NORTHERN CAIRNGORMS
AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS WED 16/3/05
Rain on strong warm South-Westerly winds has continued to
penetrate the snow pack at all levels and on all aspects. The
snow pack is moist to the ground on aspects below 950 metres. The
weak old faceted layer deep in the snowpack  remains and produced
moderate releases during  tests at 980 metres on a North-
Westerly aspect. The avalanche hazard is Considerable (Category
3).

AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK THU 17/3/05
Rain on strong Westerly winds will continue to affect the area.
The snowpack will become more moist and weak layers that exist at
depth will become more unstable. Avalanches are likely on mainly
North- East through to South-Westerly aspects above 900 metres.
The avalanche hazard will be Considerable (Category 3).

CLIMBING CONDITIONS 
SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Very  wet snow at all levels.
ICING: Buttresses are black.
COMMENT: Stonefall noted in Northern Corries.




LOCHABER
AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS WED 16/3/05
Warm, wet and windy conditions have continued overnight and
during Wednesday. The snowpack has started to consolidate in many
areas. Wet snow instabilities are generally restricted to steep
aspects above 900m. The avalanche hazard is Moderate (Category
2).
 
AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK THU 17/3/05
Heavy rain and strong Westerly winds will continue overnight and
during Thursday. The snowpack will continue to consolidate and
stabilise in most areas. On Thursday, wet snow instabilities will
be generally restricted to steep aspects above 950m. The
avalanche hazard will be Moderate (Category 2). Any remaining
cornices will be unstable and prone to collapse.

CLIMBING CONDITIONS 
SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Wet snow at all levels.
ICING: Freezing level around 2000m.
COMMENT: Wet conditions expected to continue for a few 
days.
 


GLENCOE
AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS WED 16/3/05
Very mild and wet conditions have reduced the snowpack with 
the greatest accumulations now remaining in the higher 
Northern and Eastern corries. The remaining snowpack is soft 
wet and is generally stable on all but the very steepest slopes 
where wet snow instabilities remain. The avalanche hazard is 
Considerable (Category 3) in these areas.

AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK THU 17/3/05
The mild and very wet conditions will continue overnight and 
through Thursday. The snowpack will be soft and wet with 
stability generally good on all but the steepest North to Easterly 
facing slopes and in sheltered gullies where wet snow 
instabilities will remain. Cornices will also remain prone to 
collapse. The avalanche hazard will be Moderate (Category 2) 

CLIMBING CONDITIONS 

SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Mainly above 900 metres in 
Northern and Eastern corries.
ICING: Freezing level 2000 metres for period
COMMENT: Mild wet and windy conditions look set to 
continue.



SOUTHERN CAIRNGORMS
AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS WED 16/3/05
There was a rapid rise in the freezing level overnight producing 
a period of avalanche activity. Many of the major Lochnagar 
gullies have avalanche debris at the bottom of them. The 
remaining wet snow is generally stable with a few isolated areas 
of moderately bonded snow persisting. These are mainly to be 
found in steeper sheltered locations on E to S aspects above 900 
metres. Cornice collapse and falling rocks and ice remain a 
hazard. The avalanche hazard is Moderate (Category 2).

AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK THU 17/3/05
It will remain mild and wet with the freezing level at 2000 
metres. The wet snow will continue to thaw fairly rapidly but 
will be generally stable. The main hazard will be from the 
collapse of any remaining cornices and ice pitches. Falling rocks 
are a serious threat during thaw periods. The avalanche hazard 
will be Low (Category 1). 

CLIMBING CONDITIONS
SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Significant loss but large quantities
of patchy wet snow remain higher up.
ICING: Buttresses are black, snow on ledges but thawing 
rapidly.
COMMENT: Burns are flowing fast and are a serious 
proposition at present.


CREAG MEAGAIDH
AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS WED 16/3/05
The heavy thaw conditions have resulted in a much depleted and
very moist snowpack at all levels. Debris from transitional
avalanches was noted on many slopes. Although the period of
greatest instability has past, slopes which are overhung by
remaining cornices are still a cause for concern. The avalanche
hazard is Considerable (Category 3).

AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK THU 17/3/05
The thaw conditions will continue.  Further rain will add
additional load to an already wet snowpack. Whilst the period of
highest instability has already occurred, East through to South-
East slopes, which are overhung by remaining cornices, will
continue to be a cause for concern. The avalanche hazard will be
Moderate (Category 2).

CLIMBING CONDITIONS 
SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Mottled (or should it be bottled) and
fast on its way to the Loch.
ICING: Somehow has not all fallen down yet.
COMMENT:  Wellington territory on all approach paths




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