NORTHERN CAIRNGORMS AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS MON 16/3/98 Thaw conditions have prevailed for much of the period. The snowpack remains moist/soft and generally stable. Low (Category 1) hazard of avalanche. AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK TUE 17/3/98 Fluctuating temperatures over the next period along with a small amount of fresh snow may give rise to localised accumulations of windblown deposits primarily on E to SE aspects. In these locations a Moderate (Category 2) hazard will result. Elsewhere stability will be good with the snowpack undergoing a melt-freeze cycle. CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Patchy. Greatest deposits exist high on N to NE aspects. ICING: A brief return to colder conditions but any little improvement not expected to last. COMMENT: LOCHABER AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS MON 16/3/98 Mild conditions have maintained a wet and thawing snowpack at all levels. Wet snow instabilities remain on steep NE and E aspects where the avalanche hazard is Moderate (Category 2). Remaining cornices are slumping and unstable. AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK TUE 17/3/98 Rain will gradually turn to snow overnight before drying up early on Tuesday morning. Later on Tuesday, mild weather is expected to return once again. The snowpack will continue to consolidate at all levels. Any new snow deposits are not expected to be of significant quantity. The avalanche hazard will be Moderate (Category 2). CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Main snow in N and E facing corries. ICING: Freezing level lowering during Monday evening before rising again to 1200m on Tuesday. COMMENT: A slightly dryer day in prospect on Tuesday. GLENCOE AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS MON 16/3/98 The mild and wet conditions affecting the area have reduced and stablised much of the snowpack which is in a generally soft and moist condition. Some localised areas of moderately bonded wet snow remain on steep North and East slopes and gullies above 900m. The avalanche hazard is Moderate (Category 2) in these areas. AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK TUE 17/3/98 Colder conditions on Monday night will give snow for a short time above 600m. Strong Westerly winds will form areas of windslab on NE to SE slopes and in sheltered gullies mainly above 900m. These accumulations are not expected to be deep. The avalanche hazard will be Moderate (Category 2) where windslab forms. Elsewhere the old snowpack will become firmer initially. CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Wet snow above 800m ICING: Not a lot! COMMENT: Poor climbing conditions, may improve slightly with colder conditions overnight. SOUTHERN CAIRNGORMS AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS MON 16/3/98 The continuing mild conditions are leaving a wet and soft snowpack at all levels. Most cornices have collapsed with those remaining unstable and best avoided. The avalanche hazard is Low (Category 1). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK TUE 17/3/98 A return to colder conditions overnight will firm up the existing sparse snowpack. Light snow showers and strong NW winds overnight will lead to some new snow deposits on E to S facing slopes and in sheltered areas above 900m. Although these will generally be insignificant, these deposits will become unstable as mild conditions return on Tuesday. The avalanche hazard will be Moderate (Category 2) where new localised deposits are greatest. CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Snow is rapidly disappearing at all levels, but firming up as colder conditions return. ICING: No climbable ice remains. COMMENT: Rock fall still remains a hazard. CREAG MEAGAIDH AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS MON 16/3/98 The snowpack remains soft, moist and stable on all aspects. Largest accumulations remaining are on N through to SE slopes above 800m. The avalanche hazard is Low (Category 1). Some stonefall is occurring on the cliffs in the area. AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK TUE 17/3/98 Temperatures will remain relatively mild, but some light snow on a WNW wind may cause some very shallow deposits of fresh windslab to form at the tops of sheltered slopes and gullies. NE through to SE aspects above 950m will be affected. The avalanche hazard will be Moderate (Category 2) in the above mentioned and very localised areas. CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Disappearing fast. Main accumulations are in the deeper hollows and gullies above 800m. ICING: Zilch! once again. COMMENT: Remaining grim. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- NORTHERN CAIRNGORMS AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS TUE 17/3/98 Colder overnight temperatures have re-frozen the upper layers of what remains of the snowpack. Spring snow conditions prevail after midday. The avalanche hazard is Low (Category 1). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK WED 18/3/98 A few light snow showers are possible overnight but these will be accompanied by stormforce W to SW then NW winds. Little change is expected in overall avalanche conditions over the period as any new snow is unlikely to accumulate because of the seriously strong winds. Colder temperatures will further consolidate the remaining snowpack. Low (Category 1) hazard of avalanche. CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Patchy, but the imaginative might piece together a ski tour across the plateau to Ben Macdui......just. Spring snow noted during afternoon on Tuesday. ICING: Likely to be colder on Weds. but there's very little to re- freeze. COMMENT: All black with a bit of white on top. The Cairngorms are a passable pint of Guinness for Paddy's Day! LOCHABER AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS TUE 17/3/98 Mild conditions during today have continued to thaw and consolidate the snowpack at all levels. Stability is generally good. The avalanche hazard is Low (Category 1). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK WED 18/3/98 Colder temperatures are expected overnight and during Wednesday. The existing snowpack will refreeze at all levels and remain stable. Some fresh snow is expected overnight which will form as shallow deposits of windslab, mainly on Easterly aspects. Accumulations of this fresh snow are not expected to be of significant quantity. The avalanche hazard will be Low (Category 1). CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Main accumulations remain in high N and E facing corries. ICING: Freezing level is expected to lower to around 450m overnight and during Wednesday. COMMENT: High winds moderating by Wednesday morning. GLENCOE AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS TUE 17/3/98 The snowpack remains soft and moist at all levels with greatest deposits to be found in higher North and East facing corries. Dryer and colder conditions than of late are consolidating the snowpack. The avalanche hazard is Low (Category 1). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK WED 18/3/98 Colder conditions overnight and on Wednesday with light snow and strong Westerly winds will form localised areas of windslab on NE to SE slopes and in sheltered gullies mainly above 900m. These accumulations are not expected to be deep or extensive. The avalanche hazard will be Moderate (Category 2) where windslab forms, elsewhere the old snowpack will become firmer. CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Snow above 800m ICING: Will start to reform with colder conditions at higher levels COMMENT: Poor climbing conditions, may improve slightly with colder conditions overnight. SOUTHERN CAIRNGORMS AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS TUE 17/3/98 A slight freeze overnight with no snowfall, followed by thawing conditions is leaving the sparse snowpack stable. The avalanche hazard is Low (Category 1). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK WED 18/3/98 Colder conditions overnight and on Wednesday will re-freeze the existing sparse snowpack. With only insignificant light snowfall expected the avalanche hazard will remain Low (Category 1). CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Patchy spring snow above 800m, becoming icy as cold weather returns. ICING: Only the easier gullies holding snow which is expected to firm up in next 12hrs. COMMENT: CREAG MEAGAIDH AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS TUE 17/3/98 As no further falls of snow have occurred since yesterday the snowpack remains soft, moist and stable on all aspects. Largest accumulations remaining are on N through to SE slopes above 800m. The avalanche hazard is Low (Category 1). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK WED 18/3/98 Infrequent light snow showers overnight and tomorrow on strong SW winds, becoming NW later will deposit shallow accumulations of fresh windslab. The greatest accumulations will be found on slopes, gullies and sheltered hollows facing N through to SE above 900m. The avalanche hazard will be Moderate (Category 2) in these localised areas. CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Disappearing fast. Main accumulations are in the deeper hollows and gullies above 800m. ICING: Absolutely nothing. COMMENT: Remember your pint of Guinness for St. Patrick!! -------------------------------------------------------------------------------