NORTHERN CAIRNGORMS AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS TUE 25/1/05 There has been continuous snow above 900 metres on strong North-West winds. Heavy drifting has led to the build-up of weakly bonded slab mainly on East to Southerly aspects above 850 metres. Tests on an Easterly aspect at 1135 metres showed instabilities due to soft and hard slab layers. Gully heads and sheltered locations on North to North-East aspects are also affected. The avalanche hazard is Considerable (Category 3). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK WED 26/1/05 Snowfall will become lighter on strong winds from the North. Avalanches are likely due to loading on Southerly aspects above 850 metres with some areas, particularly on steep convex slopes, being affected by a deep seated soft layer causing instabilities. Due to localised wind effects gully heads and sheltered locations on North-West through East to South-East aspects will be affected. The avalanche hazard will be Considerable (Category 3). CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Depth improving on plateau. ICING: Ice forming in gullies and buttresses covered in rime. COMMENT: Crusty conditions underfoot due to a short period of rain overnight. LOCHABER AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS TUE 25/1/05 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). Snow at lower elevations is starting to thaw in the warmer temperatures AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK WED 26/1/05 Light rain overnight will be followed by dry conditions on Wednesday with the freezing level above the summits. The snowpack will gradually thaw and consolidate at all levels. Instabilities will generally be restricted to steep North-East, East and South-East aspects above 1000m. The avalanche hazard will be Moderate (Category 2). CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Main accumulations remain on Eastern aspects. ICING: Gradually warming up during Tuesday. COMMENT: Freezing level rising to 2000m. GLENCOE AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS TUE 25/1/05 There has been a gradual increase in temperatures today taking the freezing level to around 1000 metres. Very light snow showers have fallen on the higher tops but these have had no significant effect. Some deep accumulations of older windslab remain in sheltered areas above 900 metres. The greatest of these accumulations are in sheltered gullies and on slopes with a NE to SE aspect above 900 metres. The avalanche hazard is Moderate (Category 2). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK WED 26/1/05 Much milder conditions will see freezing levels rise to 2000 metres for the period. Light rain overnight will die out by morning. A period of higher instability may occur as the snowpack becomes wet overnight. A return to dry conditions by morning will aid consolidation. Wet snow instabilities will remain on steep North-East to South-East slopes and also in sheltered gullies where older windslab deposits remain. The avalanche hazard will be Moderate (Category 2). CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Snow above 700 metres. ICING: Freezing level rising to 2000 metres. COMMENT: Mild outlook but at least it's not heavy rain as well. Cornices will be prone to collapse. SOUTHERN CAIRNGORMS AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS TUE 25/1/05 Snow showers were light and have not added any volume to the existing snow. In sheltered features on some NE aspects but mostly E and SE aspects above 850 metres deeper areas of snow still retain weaker layers. The avalanche hazard is Considerable (Category 3). Elsewhere cover is thin or wind scoured. AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK WED 26/1/05 Milder conditions will become established with the freezing level rising to above the summits. Stability will remain suspect in deeper areas of snow on steeper slopes. Greatest accumulations will be found on some NE aspects but mostly on E and SE aspects above 850 metres. Remaining cornices will also be suspect. The avalanche hazard will be Considerable (Category 3). CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Currently thawing up to 900 metres. ICING: Ice is present but will become subject to thaw conditions. COMMENT: Cover is generally thin with deeper areas being mostly avoidable. CREAG MEAGAIDH AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS TUE 25/1/05 Northerly winds brought rain below 750 metres and sleety snow at higher altitudes. The new windslab that has formed on steep South to South-East aspects above 900 metres was marginally bonded but fluctuating temperatures were helping it consolidate. The stability of the snowpack on most other aspects and elevations was fair to good. The avalanche hazard is Moderate (Category 2). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK WED 26/1/05 Some sleety snow showers are possible overnight and these will again be blown in on Northerly winds. A little new windslab may form on the most sheltered scarp slopes and gully heads of a South to South-East aspect. Any significant accumulations will lie above 1000 metres and below this altitude the snowpack will be subjected to a steady thaw. The avalanche hazard will be Moderate (Category 2). CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Good cover of damp snow down to 750m but some depletion expected on Wednesday. ICING: Ice continues to form but thaw conditions forecast. COMMENT: Snowy up top and wet and damp down low on Tuesday. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------