NORTHERN CAIRNGORMS
AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS WED 30/12/98 
Mild, wet and windy conditions throughout.  Much 
consolidation of recent deposits, below 900m, has taken place. 
At highest elevations the presence of rain will have caused any 
cornices to be very unstable. Above 1100m in these, mostly N 
aspects, where slopes and gully tops have any remaining build 
up a High (Category 4) avalanche hazard exists.

AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK THU 31/12/98
A slow thaw will persist, although freezing levels will return to 
below summits. The generally moist and sparse snowpack will 
continue to consolidate. The avalanche hazard will be Low 
(category 1).

CLIMBING CONDITIONS 

SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Sparse. Drifting in places. Wet 
soggy snowpack below 900m.
ICING: Return to slightly colder conditions with freezing levels 
just below summits should help retain limited ice build up.
COMMENT: Strong Southerly winds persisting.




LOCHABER
AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS WED 30/12/98
Large areas of weakly bonded windslab exists on slopes and 
gullies with a NW, N and NE aspect above 800m. Where these 
accumulations are present the avalanche hazard is Considerable 
(Category 3). Avalanche debris observed below No 2 Gully, 
Coire na Ciste, Ben Nevis.

AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK THU 31/12/98
Cooler temperatures overnight followed by warming on 
Thursday is not expected to stabilise the existing snowpack 
significantly. Large areas of weakly bonded windslab will exist 
on slopes and gullies with a  NW, N and NE aspect above 
800m. Avalanches are likely where these accumulations exist on 
steep slopes. The avalanche hazard will be Considerable 
(Category 3).


CLIMBING CONDITIONS 

SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Good cover above 750m
ICING: Freezing level remaining around the summits.
COMMENT: Strong Southerly winds continuing



GLENCOE
AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS WED 30/12/98 
Rain at all levels overnight has made the snowpack soft and 
moist. Slightly colder conditions this p.m. have brought a 
dusting of fresh snow to sheltered N-NE facing ground above 
750m. Areas of  weakly bonded wet slab remain in steep summit 
gullies often with unstable cornices above. Avalanche hazard 
Considerable (Category 3). Avalanche debris noted in Coire 
Gabhail and Coire nan Lochan.

AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK THU 31/12/98
Rising teperatures will bring rain to all levels during Thursday. 
The snowpack will become saturated and will reduce at lower 
levels.Soft wet slab lying in steep summit gullies will be 
threatened by unstable cornices. The avalanche hazard will be 
Considerable (Category 3) where deep wet slab remains on steep 
ground.

CLIMBING CONDITIONS 

SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Wet snow above 650m.
ICING: Thawing ice above 700m.
COMMENT: Climbing conditions limited,temperatures rising 
again!  



SOUTHERN CAIRNGORMS
AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS WED 30/12/98  
After an unstable period overnight mild conditions have left 
remaining snow wet and soft at all levels. Snow has gone from 
exposed areas leaving deepest accumulations in sheltered areas 
and gullies on N to E aspects above 850m. The avalanche hazard 
is Considerable (Category 3) for these locations.

AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK THU 31/12/98
With mild conditions prevailing, little will change, with 
remaining snow staying wet and soft at all levels. On steeper 
slopes in gullies and sheltered locations on N to E aspects above 
900m snow will be moderately well bonded. The avalanche 
hazard will be Moderate (Category 2). 


CLIMBING CONDITIONS 

SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Greatest locations are on sheltered 
locations of N to E aspects above 900m.

ICING: Thawing.

COMMENT: Freezing level will remain around 1100m during 
tonight and Thursday. 



CREAG MEAGAIDH
AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS WED 30/12/98
Moderate SW winds with rain turning to snow above 850m has 
generally stabilised the snowpack leaving localised areas of wet 
slab on N through to SE aspects above 800m. The hazard of 
avalanche is Considerable (Category 3). Recent cornice collapse 
noted in Coire a' Chriochairein.

AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK THU 31/12/98
Light snow overnight turning to sleet on a S becoming SE wind 
with freezing levels fluctuating around 1100m will have little 
affect on the damp snowpack. Instabilities will remain in 
localised areas of wet slab on a NW through to SE aspects 
above 800m. The avalanche hazard will be Considerable 
(Category 3). There will be a risk of cornice collapse and falling 
ice.


CLIMBING CONDITIONS 

SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Patchy above 600m.

ICING: Melting!
 
COMMENT: Danger of falling ice and cornice collapse.




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