NORTHERN CAIRNGORMS AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS SUN 21/1/96 There has been a return to colder conditions with a very light dusting of fresh snow above 700m. The existing snowpack is refrozen and stable. The avalanche hazard remains Low (Category 1). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK MON 22/1/96 New windslab may develop primarily on N slopes and gully tops. The avalanche hazard will increase to Moderate (Category 2) in these areas. CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: A dusting of fresh snow above 700m. Overall cover remains very sparse with firm conditions underfoot. ICING: Conditions lean and firm with easier gully lines still providing best options. LOCHABER AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS SUN 21/1/96 A dusting of fresh snow has fallen above 900m. Patches of old frozen snow exist in gullies above 1100m. Fresh snow accumulations are small and insufficient in depth to form any avalanche hazard. The hazard remains Low (Category 1). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK MON 22/1/96 Conditions will remain similar overnight and on Monday, with little new snow. The remaining old snow will be frozen with small accumulations of fresh snow in hollows and sheltered locations. These fresh accumulations will be insufficient to form any hazard. The avalanche hazard will remain Low (Category 1). CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Old snow deposits remain in gullies above 1100m. Fresh dusting of snow above 900m. ICING: Ice reforming on the upper slopes of Ben Nevis. COMMENT: Care is needed on paths and rocks as underfoot conditions are very slippy due to ice. GLENCOE AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS SUN 21/1/96 The remaining snowpack is firm and stable.There is a dusting of fresh snow above 600m.Where larger patches of old snow exist the avalanche hazard is Low (Category 1). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK MON 22/1/96 The cold SE airsteam will continue to stabilise the remaining snowpack.Summit gullies and corrie headwalls will contain patches of hard snow ice.Light showers will deposit a trace of new snow above 600m.Avalanche hazard Low (Category 1). CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Snow ice in summit gullies. ICING: Ice reforming above 500m. COMMENT: A trace of fresh snow above 600m. Old snow very firm. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- NORTHERN CAIRNGORMS AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS SUN 21/1/96 There has been a return to colder conditions with a very light dusting of fresh snow above 700m. The existing snowpack is refrozen and stable. The avalanche hazard remains Low (Category 1). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK MON 22/1/96 New windslab may develop primarily on N slopes and gully tops. The avalanche hazard will increase to Moderate (Category 2) in these areas. CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: A dusting of fresh snow above 700m. Overall cover remains very sparse with firm conditions underfoot. ICING: Conditions lean and firm with easier gully lines still providing best options. LOCHABER AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS SUN 21/1/96 A dusting of fresh snow has fallen above 900m. Patches of old frozen snow exist in gullies above 1100m. Fresh snow accumulations are small and insufficient in depth to form any avalanche hazard. The hazard remains Low (Category 1). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK MON 22/1/96 Conditions will remain similar overnight and on Monday, with little new snow. The remaining old snow will be frozen with small accumulations of fresh snow in hollows and sheltered locations. These fresh accumulations will be insufficient to form any hazard. The avalanche hazard will remain Low (Category 1). CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Old snow deposits remain in gullies above 1100m. Fresh dusting of snow above 900m. ICING: Ice reforming on the upper slopes of Ben Nevis. COMMENT: Care is needed on paths and rocks as underfoot conditions are very slippy due to ice. GLENCOE AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS SUN 21/1/96 The remaining snowpack is firm and stable.There is a dusting of fresh snow above 600m.Where larger patches of old snow exist the avalanche hazard is Low (Category 1). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK MON 22/1/96 The cold SE airsteam will continue to stabilise the remaining snowpack.Summit gullies and corrie headwalls will contain patches of hard snow ice.Light showers will deposit a trace of new snow above 600m.Avalanche hazard Low (Category 1). CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Snow ice in summit gullies. ICING: Ice reforming above 500m. COMMENT: A trace of fresh snow above 600m. Old snow very firm. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- NORTHERN CAIRNGORMS AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS MON 22/1/96 Strong corrie winds have scoured many steep NW to N-facing aspects. Some sheltered gully heads have accumulations of moderately stabilised windslab where there is a Moderate (Category 2) hazard of avalanche. The remainder of the sparse snowpack has been re-frozen hard. AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK TUE 23/1/96 Additional deposits of moderately stabilised windslab are expected on NW to N-facing slopes and gullies. Moderate (Category 2) hazard of avalanche where accumulations are greatest. The remainder of the snowpack is expected to remain re-frozen and stable. CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: A dusting of fresh snow above 700m. Overall cover remains very sparse with firm conditions underfoot. ICING: Conditions remain lean but some slow improvement likely. Popular gully routes offer the best sport. COMMENT: Lean and mean! LOCHABER AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS MON 22/1/96 Fresh accumulations of soft slab are present in sheltered locations, mainly in gullies with a NW, N and NE aspect, above 1050m. This fresh windslab is moderately well bonded to the underlying old snow. The avalanche hazard is Moderate (Category 2). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK TUE 23/1/96 Prevailing cold conditions and redistribution of soft snow will continue to load sheltered locations with areas of fresh windslab. These areas will be restricted to slopes above 1050m with a NW, N and NE slope orientation. The avalanche hazard will be Moderate (Category 2). CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Dusting of fresh snow above 600m. Main accumulation of old snow in upper Observatory Gully. ICING: Ice reforming on routes. COMMENT: Paths and rocks very slick due to ice. GLENCOE AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS MON 22/1/96 A dusting of fresh snow exists above 400m.The strong SE winds have deposited windslab on sheltered N to W facing slopes.Where deeper windslab overlies old snow ice (neve) in summit gullies and corrie headwalls the avalanche hazard is Moderate (Cat 2). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK TUE 23/1/96 Strong winds will continue to transport soft snow onto the sheltered N to W facing slopes above 500m.The avalanche hazard will be Considerable (Cat 3) in Localised areas such as summit gullies and corrie headwalls where deeper deposits of windslab overlie old snow ice. CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Fresh snow above 400m. ICING: Ice forming above 400m. COMMENT: Significant windchill. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------