NORTHERN CAIRNGORMS AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS WED 26/1/05 It has been a dry day with moderate Northerly winds. A thaw-freeze cycle overnight has left a hard crust on the snow surface. Below this wet and dry layers exist and showed relatively good stability when tested on a South-East aspect at 1070 metres. The avalanche hazard is moderate (Category 2). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK THU 27/1/05 Strong winds from the North will bring light snow showers overnight followed by a dry day. Isolated accumulations of slab will form on sheltered Southerly aspects above 850 metres. Elsewhere the snowpack will remain relatively well bonded. The avalanche hazard will be Moderate (Category 2). CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: A good skiable crusty covering on the plateau. ICING: Improving after the overnight thaw-freeze cycle. COMMENT: Weather outlook the same with freezing levels hovering around summits. LOCHABER AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS WED 26/1/05 Warmer temperatures on Tuesday afternoon have been followed by cooler conditions overnight and during Wednesday. The snowpack has generally consolidated. Surface instabilities are present mainly on steep slopes exposed to solar radiation. The avalanche hazard is Moderate (Category 2). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK THU 27/1/05 The settled weather will continue with the freezing level remaining around the summits. Snowpack stability will be generally good with surface instabilities persisting on steep slopes exposed to solar radiation. The avalanche hazard will be Moderate (Category 2). CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Main accumulations remain on Eastern aspects. ICING: Snow surface remaining frozen out of the sun. COMMENT: Reasonable climbing conditions. GLENCOE AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS WED 26/1/05 Mild, dry and settled conditions today have maintained the snowpack in a generally soft and stable condition. Some deep accumulations of older soft slab 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 THU 27/1/05 The mild conditions will continue with freezing levels of around 1800 metres for the period. Patchy light sleet or snow may affect the highest slopes but amounts are not expected to be significant. Wet snow instabilities will remain on the steepest North-East to South-East slopes and also in sheltered gullies where older soft slab remains. The avalanche hazard will be Moderate (Category 2). CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Snow above 800 metres. ICING: Freezing level 1800 metres. COMMENT: Mild and settled outlook. Cornices will be prone to collapse. SOUTHERN CAIRNGORMS AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS WED 26/1/05 A thaw-freeze cycle has re-frozen surface layers above 850 metres. In deeper areas of the snowpack dry snow is still to be found but there has been an improvement in the poorly bonded layers. Remaining snow is to be found on some NE aspects but mainly on E to S aspects above 850 metres. The avalanche hazard is Moderate (Category 2). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK THU 27/1/05 There will be no new precipitation and the freezing level will rise to above the summits. Snow will start to thaw at all levels but will remain moderately bonded. Greatest amounts will be found on some NE aspects but mostly on E to S aspects above 850 metres. The avalanche hazard will be Moderate (Category 2). CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: White Mounth generally becoming thin, with South Cairngorms looking better. ICING: Remaining ice will again be subject to thaw. COMMENT: Freezing level over the summits again. CREAG MEAGAIDH AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS WED 26/1/05 Generally dry and cool conditions have consolidated the snowpack on all aspects and at all altitudes. The avalanche hazard is Low (Category 1). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK THU 27/1/05 Cool temperatures and a little sleety early snow is possible on Northerly winds. Some thin, isolated patches of new windslab may form on sheltered scarp slopes above 1000 metres on Southerly aspects. Snow stability will be good in all other locations. Moderate (Category 2) hazard of avalanche. CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Good, extensive patches above 750m. Firmer underfoot than of late. ICING: Recent melt-freeze cycles encouraging growth. Many gullies filled, with snow-ice continuing to develop. COMMENT: Just like spring today! -------------------------------------------------------------------------------