NORTHERN CAIRNGORMS AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS THU 23/12/99 Snow showers and drifting have created areas of windslab on North and East aspects, mainly above 950 metres. These lie on a bed of old re-frozen snow. Easy shears of soft surface layers were obtained on steep (37ø) slopes at 1000 metres. Most slopes of other aspects are wind-scoured and stable. The avalanche hazard is Category 4 (High). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK FRI 24/12/99 Snow showers and South-Westerly winds will add to unstable accumulations mainly on North and East facing slopes above 750 metres. All slopes of these aspects, but particularly scarp slopes and gully exits will be hazardous. Cornices will be very unstable. The avalanche hazard will be Category 4 (High). CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Snow above 600 metres. Main accumulations exist in North and East aspects of corries above 850 metres. ICING: Considerable icing of wind-scoured slopes and boulder-fields. COMMENT: Much breakable crust, making walking difficult. LOCHABER AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS THU 23/12/99 Today has seen a return to colder temperatures and fresh snow above 600m. Strong Southerly winds have started to form fresh areas of unstable windslab. Main accumulations exist on NE and N aspects above 750m, as well as some sheltered E aspects. Greatest deposits are in gullies and on scarp slopes. The avalanche hazard is Considerable (Category 3). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK FRI 24/12/99 Strong SW winds with snow above 1000m are expected overnight, followed by further snow showers during Friday. Areas of unstable snow will continue to form, mainly on N, NE and E aspects above 900m, greatest accumulations being in gullies and on scarp slopes. Avalanches will occur on these aspects. The avalanche hazard will be High (Category 4). CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Good general cover above 700m. ICING: Freezing level expected at around 900m during Friday. COMMENT: Strong winds continuing. GLENCOE AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS THU 23/12/99 New snow exists above 700m. The snowpack is generally soft with isolated patches of harder snow ice. Slopes above 800m facing NW through to E and sheltered summit gullies contain deposits of unstable windslab. In these areas the avalanche hazard is Considerable (Category 3). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK FRI 24/12/99 Heavy sleet overnight turning to snow above 900m will deposit further layers of windslab on NW through to E facing slopes and into sheltered summit gullies. In these areas avalanches are likely and the avalanche hazard will be Considerable (Category 3). CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Snow cover above 700m. ICING: Thawing ice on rocks above 700m. COMMENT: Blustery conditions, gullies require caution. SOUTHERN CAIRNGORMS AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS THU 23/12/99 Snow showers and drifting snow have left new localised deposits on N to E aspects above 850m. Poor stability was to be found in gullies and other sheltered locations where new deposits formed over older snow ice. The avalanche hazard is Considerable (Category 3). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK FRI 24/12/99 Milder conditions overnight will leave the snowpack moist but moderately bonded at all levels. Snow showers falling in high winds will leave new accumulations in sheltered locations on N to E aspects above 900m. Where new deposits overlie harder snow ice the hazard of avalanche will be Considerable (Category 3). CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Patchy with most amounts in N to E corries. ICING: What remains is of dubious quality. COMMENT: Winds will be very strong during the day. CREAG MEAGAIDH AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS THU 23/12/99 Following yesterday's thaw, new snow fell overnight leaving deep deposits on S facing slopes. However further snowfall and strong SSW winds have redistributed the new snow, causing unstable windslab of half a metre depth or more to form on NW to NE aspects above 850m. This windslab affects open slopes as well as sheltered gullies and hollows. The avalanche hazard is Considerable (Category 3). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK FRI 24/12/99 Continuing snowfall accompanied by very strong SW winds will add to existing unstable windslab deposits. These unstable accumulations will still exist on NW to NE aspects above 850m. Cornices will continue to grow above lee slopes (NW to NE). The avalanche hazard will remain Considerable (Category 3) with avalanches likely in the above mentioned areas. CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: New snow down to 500m. Main cover above 800m. Difficult going underfoot. ICING: Nil visibility, however ice should have easily survived the recent thaw, although will now be buried under the new snow. COMMENT: Blizzard conditions on top today. Oh well nothing much changes here! -------------------------------------------------------------------------------