NORTHERN CAIRNGORMS AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS WED 17/12/97 A dusting of new snow has brought little change to avalanche conditions. Low (Category 1) hazard of avalanche. There are a few small, old snow patches and these have been heavily scoured by storm force winds. AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK THU 18/12/97 Some more significant snowfall is possible later in the day and this will be accompanied by storm force SE winds. Any new deposited snow will be found in a few very sheltered locations on NW to N facing aspects and at worst these should pose no more than a Moderate (Category 2) hazard of avalanche. Heavy scouring by local counter winds and a rise in temperature are expected to maintain the sparse snow cover and low hazard in all other places. CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Remains poor with little prospect of lasting improvement. ICING: Forecasted thaw conditions unlikely to improve already limited ice! Gullies very poor. COMMENT: Difficult mountain conditions set to continue through Thursday. LOCHABER AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS WED 17/12/97 A sparse snowcover exists above 1000m. There is not sufficient snow accumulation to constitute any significant avalanche hazard. There are however small localised patches of windslab which are generally confined to sheltered northerly aspects above 1100m. The avalanche hazard is Low (Category 1). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK THU 18/12/97 Snow is expected overnight but this will gradually turn to rain at all levels by Thursday evening. Any fresh snow which accumulates in the morning will soon thaw later in the day. There will be no significant avalanche hazard. The avalanche hazard will remain Low (Category 1). CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Light snowcover above 1000m. ICING: Ice thawing at all levels during Thursday 500m. COMMENT: GLENCOE AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS WED 17/12/97 A very light dusting of snow exists above 850m. In N facing corries there are isolated patches of old snow in sheltered gullies.The avalanche hazard is Low (Category 1). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK THU 18/12/97 There will be shallow deposits of fresh snow on W through to N facing slopes above 700m. During Thursday rain will strip any light dusting of snow. The avalanche hazard will remain Low (Category 1) CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Light dusting above 700m. ICING: Ice above 900m. COMMENT: Climbing conditions lean. Very windy. SOUTHERN CAIRNGORMS AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS WED 17/12/97 Light amounts of snow and very strong winds have led to insignificant accumulations on a sparse snowpack. Where any new deposits exist the avalanche hazard is Low (Category 1). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK THU 18/12/97 Wintry conditions overnight with a return to milder weather during Thursday will result in a thaw of the existing sparse snowpack. Where any new snow overlies snow ice some small sluffs may occur during thaw conditions. The avalanche hazard will be Moderate (Category 2). CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Very little snow. ICING: Some ice forming above 700m. COMMENT: Milder conditions expected to affect remaining snow and ice. CREAG MEAGAIDH AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS WED 17/12/97 Light flurries overnight and today, together with a strong E wind have only enhanced the mediocre wintry look. Greatest accumulations are still at the top of gullies and the summit area. The avalanche hazard is Low (Category 1). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK THU 18/12/97 Light snow overnight and tomorrow, with very strong Easterly winds will lead to little change in the current snow conditions. However where accumulations of new snow on top of old pre-existing snow are found, particularly on N to E facing slopes above 950m, the avalanche hazard will be Moderate (Category 2). CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Still very sparse, except in the main summit area. ICING: Appears to be continuing to build up. COMMENT: It appears that this winter will test the patience of us all, particularly as another thaw is expected late tomorrow. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- NORTHERN CAIRNGORMS AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS THU 18/12/97 A steady rise in temperature following recent snowfall has stabilised most recent snow deposits on steep N aspects. Hurricane force summit winds and strong local winds brought about a patchy deposition pattern of new windslab. Many N-facing gully tops have small amounts whereas streambeds and other sheltered features at much lower altitudes have relatively more. Low (Category 1) hazard of avalanche. AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK FRI 19/12/97 Very mild temperatures and heavy rainfall are expected to further deplete an already thin and sparse snowpack. Some wet sluffs are possible during or immediately after rain but these will be limited to the larger accumulations of most recent snow deposits on a few very sheltered N aspects. Moderate (Category 2) hazard of avalanche in these localised areas during or after rain. Stability in all other areas will be good. CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Better at lower altitudes on Thurs but still very poor and expected to get worse. ICING: Heavy thaw conditions and rain set to prevail throughout the period. Present lean conditions unlikely to be improved by this! COMMENT: Poor quality mountain sport at present. LOCHABER AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS THU 18/12/97 A fresh dusting of snow exists above 800m, although this has now started to thaw at all levels. There is not sufficient snow accumulation to constitute any significant avalanche hazard. The avalanche hazard is Low (Category 1). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK FRI 19/12/97 Rain at all levels is expected overnight and during Friday. All existing fresh snow will thaw, leaving localised patches of old stable snow. There will not be sufficient snow accumulation to constitute any significant avalanche hazard. The avalanche hazard will remain Low (Category 1). CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Patch cover of old snow remaining above 1100m. ICING: Freezing level remaining above the summits during Friday. COMMENT: Limited winter climbing. GLENCOE AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS THU 18/12/97 A very light dusting of wet snow exists above 700m mainly on W through to N facing slopes. In high N facing corries there are isolated patches of old snow in sheltered gullies. The avalanche hazard is Low(Category 1). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK FRI 19/12/97 Milder conditions will affect most of the area for the next 24hrs. The existing light snow cover above 700m will become saturated with rain and will almost certainly disappear during Friday. The avalanche hazard will remain Low (Category 1). CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Light dusting above 700m. ICING: Thawing ice above 900m. COMMENT: Climbing conditions very lean on Thursday and deteriorating rapidly. Very windy and wet. SOUTHERN CAIRNGORMS AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS THU 18/12/97. The very sparse snow cover is thawing below 900m. What little snow exists does not pose any significant avalanche hazard. The avalanche hazard is Low (Category 1). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK FRI 19/12/97. Mild weather will continue to thaw the little remaining snow at all levels. The avalanche hazard will be Low (Category 1) CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Very little snow exists. ICING: Very little ice exists. COMMENT: CREAG MEAGAIDH AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS THU 18/12/97 Light snowfall overnight with very strong SE winds has deposited a small amount of moderately bonded windslab on W to N facing slopes and sheltered gullies. The greatest hazard is where this windslab lies on top of old pre-existing snow. The avalanche hazard for today was Moderate (Category 2). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK FRI 19/12/97 Heavy rain at all levels with high SE winds will consolidate the existing snowpack. The thaw will return the avalanche hazard to Low (Category 1). Any remaining snow will be well bonded. CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Sparse cover above 950m, but this will be very patchy by tomorrow. ICING: Probably a step backwards with this thaw. COMMENT: A very brief wintry look to the hills, but it will be very shortlived. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------