NORTHERN CAIRNGORMS
AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS FRI 13/3/98
No new snow over the period and a continued steady thaw has
produced a moist and generally stable snowpack. Some small
overhanging cornices persist at the heads of a few gullies and
remain best avoided. Avalanche hazard Low (Category 1)

AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK SAT 14/3/98
Little change over the period. Milder conditions with some light
rain will further moisten the snowpack. Avalanche conditions will
remain unchanged Low (Category 1)

                         CLIMBING CONDITIONS

SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Diminishing. Wet snow, soft and mushy underfoot
to plateau level.

ICING: Some still remains despite thaw. Little of any quality on
routes which in the main are wet/dripping.

COMMENT: The presence of loose rocks as always an issue during thaw
conditions, particularly in the vicinity of popular routes in Coire
an t-Sneachda. F.L 1900m





LOCHABER
AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS FRI 13/3/98
Slightly cooler conditions overnight have formed a thin crust on the
snow surface above 1150m and have helped to consolidate the snowpack
above this altitude. Below 1150m, the snowpack is continuing to
thaw. At lower altitudes, mainly on E aspects, some surface
instabilities are still present. The avalanche hazard is Moderate
(Category 2).

AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK SAT 14/3/98
Slightly warmer conditions are expected overnight and during
Saturday. The snowpack will gradually thaw at all levels.
Instabilities will return to steep NE and E facing slopes above
1150m, where the avalanche hazard will increase to Considerable
(Category 3). On lower NE and E aspects, localised surface
instabilities will remain.

                         CLIMBING CONDITIONS

SNOW DISTRIBUTION: A moist snowpack is present at all levels.
Greatest accumulations remain in the higher NE and E facing corries.
ICING: Summit temperatures of around +2xC are expected during
Saturday.
COMMENT: As the thaw continues, there will be a hazard of falling
ice and rocks on many climbing routes.





GLENCOE
AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS FRI 13/3/98
With the mild W to NW airflow, the snowpack has stabilised and
consolidated during the last 24 hrs. Some localised areas of
moderately bonded wet snow exist, especially on steep slopes above
850m on all aspects.

AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK SAT 14/3/98
Thaw conditions with light rain will continue to affect the area
with the freezing level well above the summits. The wet snowpack
will continue to consolidate. Areas of wet snow instability will
exist on very steep slopes and some very small shallow wet snow
slides may occur in the warmer temperatures. Overall the
avalanche hazard will be Moderate ( Category 2 ). Cornices will
be unstable and prone to collapse.

                CLIMBING CONDITIONS

SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Snow above 500m.
ICING: Thawing ice on rocks above 800m.
COMMENT: Climbing conditions deteriorating. Buttresses and ridges
safer option.





SOUTHERN CAIRNGORMS
AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS FRI 13/3/98
Thaw conditions continue leaving a wet and soft snowpack at all
levels. At the tops of steeper slopes on N to E aspects there were
areas of unstable snow where the avalanche hazard is Considerable
(Category 3).

AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK SAT 14/3/98
Thaw conditions will continue leaving the snowpack wet but
moderately well bonded at all levels. Less stable areas will
exist at the top of steep N to E slopes.  Any remaining cornices
are prone to collapse with rock and ice fall a danger during thaw
conditions. The avalanche hazard will be Moderate (Category 2).

                         CLIMBING CONDITIONS

SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Snow is rapidly disappearing from buttresses but
summit cover remains okay for touring.

ICING: What remains is wet and soft.

COMMENT: Freezing levels will be around 1900m during Saturday.





CREAG MEAGAIDH
AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS  FRI 13/3/98
The thaw has continued at all levels with some light rain overnight.
An initial period of high instability on slopes and gullies facing N
to E above 750m has triggered numerous wet avalanches. Easy Gully,
Centre Post, and Coire a' Chriochairein were most active. The
avalanche hazard is High (Category 4).

AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK  SAT 14/3/98
The thaw will continue with light rain at all levels. The snowpack
will continue to be moist and unstable. Slopes and gullies facing N
to E will be most affected. The avalanche hazard will be
Considerable (Category 3).

                         CLIMBING CONDITIONS

SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Disappearing fast but still quite a lot in Coire
Ardair and the Inner Coire.

ICING: Becoming thinner by the second.

COMMENT: A depressing day watching the ice fall off Pinnacle
Buttress.



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