NORTHERN CAIRNGORMS
AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS FRI 18/3/05
Warm temperatures and rain on South-Westerly winds have affected
the area.  The snowpack is rapidly thawing at all levels.
Observations on a steep North-West aspect at 1100 metres showed a
slush layer at ground level.  On most aspects and altitudes the
snowpack is moderately well bonded. The avalanche hazard is
Considerable (Category 3).

AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK SAT 19/3/05
Thaw conditions are to continue at all levels and rain will clear
overnight to leave a fine dry day with light winds.   Weaknesses
will remain at depth especially on steep convex East to Southerly
aspects above 900 metres.  There is increasing avalanche
potential on the Great Slab and other full depth sites. The
avalanche hazard will be Considerable (Category 3).

CLIMBING CONDITIONS
 SNOW DISTRIBUTION:  Large areas of wet slushy snow on plateau.
ICING:  Waterfalls cascading down black crags, main gully lines
becoming incomplete.
COMMENT:  Rivers in full spate presenting route-finding problems.




LOCHABER
AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS FRI 18/3/05
Heavy rain and strong South-West winds have done little to change
an already wet snowpack. The snowpack is reasonably consolidated
in many areas. Wet snow instabilities are generally restricted to
steep aspects above 900m. The avalanche hazard is Moderate
(Category 2).

AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK SAT 19/3/05
A band of rain will clear away Northwards tonight, to leave a dry
but misty day on Saturday. The snow will remain reasonably
consolidated in most areas, with wet snow instabilities generally
restricted to steep aspects above 900m. The avalanche hazard will
be Moderate (Category 2). Any remaining cornices will be
unstable.

CLIMBING CONDITIONS 
SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Wet snow at all levels.
ICING: Freezing level around 3000m overnight, falling to 
2500m on Saturday!
COMMENT: The possibility of falling ice is still a hazard in 
some areas.
 


GLENCOE
AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS FRI 18/3/05
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 exist. The avalanche hazard is Moderate
(Category 2) in these areas.

AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK SAT 19/3/05
The very mild conditions will continue. Light rain or drizzle
overnight will clear by morning to give a generally dry misty
day. The snowpack will be soft and moist with stability generally
good on all but the steepest North to Easterly facing slopes and
in sheltered gullies where surface instabilities will exist. The
avalanche hazard will be Moderate (Category 2). Remaining
cornices will be prone to collapse.

CLIMBING CONDITIONS 
SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Mainly above 900 metres in
Northern and Eastern corries.
ICING: Freezing level around 2500 metres for period.
COMMENT: Mild conditions look set to continue with precipitation
levels dropping of overnight to give a mainly dry day on
Saturday.



SOUTHERN CAIRNGORMS
AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS FRI 18/3/05
It was another mild but mostly dry day with the remaining patchy
snow thawing at all levels. Surface layers are wet but it is
generally stable. A few unstable looking cornices were noted on
SE aspects. The avalanche hazard is Low (Category 1).

AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK SAT 19/3/05
The mild temperatures and dry conditions will continue. The
remaining patchy snow will be soft and wet but generally stable.
Greatest hazard will be from falling rocks and remaining
cornices, the biggest of which are on SE aspects. The avalanche
hazard will be Low (Category 1).

CLIMBING CONDITIONS
SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Broken cover in the Cairngorms.
Very limited patches in the White Mounth.
ICING: Very little has survived.
COMMENT: The freezing level remains well over the 
summits.


CREAG MEAGAIDH
AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS FRI 18/3/05
Drizzle for much of the morning finally cleared to give a dry
afternoon.  The ongoing thaw and mild temperatures have resulted
in a much depleted and generally stable isothermal snowpack. The
avalanche hazard is Moderate (Category 2).

AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK SAT 19/3/05
It will continue mild and dry overnight and on Saturday. The
snowpack will remain stable. Creep and slump lines in cornice
areas, which exist mostly on East through to South-East aspects
still require a degree of respect. The avalanche hazard remains
Moderate (Category 2).

CONDITIONS 
SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Only a few easier gully lines
remaining.
ICING: Gone
COMMENT:  If it's a day's sport you are after -recommend the 
rugby!




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