NORTHERN CAIRNGORMS
AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS SAT 22/1/05
Light snow showers have fallen on moderate North-Westerly winds,
and summit temperatures are well below freezing.  Deep
accumulations of slab lie mainly above 900 metres on North-East
through East to South-East aspects.  Where tested at 1090 metres
on a South-East aspect weakly bonded layers were present in the
snowpack.  The avalanche hazard is Considerable (Category 3).

AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK SUN 23/1/05
Snow showers will continue on the very cold Northerly airstream.
North-East through East to Southerly aspects above 850 metres
will be affected by weakly bonded windslab especially the tops of
gullies, crag aprons and areas with steep convex slopes.  The
avalanche hazard will be Considerable (Category 3).

CLIMBING CONDITIONS 

SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Snow at all levels but generally a thin cover.
ICING: Rimed up buttresses with small amounts of ice.
COMMENT:  Remaining very cold and settled.




LOCHABER
AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS SAT 22/1/05
Areas of moderate instability still exist mainly on North-East,
East and South-East aspects above 1000m. Greatest accumulations
are on scarp slopes and gully exits. The avalanche hazard is
Moderate (Category 2). Wind scoured slopes are frozen and stable.

AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK SUN 23/1/05
Cold and settled weather is expected to continue during Sunday
with no new snow expected. Localised areas of moderate
instability will still exist mainly on North-East, East and
South- East aspects above 1000m. The avalanche hazard will be
Moderate (Category 2).

CLIMBING CONDITIONS 

SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Main accumulation on East aspects.
ICING: Remaining cold.
COMMENT: Ice slowly starting to build up.
 


GLENCOE
AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS SAT 22/1/05
Low overnight temperatures and very little precipitation have
helped to maintain the generally well bonded snowpack. However
some accumulations of windslab are still present in sheltered
locations above 850m. The greatest accumulations of unstable
windslab are in sheltered gullies and on slopes with a NE to SE
aspect above 900m. The avalanche hazard is Moderate (Category 2).

AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK SUN 23/1/05
It will continue cold with fresh Northerly winds and no
precipitation. These conditions are not expected to alter the 
avalanche hazard. Accumulations of windslab will exist in some 
sheltered gullies and on NE to SE facing slopes mainly above 
850m. New shallow deposits will start to form on Southerly 
aspects but 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 300-400m.
COMMENT: Cold weather will continue to help improve climbing
conditions. Should be another fine dry day.



SOUTHERN CAIRNGORMS
AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS SAT 22/1/05
Snow showers were light and added little depth to the snowpack.
Deeper areas of windslab are mainly to be found on NE to SE
aspects above 850 metres. Bonding of weak layers in these areas
is poor and stability remains suspect, particularly on steeper
terrain such as scarp slopes and gully exits. The avalanche
hazard is Considerable (Category 3).

AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK SUN 23/1/05
There will be some light snow showers but these will not add any
further depth to the existing snow. Deeper areas of poorly bonded
windslab will be found mainly on NE to SE aspects above 850
metres with greatest hazard remaining on gully exits and
sheltered scarp slopes. The avalanche hazard will be Considerable
(Category 3).


CLIMBING CONDITIONS 
SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Area is still lean but some easy 
gullies and burn lines are slowly filling in.
ICING: Creagan a' Choire Etchachan holding ice but unsure on
its quality. Watercourses are starting to freeze.
COMMENT: Although very limited (and for the keen) some 
short quality skiing can be found.


CREAG MEAGAIDH
AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS SAT 22/1/05
Cold temperatures have maintained sub-surface weaknesses in
recent windslab deposits on North-East through East to South
aspects above 750 metres. Accumulations are deepest in sheltered
gullies, hollows and on steep scarp slopes. The avalanche hazard
is Considerable (Category 3).

AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK SUN 23/1/05
It will remain cold with fresh snowfall on moderate Northerly
winds. Moderately to weakly bonded windslab will persist on
North-East through East to South aspects above 750 metres. Some
large cornices will be present, particularly above East aspects.
The avalanche hazard will remain Considerable (Category 3).


CLIMBING CONDITIONS 

SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Good cover above 700 metres.
ICING: Ice development slow in cold temperatures. Cliffs 
plastered in snow, need thaw-freeze cycles.
COMMENT: Cold, dry, sunny and light winds.


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