NORTHERN CAIRNGORMS AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS FRI 02/01/98 Stormy conditions with only a small quantity of fresh snow has resulted in only isolated areas of drifting, primarily in very sheltered E to NE aspects. Moderate (Category 2) hazard of avalanche in these locations where build up is greatest. Elsewhere slopes have been scoured hard with icy patches. AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK SAT 03/01/98 Strong S and SE winds overnight and on Saturday with snow will result in areas of windslab developing primarily on NW to N aspects and in sheltered lee areas. Where significant build up occurs avalanches are likely in these locations. Considerable (Category 3) hazard of avalanche. CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION:Exposed slopes scoured hard with icy patches. Reasonable cover on plateau. ICING: Continuing to improve. COMMENT: Conditions remain lean for all winter activities. Some improvement hoped for with forecast wintry conditions. LOCHABER AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS FRI 02/1/97 Fresh snow and strong SW winds last night have formed new areas of soft windslab. Greatest accumulations are on N, NE and E aspects above 900m. This soft windslab shows poor stability, particularly on steeper slopes and gullies. The avalanche hazard is Considerable (Category 3) in these locations. AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK SAT 03/1/97 Strong winds and snow are expected overnight and during Saturday. Areas of unstable windslab will continue to form, mainly on N, NE and E aspects above 900m. Avalanches are likely, especially on the steeper slopes and gullies. The avalanche hazard will be Considerable (Category 3) in these locations. Unstable cornices will continue to reform. CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Fresh snow lying above 600m. ICING: Freezing level remaining around 900m. COMMENT: Wind expected to increase to storm force later on Saturday. GLENCOE AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS FRI 02/1/98 Heavy precipitation and gale force SW winds have deposited new snow above 500m. However the greatest accumulation of new snow is above 800m in gullies and sheltered hollows with a Northerly aspect. Windslab exists in sheltered areas on NW through to E facing slopes above 850m. Where windslab exists in these locations the avalanche hazard is High (Category 4). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK SAT 03/1/98 Strong winds and heavy snow showers can be expected throughout Saturday leading to further accumulations of windslab. The existing snowpack is weakly bonded above 850m on NW through to E facing slopes and further layers of windslab will form in these areas. In sheltered summit gullies these deposits may become very deep and will be unstable, avalanches will occur. The avalanche hazard will be High (Category 4). Cornices will also be unstable and likely to collapse, triggering slopes below. CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Snow above 500m. ICING: Ice forming on rocks above 800m. COMMENT:Continuing with strong winds and heavy snow showers. Drifting snow above 800m. SOUTHERN CAIRNGORMS AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS FRI 02/01/98 Some snow showers with strong winds overnight have led to new accumulations at the tops of gullies and other sheltered areas on N to E aspects. Although new build ups are becoming stable there remains localised areas of moderately bonded snow. The avalanche hazard is Considerable (Category 3). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK SAT 03/01/98 Further deposits of snow will build during the night and the day on N aspects above 900m. Where deposits overlie the existing snowpack in gullies and sheltered areas the avalanche hazard will be Considerable (Category 3) CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Improving above 900m. ICING: Very lean. COMMENT: It might look like winter soon! CREAG MEAGAIDH AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS FRI 02/01/98 Strong W to SW winds with moderate falls of new snow have deposited soft windslab on existing unstable accumulations of slab. The areas most affected are slopes facing N to E and sheltered gullies and hollows above 950m. The avalanche hazard is High (Category 4). Avalanche debris was observed in Coire a'Chriochairein. AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK SAT 03/01/98 A strong S to SE wind with moderate to high falls of snow overnight and tomorrow will continue to load areas of already unstable windslab. The greatest hazard will be on slopes facing NW through to E above 900m, where avalanches will occur. The avalanche hazard will be High (Category 4). CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Snow lying above 700m, deepest deposits in sheltered areas with N to E aspects. ICING: Still thin, routes incomplete. COMMENT: Unstable cornices above many N to E facing slopes. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- NORTHERN CAIRNGORMS AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS FRI 02/01/98 Stormy conditions with only a small quantity of fresh snow has resulted in only isolated areas of drifting, primarily in very sheltered E to NE aspects. Moderate (Category 2) hazard of avalanche in these locations where build up is greatest. Elsewhere slopes have been scoured hard with icy patches. AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK SAT 03/01/98 Strong S and SE winds overnight and on Saturday with snow will result in areas of windslab developing primarily on NW to N aspects and in sheltered lee areas. Where significant build up occurs avalanches are likely in these locations. Considerable (Category 3) hazard of avalanche. CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION:Exposed slopes scoured hard with icy patches. Reasonable cover on plateau. ICING: Continuing to improve. COMMENT: Conditions remain lean for all winter activities. Some improvement hoped for with forecast wintry conditions. LOCHABER AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS FRI 02/01/98 Fresh snow and strong SW winds last night have formed new areas of soft windslab. Greatest accumulations are on N, NE and E aspects above 900m. This soft windslab shows poor stability, particularly on steeper slopes and gullies. The avalanche hazard is Considerable (Category 3) in these locations. AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK SAT 03/01/98 Strong winds and snow are expected overnight and during Saturday. Areas of unstable windslab will continue to form, mainly on N, NE and E aspects above 900m. Avalanches are likely, especially on the steeper slopes and gullies. The avalanche hazard will be Considerable (Category 3) in these locations. Unstable cornices will continue to reform. CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Fresh snow lying above 600m. ICING: Freezing level remaining around 900m. COMMENT: Wind expected to increase to storm force later on Saturday. GLENCOE AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS FRI 02/01/98 Heavy precipitation and gale force SW winds have deposited new snow above 500m. However the greatest accumulation of new snow is above 800m in gullies and sheltered hollows with a Northerly aspect. Windslab exists in sheltered areas on NW through to E facing slopes above 850m. Where windslab exists in these locations the avalanche hazard is High (Category 4). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK SAT 03/01/98 Strong winds and heavy snow showers can be expected throughout Saturday leading to further accumulations of windslab. The existing snowpack is weakly bonded above 850m on NW through to E facing slopes and further layers of windslab will form in these areas. In sheltered summit gullies these deposits may become very deep and will be unstable, avalanches will occur. The avalanche hazard will be High (Category 4). Cornices will also be unstable and likely to collapse, triggering slopes below. CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Snow above 500m. ICING: Ice forming on rocks above 800m. COMMENT:Continuing with strong winds and heavy snow showers. Drifting snow above 800m. SOUTHERN CAIRNGORMS AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS FRI 02/01/98 Some snow showers with strong winds overnight have led to new accumulations at the tops of gullies and other sheltered areas on N to E aspects. Although new build ups are becoming stable there remains localised areas of moderately bonded snow. The avalanche hazard is Considerable (Category 3). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK SAT 03/01/98 Further deposits of snow will build during the night and the day on N aspects above 900m. Where deposits overlie the existing snowpack in gullies and sheltered areas the avalanche hazard will be Considerable (Category 3) CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Improving above 900m. ICING: Very lean. COMMENT: It might look like winter soon! CREAG MEAGAIDH AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS FRI 02/01/98 Strong W to SW winds with moderate falls of new snow have deposited soft windslab on existing unstable accumulations of slab. The areas most affected are slopes facing N to E and sheltered gullies and hollows above 950m. The avalanche hazard is High (Category 4). Avalanche debris was observed in Coire a'Chriochairein. AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK SAT 03/01/98 A strong S to SE wind with moderate to high falls of snow overnight and tomorrow will continue to load areas of already unstable windslab. The greatest hazard will be on slopes facing NW through to E above 900m, where avalanches will occur. The avalanche hazard will be High (Category 4). CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Snow lying above 700m, deepest deposits in sheltered areas with N to E aspects. ICING: Still thin, routes incomplete. COMMENT: Unstable cornices above many N to E facing slopes. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------