NORTHERN CAIRNGORMS
AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS FRI 9/1/98
Very mild and moist conditions overnight and on Friday resulted
in a period of instability early morning. Avalanche debris was
noted below Trident gullies area (Coire an t-Sneachda). The
period of greatest instability having passed, the avalanche
hazard is now Moderate (Category 2) with some cornices still
remaining above N to E facing gullies.

AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK SAT 10/1/98
Mild conditions will continue, with further rainfall overnight
and on Saturday. The snowpack will continue to thaw and deplete. Some
hazard will remain, primarily from the presence of small cornices
which have yet to come down,  above N through to E facing
gullies. Avalanche hazard Moderate (Category 2).

                      CLIMBING CONDITIONS

SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Patches only below plateau. Some drifted snow
remaining, mainly in stream beds.
ICING: Going...Going but not quite Gone!
COMMENT: Mild conditions. Thaw continuing, wet and windy on the
mountains.





LOCHABER
AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS FRI 9/1/98
Thaw conditions to above the summits have led to wet snow
avalanches occurring during the night. Avalanche debris noted
below No. 2 gully on Ben Nevis. Thaw conditions and rain have
maintained a wet and generally unstable snowpack. The avalanche
hazard is Considerable (Category 3).

AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK SAT 10/1/98
The warm conditions are due to continue overnight and on
Saturday. The snowpack will remain moist and continue to thaw at
all altitudes. The stability of the snow shall gradually improve
as the thaw continues. The avalanche hazard will be Moderate
(Category 2) on slopes with a N and E aspect. Cornices will
remain unstable and be prone to collapse.

                         CLIMBING CONDITIONS

SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Main accumulations in N and E facing corries
above 900m.
ICING: Continuing to thaw at all levels on Saturday.
COMMENT: Storm force winds  moderating overnight and on Saturday.





GLENCOE
AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS FRI 9/1/98
A heavy thaw with rain at all levels has saturated the snowpack.
This has resulted in a general consolidation
 of the snowpack but areas of unstable snow still exists on NW
through to E facing slopes above 800m. Where these exist the
avalanche hazard is Considerable (Category 3). Many small wet snow
slides have been noted and large amounts of avalanche debris noted
on Stob Coire Beith.

AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK SAT 10/1/98
Thaw conditions will continue to affect the area with S to SW
winds and rain at all levels during Saturday. This will maintain
unstable accumulations of wet snow above 800m in sheltered
gullies and hollows and on slopes with a NW through to E aspect.
With this rise in temperature avalanches are likely  where deeper
accumulations of old windslab have formed on steeper slopes and
in areas such as summit gullies. The avalanche hazard will be
Considerable (Category 3).

                         CLIMBING CONDITIONS

SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Wet snow above 650m.
ICING: Thawing ice on rocks above 850m.
COMMENT: Rain and generally mild conditions will prevail, climbing
conditions poor with soft wet snow.




SOUTHERN CAIRNGORMS
AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS FRI 9/1/98
Very mild conditions are thawing the snow pack at all levels. The
wet snow is generally well bonded in most places. At the tops of
steep N to E facing slopes and gullies the surface layers are only
moderately to weakly bonded. The avalanche hazard in these areas is
Considerable (Category 3).

AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK SAT 10/1/98
Very mild conditions will continue to thaw the snowpack at all
levels. What snow remains will be wet and generally well bonded
except high up on N to E facing slopes and gullies where it will
be only moderately bonded. Cornices will be unstable. The
avalanche hazard will be Moderate (Category 2). Rock and ice fall
will be a hazard during thaw.

                         CLIMBING CONDITIONS

SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Becoming patchy, as thaw continues. Most
accumulations in N to E facing corries above 900m. Still some skiing
for the keen.
ICING: Lean ice conditions now virtually non existent.
COMMENT: Rivers may present problems.





CREAG MEAGAIDH
AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS FRI 9/1/98
Thaw and heavy rain have caused a large scale stabilisation of the
snowpack. The period of worst instability has now passed but large
sections of unstable cornices remain, particularly in Coire
a'Chriochairein. On N to E facing slopes above 800m, areas of
moderately well bonded wet slab exist where accumulations are
deepest. Moderate (Category 2) hazard of avalanche.

AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK SAT 10/1/98
Continuing heavy thaw and rain will further deplete and moisten the
remaining snowpack. Moderately well bonded wet slab will persist,
particularly on N to E facing slopes above 800m, where accumulations
are greatest. A Moderate ( Category 2) hazard of avalanche will
exist.

                         CLIMBING CONDITIONS

SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Becoming patchy above 800m. Large bare areas on
the tops.

ICING: Very poor, but if it just freezes again.....who knows?

COMMENT: Lets hope the thaw doesn't last too long. Large unstable
cornices remain above many gullies.



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