NORTHERN CAIRNGORMS
AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS FRI 21/1/00
Colder conditions have frozen and stabilised yesterday's wet
layers.  No significant fresh snowfall has occurred.  An icy
surface crust exists on all aspects.  The avalanche hazard is Low
(Category 1).

AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK SAT 22/1/00
Some continuous snowfall overnight will turn showery during the
day. Northerly winds will deposit this snow as windslab on East
through to South facing slopes, mainly above 800 metres. There
will also be some cross-loading at the tops of  gullies and scarp
slopes on Northerly aspects.  New snow will lie on a bed of hard
snow-ice and surface instabilities will be present.  The
avalanche hazard will be Considerable (Category 3).


CLIMBING CONDITIONS 

SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Snowpack reduced, but still good 
cover on plateaux and in corries.

ICING: Quality and quantity much improved.  Buttresses in 
Northern Corries well iced.

COMMENT: Large new rockfall across Sticil Face.

 


LOCHABER
AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS FRI 21/1/00
There has been some fresh snow falling during today but
accumulations have not been significant enough to have had an
effect on the overall snow stability, which remains good on all
aspects. The avalanche hazard is Low (Category 1).

AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK SAT 22/1/00
Snow showers and strong NW winds are expected overnight and
during Saturday. Localised areas of unstable windslab will form,
greatest accumulations will be at the tops of E, SE and S
aspects. The old snowpack will remain frozen and stable. The
avalanche hazard will be Considerable (Category 3).



CLIMBING CONDITIONS 

SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Main accumulations remain in N 
and E facing corries above 800m. Fresh snow expected above 
300m during Saturday.

ICING: Widespread snow-ice on open slopes. 

COMMENT: Crampons and ice-axe essential for all hill users.



GLENCOE
AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS FRI 21/1/00
Below 800 metres the snowpack is soft and moist. Instabilities
remain within this layered wet slab. Above 800m a firm crust of
snow ice exists particularly on exposed slopes. Summit gullies
contain snow-ice and cornices are generally stable. The avalanche
hazard is Moderate (Category 2) where wet slab lies on steep
slopes below 800 metres.

AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK SAT 22/1/00
New snow will accumulate on sheltered NE through to SE slopes
above 500 metres. Windslab deposited onto hard old snow-ice will
be weakly bonded. Where localised areas of deeper soft slab exist
on steep ground such as summit gullies the avalanche hazard will
be Considerable (Category 3). The snowpack at lower altitudes
will develop a firm crust as temperatures drop.

CLIMBING CONDITIONS 

SNOW DISTRIBUTION: New snow above 500m.

ICING: Ice above 800m.

COMMENT: Exposed slopes consist of hard snow-ice. Ice-axe
and crampons essntial.
 


SOUTHERN CAIRNGORMS
AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS FRI 21/1/00
Freeze thaw conditions have maintained the snow in a well 
bonded state. The avalanche hazard remains Low (Category 1). 

AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK SAT 22/1/00
New localised deposits will build on N to NE aspects with more
extensive areas on E through to S aspects. Above 800 metres where
new snow overlies existing harder snow-ice stability will be
marginal. On steeper and scarp slopes where any reasonable depth
exists avalanches are likely. The avalanche hazard will be
Considerable (Category 3). Cornices will start to reform.


CLIMBING CONDITIONS 

SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Mainly in N to E corries with patchy 
cover elsewhere.
ICING: Good in some gully lines, but buttresses are black. 
COMMENT: Sizeable rock fall has occurred in the Douglas 
Gibson area but unsure of the starting area, caution advised.



CREAG MEAGAIDH
AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS FRI 21/1/00
The settled weather has continued, with only very light snow
showers later in the period leaving a dusting of fresh snow on
the tops. The snowpack is well bonded and stable on all aspects,
though soft at low levels. Large cornices are still present above
steep North through East to South-East aspects, and small sluffs
of snow and ice from steep rock slabs were observed in Coire
Ardair today. The avalanche hazard is Low (Category 1).

AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK SAT 22/1/00
A period of snowfall overnight on NW winds will be followed by
snow showers tomorrow (Saturday). Windslab will build on East
through to South aspects above 750 metres. Colder temperatures
will freeze the old snowpack, providing a ready sliding surface
for the windslab. Where fresh windslab is found the avalanche
hazard will be Considerable (Category 3). Elsewhere the snowpack
will be well bonded and stable.


CLIMBING CONDITIONS 

SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Main cover above 800 metres. 
Patchy on exposed ridges.

ICING: Pinnacle Buttress is pretty bare. Water was running 
down the first pitch of Last Post today. The Inner Coire has the 
best conditions, though still thin in places.

COMMENT: Summit temperatures due to drop to minus five 
degrees C tomorrow.




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