NORTHERN CAIRNGORMS
AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS MON 26/1/98
Cold, calm conditions have brought little change to the stable
snowpack. Low (Category 1) hazard of avalanche.

AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK TUE 27/1/98
Light snow through the period on moderate SW then N winds will
bring about new slab development high on NE to S aspects.
Moderate (Category 2) hazard of avalanche where new windslab
build up is greatest in these locations. Stability will remain
good in all wind- exposed areas.

                         CLIMBING CONDITIONS

SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Patchy but with some small improvement possible.
ICING: Steady improvement. Gullies in pretty good nick.
COMMENT: Blue sky day again on Monday; normal service resumes on
Tuesday!





LOCHABER
AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS MON 26/1/98
The continuing colder weather is having little effect on the
existing snowpack which remains stable. The avalanche hazard is
Low (Category 1).

AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK TUE 27/1/98
Light snow, overnight and tomorrow, will form fresh deposits of
snow above 500m. SW to NW winds will cause this fresh snow to
drift into sheltered locations, mainly on slopes with a NE
through to SE slope aspect. Where new snow accumulations are
greatest, the avalanche hazard will be Moderate (Category 2).
Elsewhere the snow will remain frozen and stable.

                         CLIMBING CONDITIONS

SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Main accumulations remain in N and E facing
corries above 900m.
ICING: Freezing level rising to 600m during Tuesday.
COMMENT: Snow remains hard frozen. Ice-axe and crampons essential.
Water ice is present on many footpaths.





GLENCOE
AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS MON 26/1/98
The cold dry conditions affecting the area at present are
maintaining a stable snowpack. Water ice is forming in many
locations. The avalanche hazard is Low (Category 1)


AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK TUE 27/1/98
Cold conditions will prevail overnight with light SW winds and
new snow deposits. Milder conditions later in the day will bring
further light accumulations of new snow. These new deposits are
not expected to be significant  but if so the risk of avalanche
will increase. The avalanche hazard will be Moderate (Category 2)
in areas where deep accumulations of new snow have built up and
formed into soft windslab typically in sheltered hollows and
gullies.

                         CLIMBING CONDITIONS

SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Snow above 700m.

ICING: Ice on rocks and paths above 400m.

COMMENT: The continuing colder temperatures are improving
conditions. Icy crust on much of the snow cover, axe and crampons
essential.





SOUTHERN CAIRNGORMS
AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS MON 26/1/98
Another cold night has done little to change the
snowpack which remains generally icy. The snow is mainly
on N aspects above 900m and the avalanche hazard is Low
(Category 1).

AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK TUE 27/1/98
There will be no change to the snowpack overnight but
some light snow will fall during the day leaving
accumulations on N to E aspects above 900m. Where
accumulations are at their greatest the avalanche hazard
will be Moderate (Category 2).

                   CLIMBING CONDITIONS

SNOW DISTRIBUTION: A sparse hard and icy snowpack exists
mainly on N facing slopes and sheltered areas above
900m..

ICING: Building steadily in Lochnagar .

COMMENT: Higher footpaths are becoming very icy.





CREAG MEAGAIDH
AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS MON 26/1/98
The continuing cold, calm conditions have left the snowpack frozen
and well consolidated on all aspects.  On shallow patches of snow
below 900m, very isolated areas affected by kinetic growth crystals
are evident, giving an unstable layer.  However these can easily be
avoided and overall the avalanche hazard is Low (Category 1).

AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK TUE 27/1/98
Overnight conditions will remain cold and calm, so the snowpack
will remain stable and consolidated.  During the day, light snow
on a N wind will begin to form deposits of windslab on to slopes
of a SW through to SE aspect above 800m. The avalanche hazard
will be Low (Category 1) but may increase at the tops of slopes
on the above mentioned aspects, later in the day.

                         CLIMBING CONDITIONS

SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Patchy above 700m. Raeburn's, Easy, Staghorn and
Cinderella are complete.

ICING: The Wand and Glass Slipper are thin but climbable.  Last
Post, Centre Post and Diadem are almost there and may be possible if
you're brave enough.

COMMENT: If ice climbing on Meagaidh, please be gentle as there
isn't a lot to go around.



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