LOCHABER AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS SUN 24/1/99 Slightly cooler conditions overnight have helped consolidate the previously thawing snowpack. Snow showers have produced fresh areas of unstable windslab in sheltered locations. Largest deposits are present on scarp slopes and gullies with a N, NE or E aspect above 1000m. In these locations the avalanche hazard is Considerable (Category 3). Natural avalanche activity observed at these locations on Aonach Mor. Windblown snow slopes have refrozen and are stable. AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK MON 25/1/99 Further windslab development is expected overnight and during Monday. SE winds and snow overnight will load all NW aspects with unstable snow. During Monday, NW winds will start to redistribute this windslab onto SE aspects. Localised sheltered areas will also affected by poorly bonded snow. Where this fresh snow exists in significant quantity, the avalanche hazard will be Considerable (Category 3). Where the snowpack is windblown, it will remain frozen and stable. CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: General cover remaining above 650m. ICING: Freezing level rising briefly to 900m overnight and lowering again on Monday to around 400m. COMMENT: Ice-axe and crampons essential for all hill users. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- SOUTHERN CAIRNGORMS AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS SUN 24/1/99 Very strong W to NW winds have led to widespread drifting of recent snow deposits. Many open areas are scoured, but in sheltered N through to SE slopes localised windslab deposits are poorly bonded to old snow-ice. In most areas the deposits are moderately bonded where some stabilisation is taking place. The avalanche hazard is Considerable (Category 3), in these localised areas. AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK MON 25/1/99 Moderate snowfall and strong SE becoming NW winds will result in further windslab deposits on sheltered slopes and gullies of many aspects, but mainly N to E. These deposits will remain moderately to weakly bonded to old snow-ice, especially on steep slopes above 900m. The avalanche hazard will remain Considerable (Category 3). CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Patchy snow cover above 600m. Mostly complete cover above 900m. ICING: Buttresses on Lochnagar holding mostly unconsolidated snow, with many gullies banked out. COMMENT: Many routes being climbed in Lochnagar, including the Shadow Buttresses and Parallel Gully B. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- NORTHERN CAIRNGORMS AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS SUN 24/1/99 Strong W to WNW winds and heavy overnight snow created significant quantities of new, weakly stabilised windslab on many steep ENE to SE aspects. Poorest stability was noted on E aspects and some of these locations are overhung by fragile, collapse-prone cornices. Debris from recent cornice collapse was noted below Cnap Coire na Spreidhe, an E-facing slope high above Strath Nethy. Considerable (Category 3) hazard of avalanche. Some steep NW to N aspects have been scoured clear of recent snow. AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK MON 25/1/99 More persistent snowfall is expected overnight and on Monday with moderate SE, then NW winds. Unstable windslab development can be expected first on slopes and gullies of a generally N aspect, then E to SE aspects later. Avalanches are likely in all these locations during the forecast period. Considerable (Category 3) hazard of avalanche. CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Fresh, wind-drifted snow down to 550m on Sunday. Heavy drifting above 1050m. ICING: A shovel might be a useful addition to your rack as most ice is still well buried under snow! COMMENT: Remaining wintry. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- CREAG MEAGAIDH AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS SUN 24/1/99 During the day light snowfall on a fresh NW wind has deposited fresh windslab on NE through to S aspects above 750m. In some areas this slab is lying on a weak saturated layer and in other areas a hard layer of neve, both are weakly bonded. Additionally there still remains hard slab on NW through to NE aspects above 750m. The avalanche hazard is Considerable (Category 3). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK MON 25/1/99 Although through the night a freeze-thaw cycle will aid consolidation of existing snowpack there will be moderate amounts of snow on a fresh to strong SE becoming NW wind. This will cause considerable build up of fresh windslab on all aspects above 700m. Sheltered gullies and hollows will be particularly affected. The avalanche hazard will be High (Category 4) with avalanches occurring on the above mentioned aspects. CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Good cover above 650m. Some areas of hard wind-scoured neve above 750m. ICING: More snow but should be improving if you can find it!! Watch this space? COMMENT: Extremely large cornices are above many steep slopes in the area. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- GLENCOE AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS SUN 24/1/99 Colder conditions have stabilised much of the snowpack forming an icy surface crust in many locations exposed to the Westerly winds.New snow has formed areas of unstable windslab on slopes above 800m with a NE to SE aspect and in sheltered gullies. The avalanche hazard is Considerable (Category 3) where deeper accumulations have formed on steeper slopes AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK MON 25/1/99 SE winds and new snow will initially form windslab on slopes with a W to N aspect above 800m. NW winds and snow later in the day will start to form windslab on E to S slopes above700m. Some redistribution of the existing windslab will occur. Deepest accumulations will form mainly in sheltered gullies and on scarp slopes and in these areas the avalanche hazard will be Considerable (Category 3) where avalanches are likely CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Excellent cover above 700m. ICING: Ice reforming above 700m. COMMENT: Higher ridges,buttresses plastered in snow -------------------------------------------------------------------------------