NORTHERN CAIRNGORMS AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS THU 14/1/99 Persistent snow showers on strong winds from various directions brought about very poor stability in new deep windslab. Largest accumulations lie on E to SE aspects where some large avalanches occurred during daylight hours today. The largest ran 1km from Cnap Coire na Spreidhe down to the bottom of Strath Nethy. Unstable slab was also being loaded onto N to NW aspects late in the afternoon. The avalanche hazard is High (Category 4). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK FRI 15/1/99 Heavy snow on SW winds, then rain and a strong rise in temperature will bring about very poor stability in many places during the forecast period. Avalanches will occur on N through to SE aspects wherever new or recent windslab deposits lie. High (Category 4) hazard of avalanche. CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Fresh snow at all levels on Thursday. Very heavy drifting in places above 850m. ICING: Hard to say as many crags plastered with snow. COMMENT: Very poor mountain conditions for a time with freezing level forecast to rise to 2800m! LOCHABER AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS THU 14/1/98 Large areas of unstable windslab are continuing to form in many sheltered locations. Greatest accumulations are on steep slopes and gullies with N, NE and E aspects above 800m. Where this slab exists, it is weakly bonded. In these locations the avalanche hazard is High (Category 4). Unstable cornices are also present above these aspects. AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK FRI 15/1/99 A thaw at all levels accompanied by heavy rain is expected overnight and during Friday. A period of high instability and avalanche activity is expected overnight. By Friday afternoon, a return to colder conditions will begin to stabilise the snowpack. By daylight hours on Friday morning, the avalanche hazard will be Considerable (Category 3) and gradually reduce during the øÄafternoon. CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Current snow level 700m although this will rise during Friday. ICING: Freezing level rising to 2800m overnight and during Friday. Lowering again on Friday afternoon. COMMENT: Fairly unpleasant mountain conditions expected over the next 24 hours. GLENCOE AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS THU 14/1/99 Heavy snowfall and strong winds have formed weakly bonded accumulations of windslab mainly above 800m in sheltered gullies and on slopes with a N, E and SE aspect. Where these deposits lie on steeper slopes the avalanche hazard is High (Category 4). In areas exposed to the recent strong winds the snowpack has a firm icy crust AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK FRI 15/1/99 Further new snow and strong SW winds will continue during Thursday night latterly turning to rain at all levels during most of Friday. The rise in temperature and the gale force SW winds will cause further instabilities in the already unstable snowpack. Accumulations of layered windslab mainly above 800m in sheltered gullies and on slopes with a N to SE aspect will have an avalanche hazard of High (Category 4). Avalanches will occur in these areas and cornices will be prone to collapse. CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Snow above 300m. ICING: Ice above 400m. COMMENT: Very strong gusting Southwesterly winds and fresh unstable windslab will require immense caution. Ridges and buttresses are the safest option as regards snow conditions. SOUTHERN CAIRNGORMS AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS THU 14/1/99 Strong SW winds have led to substantial amounts of weakly bonded snow in sheltered locations mainly on N to E aspects. The avalanche hazard is High (Category 4). Exposed slopes are scoured and icy. AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK FRI 15/1/99 Overnight and well into the day freezing levels will rise above the summits and be accompanied by rain, snow and strong winds. On any aspect where recent deposits of snow exist and in particular N to E slopes avalanches will occur. Cornices will be unstable. The avalanche hazard will be High (Category 4). CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Mainly on N to E aspects with other exposed slopes icy. ICING: Building but under snow. COMMENT: Freezing level will rise to around 2800m before dropping to 900m later on Friday. CREAG MEAGAIDH AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS THU 14/1/99 Heavy snow on strong Westerly winds has caused deep and highly unstable windslab accumulations to form in sheltered gullies and hollows. NW through to S aspects above 700m are worst affected, however due to variable winds in the corries unstable slab can also be found in sheltered areas on S through to NW aspects. The avalanche hazard is High (Category 4). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK FRI 15/1/99 Heavy snow, turning to rain on a strong SW wind will continue to load existing windslab deposits found on any aspect above 700m for a time. This will be followed by a catastrophic thaw with the freezing level rising to 2800m, which will cause a period of high instability with avalanches occurring on any aspect and an increased risk of cornice collapse. The avalanche hazard will remain High (Category 4). CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: New snow at all levels. ICING: Thin, hollow and buried but should be helped after temperatures fall again tomorrow afternoon (15/1/99) COMMENT: Horrible weather, avalanches, and violent storm force winds tomorrow. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------