NORTHERN CAIRNGORMS AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS MON 11/1/99 Stability is generally good in most locations. A thin friable crust exists which has given rise to small near surface instabilities in a few isolated locations, primarily on N aspects. The avalanche hazard is Low (Category 1) AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK TUE 12/1/99 A period of high instability is expected with the onset of strong, mostly S winds accompanied by heavy snowfall. New snow avalanches during the storm conditions will occur primarily on steep N aspects above 900m. The avalanche hazard in these locations will be High (Category 4) CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Light general cover above 700m, hopefully soon to improve. ICING: Steady build up continues. Buttresses white, most popular routes receiving reasonable attention. COMMENT: Poor mountain conditions expected with storm cycle overnight on Monday continuing but easing on Tuesday. LOCHABER AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS MON 11/1/99 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 TUE 12/1/99 A strong WNW airflow is expected overnight and into Tuesday. Fresh areas of windslab will form overnight and through Tuesday. Greatest accumulations will be on sheltered steep slopes and gullies with E and SE aspects, where avalanches are likely. The avalanche hazard will be Considerable (Category 3). CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Cover remaining around 800m. ICING: Freezing level expected to rise to 700m. COMMENT: Strong WNW winds overnight and into Tuesday. GLENCOE AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS MON 11/1/99 The cold and dry conditions have continued to consolidate 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. ÿû AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLO JªUE 12/1/99 Heavy snowfall on Monday night with gale force variable winds will form unstable accumulations of windslab mainly above 800m in sheltered gullies and on slopes with a North to Easterly aspect. The avalanche hazard will be Considerable (Category 3) where deeper accumulations of windslab form and avalanches are likely in these areas. Fresh cornice formations will be prone to collapse. CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Snow above 700m. ICING: Ice above 400m. COMMENT: Reasonable climbing conditions exist on buttresses above 800m but high winds and fresh windslab will require caution. SOUTHERN CAIRNGORMS AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS MON 11/1/99 The continuing cold conditions have left localised pockets of poorly bonded snow on many aspects above 900m. These deposits are mostly in sheltered gully areas and scarps and although unstable are generally avoidable. The avalanche hazard is Moderate (Category 2). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK TUE 12/1/99 Very strong S winds and heavy snowfall overnight will lead to blizzard conditions on the hills. Large deposits can be expected in sheltered areas of N through to SE slopes and gullies, with cornices developing over these aspects. New deposits will be weakly bonded and avalanches will occur. The avalanche hazard will become High (Category 4). CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Patchy snow above 600m with more or less complete cover above 1000m. ICING: Lean conditions with buttresses holding soft snow. A slight thaw freeze cycle would improve things. COMMENT: Remaining cold with best ice in natural watercourses such as Eagles Rock etc. Blizzard conditions expected Monday night. CREAG MEAGAIDH AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS MON 11/1/99 North-Westerly winds and light snowfall have caused significant accumulations of unstable windslab to form on E through to SW aspects above 800m. These deposits are weakly bonded and lying on top of hard ice. The avalanche hazard is Considerable (Category 3) on the above mentioned aspects. AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK TUE 12/1/99 High amounts of snow on very strong SW winds overnight, will cause deep accumulations of unstable windslab to form on N through to SE aspects above 750m. These deposits will form on top of hard snow-ice giving little chance of any bonding. During daytime the strong winds will swing round to the NW, additionally affecting E through to SW aspects above 750m. The avalanche hazard will be High (Category 4) with avalanches occurring on all above mentioned aspects. CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Good cover above 700m. ICING: Mostly hollow and cruddy and about to be buried. COMMENT: Good weather coming to an end. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- NORTHERN CAIRNGORMS AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS MON 11/1/99 Stability is generally good in most locations. A thin friable crust exists which has given rise to small near surface instabilities in a few isolated locations, primarily on N aspects. The avalanche hazard is Low (Category 1) AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK TUE 12/1/99 A period of high instability is expected with the onset of strong, mostly S winds accompanied by heavy snowfall. New snow avalanches during the storm conditions will occur primarily on steep N aspects above 900m. The avalanche hazard in these locations will be High (Category 4) CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Light general cover above 700m, hopefully soon to improve. ICING: Steady build up continues. Buttresses white, most popular routes receiving reasonable attention. COMMENT: Poor mountain conditions expected with storm cycle overnight on Monday continuing but easing on Tuesday. LOCHABER AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS MON 11/1/99 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 TUE 12/1/99 A strong WNW airflow is expected overnight and into Tuesday. Fresh areas of windslab will form overnight and through Tuesday. Greatest accumulations will be on sheltered steep slopes and gullies with E and SE aspects, where avalanches are likely. The avalanche hazard will be Considerable (Category 3). CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Cover remaining around 800m. ICING: Freezing level expected to rise to 700m. COMMENT: Strong WNW winds overnight and into Tuesday. GLENCOE AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS MON 11/1/99 The cold and dry conditions have continued to consolidate 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 TUE 12/1/99 Heavy snowfall on Monday night with gale force variable winds will form unstable accumulations of windslab mainly above 800m in sheltered gullies and on slopes with a North to Easterly aspect. The avalanche hazard will be Considerable (Category 3) where deeper accumulations of windslab form and avalanches are likely in these areas. Fresh cornice formations will be prone to collapse. CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Snow above 700m. ICING: Ice above 400m. COMMENT: Reasonable climbing conditions exist on buttresses above 800m but high winds and fresh windslab will require caution. SOUTHERN CAIRNGORMS AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS MON 11/1/99 The continuing cold conditions have left localised pockets of poorly bonded snow on many aspects above 900m. These deposits are mostly in sheltered gully areas and scarps and although unstable are generally avoidable. The avalanche hazard is Moderate (Category 2). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK TUE 12/1/99 Very strong S winds and heavy snowfall overnight will lead to blizzard conditions on the hills. Large deposits can be expected in sheltered areas of N through to SE slopes and gullies, with cornices developing over these aspects. New deposits will be weakly bonded and avalanches will occur. The avalanche hazard will become High (Category 4). CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Patchy snow above 600m with more or less complete cover above 1000m. ICING: Lean conditions with buttresses holding soft snow. A slight thaw freeze cycle would improve things. COMMENT: Remaining cold with best ice in natural watercourses such as Eagles Rock etc. Blizzard conditions expected Monday night. CREAG MEAGAIDH AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS MON 11/1/99 North-Westerly winds and light snowfall have caused significant accumulations of unstable windslab to form on E through to SW aspects above 800m. These deposits are weakly bonded and lying on top of hard ice. The avalanche hazard is Considerable (Category 3) on the above mentioned aspects. AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK TUE 12/1/99 High amounts of snow on very strong SW winds overnight, will cause deep accumulations of unstable windslab to form on N through to SE aspects above 750m. These deposits will form on top of hard snow-ice giving little chance of any bonding. During daytime the strong winds will swing round to the NW, additionally affecting E through to SW aspects above 750m. The avalanche hazard will be High (Category 4) with avalanches occurring on all above mentioned aspects. CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Good cover above 700m. ICING: Mostly hollow and cruddy and about to be buried. COMMENT: Good weather coming to an end. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- NORTHERN CAIRNGORMS AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS MON 11/1/99 Stability is generally good in most locations. A thin friable crust exists which has given rise to small near surface instabilities in a few isolated locations, primarily on N aspects. The avalanche hazard is Low (Category 1) AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK TUE 12/1/99 A period of high instability is expected with the onset of strong, mostly S winds accompanied by heavy snowfall. New snow avalanches during the storm conditions will occur primarily on steep N aspects above 900m. The avalanche hazard in these locations will be High (Category 4) CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Light general cover above 700m, hopefully soon to improve. ICING: Steady build up continues. Buttresses white, most popular routes receiving reasonable attention. COMMENT: Poor mountain conditions expected with storm cycle overnight on Monday continuing but easing on Tuesday. LOCHABER AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS MON 11/1/99 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 TUE 12/1/99 A strong WNW airflow is expected overnight and into Tuesday. Fresh areas of windslab will form overnight and through Tuesday. Greatest accumulations will be on sheltered steep slopes and gullies with E and SE aspects, where avalanches are likely. The avalanche hazard will be Considerable (Category 3). CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Cover remaining around 800m. ICING: Freezing level expected to rise to 700m. COMMENT: Strong WNW winds overnight and into Tuesday. GLENCOE AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS MON 11/1/99 The cold and dry conditions have continued to consolidate 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 TUE 12/1/99 Heavy snowfall on Monday night with gale force variable winds will form unstable accumulations of windslab mainly above 800m in sheltered gullies and on slopes with a North to Easterly aspect. The avalanche hazard will be Considerable (Category 3) where deeper accumulations of windslab form and avalanches are likely in these areas. Fresh cornice formations will be prone to collapse. CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Snow above 700m. ICING: Ice above 400m. COMMENT: Reasonable climbing conditions exist on buttresses above 800m but high winds and fresh windslab will require caution. SOUTHERN CAIRNGORMS AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS MON 11/1/99 The continuing cold conditions have left localised pockets of poorly bonded snow on many aspects above 900m. These deposits are mostly in sheltered gully areas and scarps and although unstable are generally avoidable. The avalanche hazard is Moderate (Category 2). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK TUE 12/1/99 Very strong S winds and heavy snowfall overnight will lead to blizzard conditions on the hills. Large deposits can be expected in sheltered areas of N through to SE slopes and gullies, with cornices developing over these aspects. New deposits will be weakly bonded and avalanches will occur. The avalanche hazard will become High (Category 4). CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Patchy snow above 600m with more or less complete cover above 1000m. ICING: Lean conditions with buttresses holding soft snow. A slight thaw freeze cycle would improve things. COMMENT: Remaining cold with best ice in natural watercourses such as Eagles Rock etc. Blizzard conditions expected Monday night. CREAG MEAGAIDH AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS MON 11/1/99 North-Westerly winds and light snowfall have caused significant accumulations of unstable windslab to form on E through to SW aspects above 800m. These deposits are weakly bonded and lying on top of hard ice. The avalanche hazard is Considerable (Category 3) on the above mentioned aspects. AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK TUE 12/1/99 High amounts of snow on very strong SW winds overnight, will cause deep accumulations of unstable windslab to form on N through to SE aspects above 750m. These deposits will form on top of hard snow-ice giving little chance of any bonding. During daytime the strong winds will swing round to the NW, additionally affecting E through to SW aspects above 750m. The avalanche hazard will be High (Category 4) with avalanches occurring on all above mentioned aspects. CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Good cover above 700m. ICING: Mostly hollow and cruddy and about to be buried. COMMENT: Good weather coming to an end. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------