East facing gully tops and steep scarp slopes above 950 metres. The avalanche hazard will be Moderate (Category 2) wherever new slab build-up is deepest. CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Wet snow at all levels with effective snow line 700m (and holding) on Saturday. ICING: Likely to remain poor. Most gully lines are `lean'. COMMENT: Outlook is a little more wintry. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------