LOCHABER AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS SAT 23/1/99 Rain below 1100m overnight has produced a moist snowpack below this level. Fresh snow during Saturday has started to form fresh windslab above 1000m. Areas of unstable wet snow are present, mainly on steep aspects below 1000m. Above this altitude, areas of unstable windslab are present; greatest accumulations being on N, NE and E aspects above 1200m. The avalanche hazard is Considerable (Category 3). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK SUN 24/1/99 Moderate SW winds and snow above 800m are expected overnight and during Sunday. Fresh accumulations of unstable windslab will continue to form on lee slopes. Greatest accumulations will be on slopes and gullies with a N, NE or E aspect above 900m. Avalanches are likely in these locations. The avalanche hazard will be Considerable (Category 3). Unstable cornices will develop above these aspects. Wind blown snow slopes will refreeze and become stable. CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: General cover remains above 650m. ICING: Freezing level lowering to 700m. COMMENT: Ice axe and crampons essential for all hill users. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- CREAG MEAGAIDH AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS SAT 23/1/99 Milder temperatures today, have aided consolidation of the snowpack. Hard slab lies on NW through to SE aspects above 750m. Additionally shallow accumulations of fresh windslab are evident in sheltered areas below cornices on the same aspects, but above 900m. The avalanche hazard is Considerable (Category 3). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK SUN 24/1/99 Colder conditions will help to firm up the existing snowpack. However further snowfall on a strong SW wind, overnight and tomorrow (24/1/99) will cause unstable windslab to form in sheltered gullies and hollows of a NW through to SE aspect above 800m. The avalanche hazard will be Considerable (Category 3) with avalanches likely on the above mentioned aspects. CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Deep cover above 600m. Skis recommended for getting about. Thigh deep snow on the Coire Ardair path. ICING: Loads of ice, if you can find it under all the snow. COMMENT: Extremely large cornices are above many steep slopes in the area. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- SOUTHERN CAIRNGORMS AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS SAT 23/1/99 Snow showers and very strong SE then SW winds have led to widespread drifting of new snow deposits. Many open areas are scoured, but in sheltered NW through to E slopes new windslab deposits have developed. These are poorly bonded above 1000m on scarp slopes and summit gullies. At lower altitudes some stabilisation is taking place. The avalanche hazard is Considerable (Category 3). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK SUN 24/1/99 Further light snowfall and moderate SW winds will result in little change to existing windslab deposits on NW through to E facing slopes and gullies. These deposits will remain moderately to weakly bonded to old snow-ice, especially on steep slopes above 1000m. The avalanche hazard will remain Considerable (Category 3). CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Patchy snow cover above 600m. Mostly complete cover above 900m. ICING: Lean ice conditions improving. Buttresses on Lochnagar holding snow with some good neve in places. COMMENT: Remember! Although slopes above 1000m are most at risk, avalanche run out paths can affect lower approach slopes! ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- NORTHERN CAIRNGORMS AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS SAT 23/1/99 Persistent light snow showers and strong SE to SW winds have resulted in the development of localised accumulations of weakly-bonded windslab on NW to NE aspects. Stability was poor where this new slab was deepest above 1100m and the avalanche hazard remains Considerable (Category 3) but localised in these places. Strong local winds have scoured some nearby locations. Good stability was noted in many other places at elevations below 1050m. AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK SUN 24/1/99 Light snow showers on gentle SW winds through the period will see some soft windslab development at the tops of N to NE aspects. This is not expected to amount to much and will be local to the very tops of the steep slopes and gullies specified. Where it is deepest the avalanche hazard will be Considerable (Category 3) localised but may improve later. CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Thin covering of wind-blown snow down to 800m on Saturday. Icy in exposed areas. ICING: A few gullies in N.Corries received some `trade' on Saturday with 80mph blasts of wind-driven snow the dubious reward for successful ascentionists topping out! Ice still buried on many routes. COMMENT: Light winds forecast for Sunday. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- GLENCOE AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS SAT 23/1/99 Snow at lower levels has become saturated by rain. Above 800m new snow and SW gales have continued to deposit weakly bonded accumulations of wet snow in sheltered gullies and on slopes with a NW-E aspect The avalanche hazard is High (Category 4). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK SUN 24/1/99 Colder conditions overnight will begin to stabilise the existing snowpack. Moderate falls of new snow and SW winds will deposit fresh windslab on top of weakly bonded accumulations of deep soft snow mainly above 800m on N-E slopes and in all sheltered gullies. The avalanche hazard will be High (Category 4) Avalanches will occur in these areas CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Wet snow above 700m. ICING: Thawing ice above 800m. COMMENT: Deep wet snow on higher ridges and buttresses could give good climbing potential as colder conditions affect the area. Deep unstable snow in sheltered areas and gullies will require caution -------------------------------------------------------------------------------