CREAG MEAGAIDH AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS SUN 16/1/00 Milder temperatures today have generally helped to stabilise the snowpack. Moderately well bonded windslab does remain however on North through East to South aspects above 800 metres, and here the avalanche hazard is Moderate (Category 2). Large cornices remain above North through East to South-East aspects and these are becoming increasing unstable as temperatures rise. Debris from recent cornice collapse noted in Coire a'Chriochairein. AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK MON 17/1/00 Rising temperatures will continue to aid the general stabilisation of the snowpack. Moderately well bonded windslab will remain on North through East to South aspects above 800 metres. Cornices will become increasingly unstable and prone to collapse. Sluffing of snow and ice from steep rock slabs will occur. The avalanche hazard will be Moderate (Category 2). CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Main cover above 650 metres; gullies, hollows and N and E facing corries are holding the most snow. ICING: Still a lot of snow burying the ice, which is generally of poor quality on most routes. COMMENT: A feel of spring in the air, hope it gets cold again soon! ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- GLENCOE AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS SUN 16/1/00 The snowpack is soft and moist at all levels. Soft wet slab is overlying firmer old snow. In sheltered summit gullies this wet slab is deep and potentially unstable. Large cornices are unstable. Several collapsed cornices and avalanche debris were noted in Coire nan Lochan. Above 700m on N to E facing corrie headwalls and in summit gullies the avalanche hazard is Considerable (Category 3). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK MON 17/1/00 Temperatures will continue to rise bringing drizzle to all levels. This will affect the snowpack by further weakening the bond between soft slab and firmer old snow. Where deep wet slab lies in summit gullies avalanches are likely especially where cornices exist above. The avalanche hazard will be Considerable (Category 3). CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Snow cover above 600m. ICING: Thawing ice above 600m. COMMENT: Cornices prone to collapse in rising temperatures. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- LOCHABER AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS SUN 16/1/00 Warmer conditions have started to consolidate the existing snowpack. The tops of gullies and scarp slopes with NE to E through to SW aspects still contain localised areas of weakly bonded windslab. In these locations the avalanche hazard is Considerable (Category 3). Large unstable cornices remain mainly above N to SE aspects. AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK MON 17/1/00 Warm conditions with light rain overnight and during Mon will produce a moist snowpack at all levels. Localised areas of unstable snow will be present on many aspects. Greatest accumulations will be at the tops of gullies and scarp slopes with NE to E through to SW aspects. Avalanches are likely in these locations. The avalanche hazard will be Considerable (Category 3). Hazard of cornice collapse triggering slopes below. CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Best cover above 800m ICING: Freezing level set to rise above the summits overnight. COMMENT: Plenty of routes seeing ascents. Nice day above the inversion. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- NORTHERN CAIRNGORMS AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS SUN 16-1-00 A warming trend was the most noticeable feature in the reporting period. Cairngorm summit went above freezing in the very early morning hours, a slight diurnal cooling occurred in the late afternoon. Otherwise, direct sunlight on South aspects and light winds was noteworthy. The persistent easy shears continue on various aspects above 850 metres where snow depth is greater than 50 centimetres. The avalanche hazard is Considerable ( Category 3). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK MON 17-1-00 The continued warming trend will contribute to some settlement in the upper snowpack, particularly just below the surface crust. The mid-pack temperatures will still be in the -2 degree range. The cool dry snow at the interface of instability will change little in this forecast period. The avalanche hazard will be Considerable (Category 3). CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Foot penetration to 15 centimetres in areas of well consolidated snowpack, more around boulders and minor terrain irregularities. ICING: Ice has formed reasonably well in the usual places. South aspects somewhat softer. COMMENT: Best day of the millenium so far. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- SOUTHERN CAIRNGORMS AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS SUN 16/1/00 Areas of moderate stability still exist on N through to S aspects. Above 900 metres winds have continued to redistribute snow on to E to S aspects. Although surface layers are showing signs of bonding some instabilities remain in the snowpack. Observers noted a large amount of debris on a SE slope in Corrie Kander. The avalanche hazard is Considerable (Category 3). Exposed aspects remain scoured and icy. AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK MON 17/1/00 Little will change with milder temperatures continuing to thaw the snowpack at all levels. Greatest hazard will be on steeper and scarp slopes on N through to S aspects where they may also be threatened by cornices of questionable stability. The avalanche hazard will be Considerable (Category 3). CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Reasonable on all aspects with softer areas on E to S aspects. ICING: Remains good but of variable quality. COMMENT: Where cornices exist they are suspect. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------