NORTHERN CAIRNGORMS AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS FRI 21/1/05 There have been further snow showers on strong North-Westerly winds. Weakly bonded windslab has continued to build mainly on East to South-East aspects above 900 metres. Scarp slopes and gully exits on North-East slopes are also affected. The avalanche hazard is Considerable (Category 3). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK SAT 22/1/05 Snow showers will become less frequent on decreasing North-Westerly winds. Weakly bonded windslab will continue to affect mainly North-East through East to South aspects above 900 metres especially on steep convex slopes and gully exits. The avalanche hazard will be Considerable (Category 3). CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: A thin layer at all levels with deeper accumulations on NE to S aspects. ICING: Improving but still very sparse. COMMENT: A more settled weather outlook. LOCHABER AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS FRI 21/1/05 Areas of unstable windslab are present mainly on North-East, East and South-East aspects above 1000 metres. Greatest accumulations are on scarp slopes and gully exits. The avalanche hazard is Considerable (Category 3). Unstable cornices are also present above these aspects. Wind scoured slopes are frozen and stable. AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK SAT 22/1/05 Cold and generally settled weather will continue with no new snow expected. Areas of unstable windslab will be present mainly on North-East through East to South-East aspects above 1000 metres. Greatest accumulations will be on scarp slopes and gully exits. The avalanche hazard will be Considerable (Category 3). Wind scoured slopes will remain frozen and stable. CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Fresh snow above 450m. Crusty conditions in some corries makes for slow progress. ICING: Remaining cold. COMMENT: Looks like two good weather days in a row! GLENCOE AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS FRI 21/1/05 Lower overnight temperatures have generally consolidated the moist snowpack. Some accumulations of new snow exist above 600 metres. Windslab is still present in many sheltered locations above 850 metres. The greatest accumulations of unstable windslab are in sheltered gullies and on slopes with a North-East to South-East aspect above 900 metres. The avalanche hazard is Moderate (Category 2). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK SAT 22/1/05 There will be very little precipitation with fresh North-Easterly winds. These conditions are not expected to alter the avalanche hazard. Accumulations of windslab will exist in sheltered gullies and on North-East to South-East facing slopes mainly above 850 metres. New shallow deposits will start to form on South-West aspects but these are not expected to be significant. Bonding will be moderate where accumulations of windslab have formed on steep slopes especially the tops of gullies and on scarp slopes. The avalanche hazard will be Moderate (Category 2). CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: snow above 600 metres. ICING: Freezing level 300/250m. COMMENT: Cold conditions will continue to help improve climbing conditions. Should be another fine `dry' day. SOUTHERN CAIRNGORMS AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS FRI 21/1/05 There has been very little change to the snowpack conditions. A general light covering of snow exists with deeper areas of windslab on North-East to South-East aspects above 850 metres. These localised dry, layered deposits remain moderately to weakly bonded on steep slopes. The avalanche hazard is Considerable (Category 3). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK SAT 22/1/05 Any snow showers will add very little to the existing snow. Deeper areas of windslab will continue to be found on North-East to South-East aspects above 850 metres. Consolidation of these deposits will be slow and stability will remain poor, particularly on steeper terrain such as scarp slopes and gully exits. The avalanche hazard will be Considerable (Category 3). CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: A general light covering with deeper drifts in places. ICING: Nothing significant noted but it is slowly improving. COMMENT: Lochnagar routes are generally lean, some gully exits will require care. CREAG MEAGAIDH AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS FRI 21/1/05 Overnight snowfall combined with drifting on North-West winds have led to the development of fresh deposits of weakly bonded windslab with field tests producing easy shears. North through East to South-East aspects above 750 metres are affected. Deposits are deepest in sheltered gullies, hollows and on scarp slopes of the above mentioned aspects. The avalanche hazard is Considerable (Category 3). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK SAT 22/1/05 Snow showers and drifting on North-West winds will continue the development of weakly bonded fresh windslab. North-East through to South-East aspects above 750 metres will be affected. Deposits will be deepest in gullies, hollows and scarp slopes. The avalanche hazard will remain Considerable (Category 3). CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Sron a Ghoire bowl or SE shoulder of Carn liath offer fair sport for Ski touring. If you fancy a wee hike carrying your ski's. ICING: Ice development remains poor. Cliffs plastered in snow, in need of thaw/freeze cycles. COMMENT: Not much vertical excitement, but looks like Saturdays a good day for a tour or walk. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------