NORTHERN CAIRNGORMS AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS MON 17/1/05 Snow showers from the South-West with strong winds are depositing windslab snow in isolated lee areas on North- Easterly aspects above 900 metres. Weaknesses remain in the old snowpack and are present in the new windslab accumulations. The avalanche hazard is Considerable (Category 3). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK TUE 18/1/05 Heavy snow showers with very strong winds from the West and North-West are expected overnight. Snow will fall at all levels initially then rise to 200 metres by the afternoon. Accumulations af weakly bonded windslab snow will develop above 600 metres on North-Easterly to South-Easterly aspects where avalanches are likely. The avalanche hazard will be Considerable (Category 3). CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: localised in lee areas, old snow very hard. ICING: Icy areas on the plateau. COMMENT: Its beginning to look like winter, again! LOCHABER AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS MON 17/1/05 Colder temperatures have started to re-freeze the old snowpack. As the day has progressed, snow showers have started to build fresh areas of windslab in sheltered locations. Significant accumulations are generally restricted to the tops of North, North-East and East facing slopes and gullies. Where this fresh snow exists in significant quantities, the avalanche hazard is Considerable (Category 3). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK TUE 18/1/05 Heavy snow showers and strong W to NW winds will affect the area. Large areas of unstable windslab will form in sheltered locations. Greatest accumulations will be on sheltered scarp slopes and crag aprons with a North-East, East and South-East aspect above 900m. Avalanches are likely in these locations. The avalanche hazard will be Considerable (Category 3). CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Fresh snow accumulations increasing during the day. ICING: Freezing level lowering to around 600m. COMMENT: Strong winds continuing. GLENCOE AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS MON 17/1/05 Windy conditions today have scoured exposed slopes of much of the new snow forming unstable deposits of windslab in sheltered locations. Greatest accumulations of windslab are in sheltered gullies and on slopes with a North through to South-Easterly aspect. The avalanche hazard is Considerable (Category 3). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK TUE 18/1/05 Heavy snow showers will continue overnight and through Tuesday. Severe gales from the West or North-West will continue to scour windward slopes forming deep drifts and accumulations of windslab in all sheltered gullies and on North- East through to Southerly slopes mainly above 800 metres, where avalanches are likely. Bonding will be poor where deep accumulations of windslab form on steep slopes or where older snow ice underlies. The avalanche hazard will be Considerable (Category 3). CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: New snow lying above 400 metres. ICING: Freezing level 300 metres overnight, 600 on Tuesday. COMMENT: Areas of windslab and cornices will require great caution. Windy outlook again. SOUTHERN CAIRNGORMS AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS MON 17/1/05 With a return to colder conditions, surface layers of the remaining patchy snow have started to re-freeze. Snow showers are starting to accumulate fresh deposits on N to E aspects. At present accumulations have yet to achieve significant depth but they are falling on a snow-ice base. The avalanche hazard is Low (Category 1). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK TUE 18/1/05 Snow showers on strong winds will form moderately to weakly bonded deposits on NE to SE aspects. Heavy drifting will rapidly accumulate unstable windslab in very sheltered locations. The avalanche hazard will be Considerable (Category 3) and avalanches are likely. CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: New snow is now falling to valley level. ICING: None observed but old snow is re-freezing. COMMENT: Tuesday is unlikely to be a pleasant day on the hill. CREAG MEAGAIDH AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS MON 17/1/05 Snow showers on a strong Westerly wind have begun to form fresh windslab on North through East to South-East aspects above 750 metres. Sheltered gullies, hollows and scarp slopes hold deepest deposits of up to 40cm. Field tests produced easy clean shears, particularly where fresh slab overlies old firmer snow. The avalanche hazard is Considerable (Category 3). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK TUE 18/1/05 There will be heavy snow showers on a very strong Westerly wind. Snow transport will continue with windslab distribution becoming more widespread and continuing to form on North through East to South aspects above 700 metres. Stability of fresh windslab will be moderate to poor, especially where fresh windslab builds over old snow deposits and avalanches are likely on the above mentioned aspects. The avalanche hazard will be Considerable (Category 3). Unstable cornice development will continue especially over Easterly aspects. CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Snow at all levels. ICING: Poor and buried. COMMENT: Blizzard conditions with winds gusting up to 90mph expected for Tuesday. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------