NORTHERN CAIRNGORMS AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS THU 7/1/99 Cold, generally dry conditions have further stabilised the snowpack in all locations. A trace of thin windslab is present in isolated pockets here and there but they pose no appreciable hazard. Low (Category 1) hazard of avalanche. A thin, friable crust - supported by facetted crystals - is present in many places above 1050m. AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK FRI 8/1/99 Stability will again be good on slopes of most aspects. A few light snow showers on gentle N to NE winds may result in some localised pockets of soft slab high on S to SW aspects later in the period. Moderate (Category 2) hazard of avalanche where new slab build up is greatest. CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Cover remains more or less complete down to 800m. Crusty in most places. ICING: Still looks reasonable. `Mirror Direct' in Coire an t- Sneachda is a useful benchmark and has had numerous ascents. Most gullies `busy'. COMMENT: N.Corries a very pleasant `winter wonderland' on Thursday. LOCHABER AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS THU 7/1/99 Localised areas of windslab are present at the tops of steep slopes and gullies above 1100m. Areas most affected have a N, NE or E aspect. Where this windslab exists in sufficient quantities the avalanche hazard is Considerable (Category 3). Elsewhere a frozen crust exists on the snow surface and the snowpack is stable. AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK FRI 8/1/99 The cold settled weather conditions are expected to continue overnight and during Friday. Little change is expected to the existing snowpack. Localised areas of windslab will remain, mainly at the tops of steep slopes and gullies above 1100m with a N, NE or E aspect. Where this windslab exists in sufficient quantities the avalanche hazard will be Considerable (Category 3). Elsewhere a frozen crust will exist on the snow surface and the snowpack will be stable. CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: General cover remaining at around 800m. ICING: The freezing level is expected to remain below 500m. COMMENT: Settled weather expected to continue at least for another 24 hours. GLENCOE AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS THU 7/1/99 The continuing low temperatures has stabilised the snowpack which is now generally well bonded and stable on most aspects and at all levels. Some very small localised patches soft windslab exist above 950m in summit gullies with a Northerly aspect where the avalanche hazard is Moderate (Category 2). Other areas are Icy and generally well bonded. AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK FRI 8/1/99 Remaining cold with light NE winds and the possibility of light isolated snow showers. The snowpack stability will remain good at all levels during this period. Some soft windslab development on sheltered steep slopes and localised areas with a SW to NW facing aspect is not expected to be significant. The avalanche hazard will be Moderate (Category 2) in these areas. CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Snow above 700m. ICING: Ice above 600m. COMMENT: Reasonable climbing conditions exist on buttresses above 850m. Gullies will have patches of localised shallow windslab. SOUTHERN CAIRNGORMS AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS THU 7/1/99 There has been some light snowfall but overnight melt freeze conditions have left the snowpack crusty and well bonded at all levels and on all aspects. On N to E aspects some cornices have collapsed, refrozen and need care. The avalanche hazard is Low (Category 1). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK FRI 8/1/99 There will be some light snowfall, which will leave fresh accumulations on a firm base. Although these new deposits will not amount to much they will be unstable on steeper slopes above 850m where they over-lie existing snow ice. The avalanche hazard will be Moderate (Category 2). CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Good cover above 900m. ICING: Still lean but building in colder temperatures. COMMENT: Colder conditions set to continue. CREAG MEAGAIDH AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS THU 7/1/99 A light SE wind with very cold mountain conditions are helping to consolidate the snowpack. Soft windslab is still building on NW through to E aspects; this is localised to steep scarp slopes below cornices and sheltered gullies and hollows above 800m. In these areas the hazard of avalanche is Considerable (Category 3). Cornices on N to E aspects still building. AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK FRI 8/1/99 Sub zero temperatures overnight will have little affect on existing snowpack. Light snowfall on a NE becoming N wind will continue to build isolated areas of soft windslab on steep scarp slopes below cornices and sheltered gullies of a N through to SW aspect above 800m. In these localised areas the hazard of avalanche will be Considerable (Category 3). Elsewhere the snowpack will be well bonded and stable. CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Very good cover above 700m. ICING: Still difficult to tell as buried under large amounts of snow. COMMENT: Good wintry conditions set to continue. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------