NORTHERN CAIRNGORMS AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS TUE 30/12/97 A period of heavy snow after midday and S winds led to the rapid build up of poorly stabilised windslab at the heads of many N facing gullies. Avalanches ran in Jacob's Ladder, Aladdin's Couloir, below Mirror Direct and the Trident Gullies in Coire an t-Sneachda between 1330 and 1345hrs. Considerable (Category 3) hazard of avalanche in these places and locations of similar aspect and altitude. AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK WED 31/12/97 Colder conditions and lighter snow showers on SW winds will bring some additional localised windslab accumulations to N facing gully tops above 1050m. Where the build up of most recent windblown snow is greatest in these areas there will be a Considerable (Category 3) hazard of avalanche. CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Much milder weather has depleted the general snow cover below 800m. Plateau cover remains good. ICING: Buttresses still plastered with snow and rime ice and resisting milder conditions remarkably well. Gullies remain narrow with steep exits (and unstable windslab on Tuesday). COMMENT: N. Corries very busy on Tuesday. LOCHABER AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS TUE 30/12/97 Fluctuating temperatures during the day have helped stabilise the surface layers of the pre-existing windslab. There are still some deeper instabilities within the snowpack. The avalanche hazard is Moderate (Category 2). Some cornices remain unstable. AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK WED 31/12/97 Colder temperatures during Wednesday will stabilise the existing snowpack. Fresh snow accompanied by strong SW winds will form new areas of unstable windslab during the day. Greatest accumulations will be on N, NE and E aspects above 900m, particularly on scarp slopes and at the tops of gullies. The avalanche hazard will be Considerable (Category 3) where new snow deposits are of significant quantity. Fresh cornices will also form and be unstable. CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Main accumulations of wet snow above 800m, fresh snow expected above 600m during Wednesday. ICING: Freezing level lowering to 500m during Wednesday. COMMENT: GLENCOE AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS TUE 30/12/97 A more gradual rise in temperature has allowed the snowpack to consolidate and begin to stabilise.Cornices above summit gullies are unstable.There are localised areas of deep wet snow in sheltered hollows on mainly NW-E facing slopes above 800m.Where deeper snow lies on steep ground the avalanche hazard is Considerable (Category 3). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK WED 31/12/97 Colder conditions will bring heavy snow above 600m. Windslab will build up in summit gullies and sheltered hollows on ground facing N- E above 800m.Cornices will develop above corrie headwalls and gullies.The avalanche hazard will be Considerable (Category 3) CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Snow above 700m. ICING: Thawing ice above 800m. COMMENT: Buttresses stripped but temperature to drop early Wed a.m when ice will begin to reform. SOUTHERN CAIRNGORMS AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS TUE 30/12/97. Snow showers and very strong SW winds have led to some wind slab build up mainly on N to E facing slopes and gullies above 950m. With the freezing level hovering around the summits some stabilisation has occurred. However at the tops of steep gullies these deposits are still weakly bonded to the existing snow ice where the avalanche hazard is Considerable (Category 3). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK WED 31/12/97. The recent snow deposits will continue to thaw overnight before colder conditions return. This thaw freeze cycle should stabilise the existing sparse snowpack. During Wednesday light deposits of snow are expected on N to E facing slopes above 800m. The avalanche hazard will be Moderate (Category 2) where new deposits are greatest. CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: The snowpack remains sparse, but some limited ski touring is possible above 950m. ICING: Lean ice conditions. COMMENT: A return to freezing conditions during Wednesday will leave many paths and hill sides icy. CREAG MEAGAIDH AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS TUE 30/12/97 Light snow with SW winds have deposited further small amounts of weakly bonded windslab onto the already weak snowpack. The greatest hazard exists on slopes facing NW to SE above 950m. The avalanche hazard is Considerable (Category 3). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK WED 31/12/97 Milder conditions and rain for a time may cause some natural wet avalanches. This will be followed by heavy snow on strong SW winds leading to further accumulations of weakly bonded windslab on NW to SSE facing slopes above 900m. Sheltered gullies and hollows will be the areas of greatest hazard and avalanhes will occur in these areas. The avalanche hazard will be High (Category 4). CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: The snow level has risen to 850m, but deeper and soft on the plateau. ICING: The freeze/thaw cycle at present can only help. COMMENT: A poor day - a sign of things to come? -------------------------------------------------------------------------------