NORTHERN CAIRNGORMS AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS SUN 18/1/98 A slow but steady rise in temperature and some light drizzle in the afternoon has brought reasonable stabilisation to the snowpack on slopes of most aspects. However, the pillows of windslab that lie immediately below cornice lines along the rim of the N.Corries are less stable and exposed to high loading from potential cornice collapse. The avalanche hazard is localised but Considerable (Category 3) in these areas. AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK MON 19/1/98 Much colder conditions and snowfall on strong NE then N winds will bring about new windslab development on steep, sheltered SW to S aspects. New slab in these areas is expected to show marginal stability and avalanches are likely. Considerable (Category 3) hazard of avalanche in these locations. CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Snow still lying at valley level and with deep drifts in many places at higher altitudes. ICING: Difficult to determine as most crags plastered with fresh snow. Forecasted colder temps will improve ice development. COMMENT: Cold and wintry on Monday. LOCHABER AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS SUN 18/1/98 Areas of unstable snow exist on many slope aspects. S to SE winds have loaded Northerly aspects with unstable windslab. This dry windslab exists above 850m. Below 850m wet snow instability exists, due to a rise in temperature during the morning. Where accumulations are greatest and in sheltered locations the avalanche hazard is Considerable (Category 3). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK MON 19/1/98 Continuing cold, conditions and further snow will maintain the current avalanche hazard.. High snowfall and Northerly winds will form deposits of unstable windslab on all Southerly aspects. Unstable snow will also be present on slopes that have remained sheltered, during the recent variable wind conditions. The avalanche hazard will be Considerable (Category 3). CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Snow at all levels. ICING: Ice re-forming as conditions remain cold. COMMENT: Approaches to many routes arduous due to deep soft snow. GLENCOE AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS SUN 18/1/98 Fresh snow above 400m is lying on slopes of all aspects. Rising temperatures have caused widespread snowballing on steep ground. Avalanche debris noted in Coire nam Beith. Sheltered gullies above 700m contain deep unstable slab particularly in N facing corries. The avalanche hazard is High (Category 4). Cornices are unstable. AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK MON 19/1/98 Heavy snow overnight above 100m will deposit windslab on sheltered ground mainly facing S to W. Sheltered summit gullies in N facing corries will also contain unstable slab. Where deep layered windslab lies on steep ground avalanches will occur. The avalanche hazard will be High (Category 4). Cornices will remain unstable. CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Snow above 300m. ICING: Thawing ice above 600m. COMMENT: Unstable windslab in gullies and sheltered slopes above 700m require caution. Ice reforming tonight at all levels. SOUTHERN CAIRNGORMS AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS SUN 18/1/98 Strong NE to SE winds have led to some new deposits of snow mainly on W to N facing slopes and other sheltered gully areas. These deposits remain weakly bonded especially at the tops of steep slopes above 950m, where the avalanche hazard remains High (Category 4). Cornices remain unstable. The milder temperatures have led to a slight thaw, stabilising the snowpack elsewhere. AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK MON 19/1/98 Colder conditions will lead to the existing snowpack becoming crusty and many exposed slopes being scoured as strong N winds prevail. High amounts of snow will develop overnight and during Monday, mainly on S slopes and sheltered gully areas, where avalanches will occur. The avalanche hazard will be High (Category 4). CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Thawing below 950m. expected with severe drifting in strong N winds. ICING: Still very lean. COMMENT: Blizzard conditions expected throughout the period. CREAG MEAGAIDH AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS SUN 18/1/98 There was no new snow overnight or today. Considerable drifting of yesterdays dry, loose snow has occurred with the prevailing Easterly winds. This has led to the build up of new soft windslab on slopes facing NW to SW above 800m. Unstable windslab and loose snow still exist on most other aspects above 800m. At lower altitudes some consolidation has taken place. The avalanche hazard is High (Category 4). Several loose snow avalanches were observed today in various locations. AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK MON 19/1/98 Significant snowfall is expected tonight and at first tomorrow. This will be accompanied by strong N winds which will produce unstable windslab to form on slopes, gullies and hollows facing E through S to W. Avalanches will occur in these areas. The avalanche hazard will be High (Category 4). CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Deep snow everywhere above the faNORTHERN CAIRNGORMS AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS MON 19/1/98 Some fresh snow and strong mostly N winds has seen the development of windslab on mostly E to S aspects. In many areas this new windslab overlies weaker layers and the stability is only marginal at best. In steepest locations, particularly SE facing slopes, the avalanche hazard is High (Category 4). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK TUE 20/1/98 A small amount of new snow overnight with fresh, mostly N winds will see some further windslab development. Continuing cold temperatures will also bring little change to overall stability. The avalanche hazard will remain High (Category 4) paticularly on steep SE facing slopes where avalanches will occur. CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: General covering of new snow to valley level, with deep drifting in sheltered areas. ICING: Cold conditions helping to re-establish build-up. COMMENT: Difficult walking with many drifts overlying boulder-strewn terrain. LOCHABER AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS MON 19/1/98 Strong NE winds last night have scoured many N and E aspects leaving a generally stable snowpack in these locations. The wind has redistributed the snow as windslab on S and W aspects, and other sheltered locations, above 800m. This windslab overlies some weaker snow layers resulting in an instability within the snowpack. The avalanche hazard is Moderate (Category 2) in these locations. AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK TUE 20/1/98 Cold and settled conditions are expected to continue overnight and during Tuesday. Little change is expected to the existing snowpack. Areas of windslab will remain, greatest accumulations being on S and W aspects above 800m. Localised areas of windslab will also be present in sheltered locations on other aspects. The avalanche hazard will remain Moderate (Category 2) in these locations. CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Fresh snow at all levels. Main accumulations remain above 700m. ICING: Freezing at all levels overnight and during Tuesday. COMMENT: Deep snow maintaining arduous walking conditions in places. GLENCOE AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS MON 19/1/98 The Northerly wind has transported snow on to sheltered ground facing SE to SW. Gullies and headwalls contain areas of deep weakly bonded windslab with unstable cornices developing above. Sheltered summit gullies in N facing corries also contain areas of deep soft slab. The avalanche hazard is Considerable (Category 3) AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK TUE 20/1/98 Cold clear conditions with variable winds will transport existing soft snow into hollows and gullies facing SW through to NE. Sheltered summit gullies of all aspects will contain areas of unstable windslab. In these areas avalanches are likely. The avalanche hazard will be Considerable (Category 3) CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Snow above 400m. ICING: Ice forming at all levels. COMMENT: Turf becoming frozen. Gullies contain deep unstable windslab. Buttresses and ridges the safer option. SOUTHERN CAIRNGORMS AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS MON 19/1/98 Very strong N winds and snow showers at all levels have led to severe drifting of snow. Most deposits are lying on SE to SW slopes and sheltered gully areas. Some localised deposits may even exist in sheltered N facing gullies. Although this windslab is hard it is weakly bonded in most places. The avalanche hazard is High (Category 4). Cornices remain unstable. AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK TUE 20/1/98 Cold weather will continue resulting in very little stabilisation to the current conditions. Unstable windslab will remain mainly on SE to SW facing slopes with some localised deposits in other sheltered gullies above 700m where avalanches will occur. The avalanche hazard will be High (Category 4). Cornices will remain unstable. CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Unconsolidated snow lying at all levels, drifting in strong winds. ICING: Still very lean. COMMENT: Winds easing during Tuesday. CREAG MEAGAIDH AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS MON 19/1/98 Fresh snowfalls and heavy drifting caused by the strong N winds, have deposited deep, unstable accumulations of windslab on slopes of a NW through to SW aspect above 500m. Fresh avalanche debris noted on Sron a'Ghoire with runout zones to below 500m. The avalanche hazard is High (Category 4). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK TUE 20/1/98 Further light snow showers on a NE wind, will continue the build up of unstable windslab on slopes of a NW through to SW aspect above 500m. This coupled with very cold conditions means that there will be little consolidation and the avalanche hazard will remain High (Category 4). Avalanches will occur on these aspects. CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Deep snow everywhere above the farm. ICING: Still buried. COMMENT: A struggle to get anywhere on Meagaidh at the moment. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------