CREAG MEAGAIDH AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS THU 24/12/98 Heavy snow on Westerly winds has deposited deep accumulations of very unstable soft slab on N through to SE aspects above 750m. Gullies and sheltered hollows are most affected. The hazard of avalanche is High (Category 4) in these areas. Large cornices have formed above steep N through to SE facing slopes. AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK FRI 25/12/98 Heavy rain turning to snow overnight on very strong SW winds will continue to load already unstable windslab accumulations on N through to SE aspects above 750m. Large cornices above the same aspects will continue to grow. The avalanche hazard will remain High (Category 4) with avalanches occurring in the above mentioned areas. CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Snow cover down to the Farm. ICING: Probably still forming but buried. COMMENT: With tomorrow's forecast (25/12/98) you'd be better off staying in and watching the Bond movie! ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- GLENCOE SNOW AND AVALANCHE REPORT GLENCOE Double Click HERE to create Mercury and Internet Files AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS THU 24/12/98 Wet snow has deposited further layers of windslab on sheltered ground facing N-NE particularly above 800m. In steep summit gullies this windslab is weakly bonded. Corrie headwalls have developed fresh cornices. The avalanche hazard is Considerable (Category 3) where deeper windslab exists. AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK FRI 25/12/98 Heavy snow overnight and during Friday will be deposited on sheltered N-NE facing ground above 600m.With heavy snow continuing throughout the day the avalanche hazard will become High (Category 4). Avalanches will occur where deep unstable windslab lies in steep summit gullies. CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Snow above 400m. ICING: "Snow ice" forming above 700m. COMMENT: Climbing conditions limited but improving! Ridges the safer option as gullies accumulate deeper windslab. MERRY CHRISTMAS! ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- LOCHABER AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS THU 24/12/98 Areas of fresh windslab are still present, greatest accumulations being on slopes and gullies with a N, NE and E aspects above 1000m. Instabilities are still present within the snowpack. In these locations, the avalanche hazard is Considerable (Category 3). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK FRI 25/12/98 A thaw overnight followed by colder temperatures during Friday will help stabilise the existing snowpack. Fresh snow and strong SW winds during Friday will form fresh areas of unstable windslab. Significant accumulations of fresh snow will be restricted to the tops of slopes and gullies with a N, NE or E aspect. In these locations, the avalanche hazard is Considerable (Category 3). CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Patchy snowcover above 600m. More widespread cover above 800m. ICING: Freezing level rising above the summits overnight and dropping to 800m on Friday. COMMENT: Strong SW winds continuing. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- SOUTHERN CAIRNGORMS AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS THU 24/12/98 Strong winds with some fresh snowfall are leaving soft slab in sheltered locations on N to E aspects above 900m. Where accumulations have any depth to them the avalanche hazard is Considerable (Category 3). Elsewhere there is a very thin covering of snow down to 800m. AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK FRI 25/12/98 An unsettled period which will see overnight rain turning to snow and very strong winds. This will leave new deposits above 900m in sheltered locations on N to E aspects. Where larger and deeper deposits exist avalanches are likely. The avalanche Hazard will be Considerable (Category 3). CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Patches of snow above 900m with a thin covering above 800m. ICING Building, but hiding under a thin cover of snow. Plenty on footpaths, I know I've got the bruises!! COMMENT: Overnight freezing levels around 1500m before dropping to 900m during the day. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- NORTHERN CAIRNGORMS AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS THU 24/12/98 Snow showers on strong SW winds are combining to maintain pockets of poorly stabilised hard windslab at the tops of steep NE-facing gullies. Some new, fragile-looking cornices overhang a few of these locations. Rising temperatures and rain late in the period are contributing to declining stability in these localised areas. Considerable (Category 3) localised hazard of avalanche. The snowpack in most other places is thin and stable. AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK FRI 25/12/98 Colder, wintry conditions will supplant the mild overnight wet spell. Snow showers on strong SW winds will again build localised accumulations of windslab at the heads of steep NE- facing gullies above 1100m. Considerable (Category 3) localised hazard of avalanche in these specific locations. The remainder of the sparse snowpack will be stable. CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Thin on Christmas Eve with rime giving the Cairngorms a deceptively snowy look. ICING: Some ice development noted from usual weep lines in N.Corries but limited in quantity. Thin rime on many crags on Thursday. COMMENT: Cairngorms very quiet on Christmas Eve. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------