NORTHERN CAIRNGORMS AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS FRI 8/1/99 Light snow on fresh, mainly SE winds have created accumulations of soft windslab on some NW to N aspects at or above 1100m. The stability of the snowpack is again good in most locations but where the new slab is deepest the avalanche hazard is Moderate (Category 2). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK SAT 9/1/99 Stability will again be good on slopes of most aspects. A few light snow showers on fresh N winds may result in some localised pockets of soft windslab forming high on steep S- facing slopes and gullies by the end of the period. Moderate (Category 2) hazard of avalanche where new slab build up is greatest. CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Thin cover of fresh snow at all levels on Friday. Crusty and/or hard beneath this new covering. ICING: Still reasonable with steady build up from usual weep lines. Thin crust noted in many gullies but nevertheless firm underfoot. COMMENT: Pleasant skiing on soft, cold - if somewhat thin - snow in Cairngorm ski area (with light winds!). LOCHABER AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS FRI 8/1/99 The snowpack is generally stable at all levels. Localised deposits of slab are still present in sheltered locations above 1200m, although accumulations are not generally significant in quantity. Where this slab is present, the avalanche hazard is Moderate (Category 2). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK SAT 9/1/99 The cold settled weather is expected to continue overnight and during Saturday. The snowpack will remain generally stable at all levels. Localised areas of slab will still be present in sheltered locations above 1200m, although accumulations will not generally be significant in quantity. Where this slab is present, the avalanche hazard will be Moderate (Category 2). CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Fairly widespread cover above 700m. ICING: Remaining cold. Reports of fairly brittle ice on many routes. COMMENT: Snow surface remains frozen. GLENCOE AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS FRI 8/1/99 The cold and dry conditions have continued to stabilised the snowpack which is now generally well bonded and stable in most locations and at all levels. Some very small localised patches of thin windslab exist above 950m in summit gullies with a NW to NE aspect. These are generally insignificant. The avalanche hazard is Low (Category 1). Most areas are icy and stable. AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK SAT 9/1/99 The cold, generally dry conditions and some light N to NE winds are expected to continue overnight and during Saturday. Little change is expected to the existing snowpack during the reporting period. The snowpack stability will remain good at all levels. The avalanche hazard will be Low (Category 1). CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Snow above 700m. ICING: Ice above 500m. COMMENT: Reasonable climbing conditions exist on buttresses above 800m. Gullies will have isolated patches of thin soft windslab, mainly below the headwalls . SOUTHERN CAIRNGORMS AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS FRI 8/1/99 Light snowfall and moderate NE winds have led to shallow snow deposits on most aspects. At highest levels some drifting has occurred, especially on S to W facing slopes and gullies. Most deposits are localised to hollows and scarps. Where these localised deposits are greatest the avalanche hazard is Considerable (Category 3). Elsewhere the snowpack is icy with only a dusting of new snow. AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK SAT 9/1/99 Moderate N to NE winds will continue with a possibility of light snowfall. Further localised deposits of unstable snow will develop onto existing moderately to weakly bonded snow on SE through to W slopes. These small localised deposits will be greatest in scarps and hollows above 900m where the avalanche hazard will be Considerable (Category 3). Elsewhere the snowpack will be icy with shallow new snow deposits. CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Good cover above 900m. Patchy though generally skiable above 650m ICING: Still lean, with some good neve about. COMMENT: Colder conditions set to continue. CREAG MEAGAIDH AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS FRI 8/1/99 Cold, calm conditions have left the snowpack reasonably well bonded on most slopes. However shallow accumulations of unstable soft slab (blown in on Thursday 7/1/99) are still apparent. These very isolated areas can be found on N through to SE aspects above 950m, in particular below sheltered cornices and in hollows at the very tops of gullies and slopes. The avalanche hazard is Considerable (Category 3) in these very isolated areas. AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK SAT 9/1/99 Continuing cold and calm conditions with only slight snow on a N/NE wind will bring little change to the current snow conditions. The snowpack will remain reasonably well bonded in most areas. However shallow but unstable soft slab deposits will remain below cornices and at the very top of sheltered gullies of a N through to SE aspect above 950m. The avalanche hazard will remain Considerable (Category 3) in these isolated areas. CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Good, frozen cover above 750m. ICING: Thin, but climbable ice on most routes. COMMENT:Large cornices are present above the Coire Ardair cliffs. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------