GLENCOE AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS SAT 19/12/98 A cover of recent snow is lying above 650m on slopes of all aspects. The general cover is thin with some deeper accumulations mainly in sheltered NE facing corries and summit gullies above 850m, where deeper accumulations have formed on steeper slopes the avalanche hazard is Moderate (Category 2) AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK SUN 20/12/98 Colder conditions with fresh Northerly winds and light snowfall will not significantly alter the snowpack. Where deeper deposits have formed on steeper North to East slopes and gullies the avalanche hazard will be Moderate (Category 2) CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: New snow above 650m ICING: Ice will form on rocks and paths above 600m COMMENT: Climbing conditions limited but will improve with colder weather. Higher ridges and buttresses have a generally thin cover of recent snow ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- NORTHERN CAIRNGORMS AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS SAT 19/12/98 A few light snow showers on moderate NW to N winds have combined to create some new windslab at the tops of steep SE to S-facing slopes and gullies. This new slab shows reasonable stability and where deposits are greatest there is a Moderate (Category 2) hazard of avalanche. What exists of the snowpack in all other locations is thin, crusty and stable. AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK SUN 20/12/98 Some additional light snow showers throughout the period will bring little change to the present situation. Any new slab development will be on steep N aspects above 1000m and where this is deepest there will be a Moderate (Category 2) hazard of avalanche. All other locations will again show good stability. CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Patchy. Drifting in a few places but otherwise little more than a general dusting. ICING: Cold conditions are helping maintain what ice that exists. Rime development noted on some buttresses. COMMENT: Wintry, but a definite pre-season look to the Cairngorms. Poor visibility above 900m at times on Saturday. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- LOCHABER AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS SAT 19/12/98 Localised areas of unstable windslab are present, mainly on scarp slopes and steep gullies above 1000m with a NE or E aspect. Where this windslab exists, the avalanche hazard is Considerable (Category 3). Some unstable cornices also exist above these aspects. AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK SUN 20/12/98 Light snow showers at all levels are expected throughout the next 24 hours. Localised areas of unstable windslab will remain; accumulations being mainly on scarp slopes and steep gullies above 1000m with a NE or E aspect. Where this windslab exists, the avalanche hazard will be Considerable (Category 3). Unstable cornices will also be present above these aspects. CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Fresh snow lying above 700m. ICING: Freezing level 200m overnight and during Sunday. COMMENT: ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- SOUTHERN CAIRNGORMS AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS SAT 19/12/98. Very little snow exists in the area. A dusting of new snow and strong NW winds has led to small and generally insignificant localised deposits mainly on E to S facing slopes and sheltered gully areas. Where these deposits over lie old snow-ice the Avalanche hazard is Low (Category 1). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK SUN 20/12/98. Continuing cold with moderate N winds and light snowfall. With no drifting of the new snow expected in the light winds there will be little change to current conditions. The Avalanche Hazard will remain Low (Category 1) mainly on E to S facing slopes and sheltered gully areas where deposits are greatest. CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Little snow exists. Largest deposits are in East facing corries on Beinn A` Bhuid. ICING: Very little ice exists, although it continues to slowly form. The turf is firming up nicely. COMMENT: Some keen climbers have been scratching around today. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- CREAG MEAGAIDH AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS SAT 19/12/98 Cold temperatures and only a little more snow on a NW wind has made no difference to the unstable windslab pockets found in the deeper gullies and hollows of a N through to SE aspect above 850m. A weak surface layer persists, maintaining the Considerable (Category 3) hazard of avalanche. AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK SUN 20/12/98 Continuing cold temperatures with light snow on a N wind will maintain the weak surface layer found in unstable windslab pockets. These very isolated areas will be encountered on N through to S facing aspects above 850m. The tops of the deeper gullies and hollows will be most affected. The avalanche hazard will remain Considerable (Category 3) in these very localised areas. CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Thin cover above 850m. ICING: If the "Wand" don't have any, then there ain't none anywhere else, and it doesn't! COMMENT: Cornices remain above the Inner Coire and in Coire Choille-rais. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------