NORTHERN CAIRNGORMS AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS THU 13-1-00 Snow showers have created locally substantial deposits of fine powder snow on mainly South-East aspects. This lies on recent slab, above a melt-freeze crust. Easy shears were obtained on this crust on a South-East facing slope at 1100 metres. Some Northerly aspects have a surface layer of medium hard slab which fails easily. The avalanche hazard is Considerable (Category 3). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK FRI 14-1-00 Further snow showers will continue to load mainly Southerly aspects. Accumulations may be locally significant. Existing pockets of unstable surface slab on North facing slopes will continue to present localised hazard, particularly on scarp slopes and gully tops. Avalanches are likely on North-East through to South aspects, especially above 1000 metres. There is potential for large slab or powder avalanches in these areas. The avalanche hazard will be Considerable (Category 3). CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: New snow at all levels. Main accumulations in corries above 850 metres are substantial. ICING: Plateau icing now being buried by new snow. COMMENT: Cold Northerly airstream continues. LOCHABER AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS THU 13/1/00 Westerly winds overnight have continued to form areas of unstable windslab in many sheltered locations. Greatest accumulations are at the tops of NE, E and SE aspects. As winds have turned North Easterly during Thursday, fresh areas of unstable snow have started to form at the tops of SE through to SW aspects. The avalanche hazard is Considerable (Category 3). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK FRI 14/1/00 Snow showers and Northerly winds will produce fresh areas of unstable windslab, greatest accumulations will be at the tops of SE, S and SW aspects above 900m. The existing areas of unstable snow on NE and E aspects will remain. Avalanches are likely in the above mentioned areas. The avalanche hazard will be Considerable (Category 3). CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Fresh snow lying above 450m. ICING: Windblown snow slopes are hard frozen. COMMENT: Ice axe and crampons essential for all hill users. GLENCOE AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS THU 13/1/00 New snow on strong Westerly winds which became Northerly has formed areas of soft layered windslab. These winds have re-distributed snow and formed shallow windslab with the greatest accumulations being on slopes with a NE to SE aspect above 750 metres. Where deep accumulations of soft windslab exist on steep N through to SE facing slopes and especially in sheltered gullies the avalanche hazard is Considerable (Category 3). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK FRI 14/1/00 Cold Northerly winds will continue to re-distribute and form areas of windslab on to slopes with a Southerly aspect above 750 metres. Some areas of soft windslab will still exist on other sheltered slopes above 700 metres. The greatest accumulations of snow will be found on N through to SE facing slopes. Where deep accumulations of windslab have formed on steeper slopes and on corrie headwalls, but in particular the tops of summit gullies the avalanche hazard will be Considerable (Category 3). CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: New snow above 550 metres. ICING: Ice above 700 metres. COMMENT: Buttresses and ridges are the safer option. SOUTHERN CAIRNGORMS AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS THU 13/1/00 Snow showers in moderate winds have left accumulations of soft slab on NE through to S aspects. These new deposits are poorly bonded to the firmer snow ice and where accumulations are at their greatest on steeper slopes and in sheltered locations of these aspects the avalanche hazard is Considerable (Category 3). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK FRI 14/1/00 Snow showers overnight continuing into Friday will continue to load fresh deposits onto the already unstable snowpack on E to S aspects. New snow will also be deposited on SW aspects. Where these accumulations acquire any great depth, particularly in sheltered, steeper locations on E to S aspects above 850 metres avalanches are likely. The avalanche hazard will be Considerable (Category 3). CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Best cover still above 900 metres. ICING: Much improved in both quantity and quality. COMMENT: Light snow covering old ice is making some footpaths hazardous in places. CREAG MEAGAIDH AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS THU 13/1/00 Severe gale force Northerly winds and snow showers, coupled with severe drifting of existing snow, have caused accumulations of highly unstable windslab to form on sheltered lee slopes. East through South to South West aspects above 700 metres are worst affected. However cross loading has caused isolated areas on North East to East aspects as well. Fresh avalanche debris was noted on an East facing slope in Moy Coire. The avalanche hazard is High (Category 4). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK FRI 14/1/00 Continued drifting of existing snow and cold temperatures mean that there will be no consolidation of the highly unstable windslab accumulations. East through South to West aspects above 700 metres will be worst affected. However isolated pockets may be found in sheltered areas on North to East facing slopes. The avalanche hazard will remain High (Category 4) and avalanches will occur. CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Main cover down to 600 metres. Good ski touring after a bit of a walk. ICING: Enough ice on most routes. COMMENT: Full winter conditions today. White out on summits. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------