NORTHERN CAIRNGORMS AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS SUN 23/1/05 It has remained very cold with light snow showers on moderate Northerly winds. Weakly bonded snow still exists on North-East through East to Southerly aspects above 900 metres. Where tested on an Easterly aspect at 950 metres instabilities were present between hard and soft slab layers. The avalanche hazard is Considerable (Category 3). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK MON 24/1/05 It will remain cold with moderate winds and light snow showers from the North-West. Weakly bonded slab will continue to affect North-East through East to Southerly aspects above 900 metres, especially areas with steep convex slopes, the tops of gullies and crag aprons. The avalanche hazard will be Considerable (Category 3). CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: A thin covering at all levels with a variety of ice, rock and deep snow on the plateau. ICING: White buttresses with small amounts of ice but very lean. COMMENT: Still not a great depth of snow in Northern Corries making travel through boulder fields very tricky. LOCHABER AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS SUN 23/1/05 Areas of moderately bonded snow are present on many 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 MON 24/1/05 Light snow showers and North-West winds are not expected to produce any significant new snow accumulations. Areas of moderately bonded snow will remain mainly on North-East, East and South-East aspects above 1000m with greatest accumulations on scarp slopes and gully exits. The avalanche hazard will be Moderate (Category 2). CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Main accumulations remain on Eastern aspects. ICING: Freezing level remaining around 600m. COMMENT: Many routes receiving ascents this weekend. GLENCOE AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS SUN 23/1/05 Low overnight temperatures have helped to maintain the generally well bonded snowpack. Light snow showers today and Northerly winds are forming some fresh accumulations of windslab in 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 in these locations is Moderate (Category 2). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK MON 24/1/05 Fresh to strong Northerly winds and light snow showers will affect the area overnight and through Monday. Windslab will continue to form in sheltered gullies and on North-East through East to South facing slopes mainly above 850 metres. Bonding will be moderate to poor where accumulations of windslab form on steep slopes especially the tops of gullies and on scarp slopes. The avalanche hazard will be Considerable (Category 3). CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: snow above 600 metres. ICING: Freezing level 500/600 metres. COMMENT: Cold conditions will continue to help improve climbing conditions. Windslab will require caution. SOUTHERN CAIRNGORMS AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS SUN 23/1/05 There has been no new snow today but strong winds are stripping loose deposits. They are being transported to sheltered South-East and South aspects, where they are forming moderately to weakly bonded windslab. Consolidation is taking place slowly in the cold temperatures with deposits in very sheltered locations on North-East to East aspects remaining unstable. Generally cover is thin or wind scoured. The avalanche hazard is Considerable (Category 3). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK MON 24/1/05 Some limited snow is forecast but amounts are not expected to be significant. It will remain cold with moderately to weakly bonded windslab being found in very sheltered locations on East to South aspects, and less frequently in pronounced features on North-East aspects. The avalanche hazard will be Considerable (Category 3). CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION:Generally thin but some gullies and burns are now holding reasonable depth. ICING: Ice is present but quality remains variable. COMMENT: Very firm conditions underfoot in places. CREAG MEAGAIDH AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS SUN 23/1/05 There has been some isolated snow showers on a moderate North-west wind. Some re-distribution has taken place with fresh shallow windslab building on Southerly aspects. 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 MON 24/1/05 Remaining cold with light snow showers on moderate North- West winds. Moderately bonded windslab will persist on North- East through East to South aspects above 750 metres. The avalanche hazard will remain Considerable (Category 3). Weak cornice fringes will remain above many steep lee slopes, particularly Easterly aspects. CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Good cover above 700 metres. ICING: Slow ice development in cold temperatures. Cliffs plastered in snow, need thaw/freeze cycles. COMMENT: Slowly rising freezing levels expected to around 600 metres on Monday. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------