GLENCOE AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS SAT 22/1/00 The snowpack has a firm crust at all levels. Above 500 metres there has been a dusting of new snow. In sheltered locations on NE to SE slopes isolated pockets of shallow windslab exist. This soft slab is weakly bonded to the underlying snow ice. Avalanche hazard Moderate (Category 2). Elsewhere the snowpack is generally firm and stable. AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK SUN 23/1/00 Cold settled conditions will maintain a generally firm and stable snowpack. Isolated pockets of soft slab will remain in sheltered areas on NE to SE slopes. Windslab lying on steep snow ice will be weakly bonded. The avalanche hazard in these locations will be Moderate (Category 2). Elsewhere hard neve (snow ice) conditions will prevail. CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Snow cover above 700m. ICING: Ice on rocks above 600m. COMMENT: Crampons and axe essential in hard snow ice conditions. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- LOCHABER AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS SAT 22/1/00 A brief period of rain at all levels overnight was followed by snow showers and strong North to North West winds during the morning. Localised areas of fresh unstable snow have formed in sheltered locations. Greatest accumulations are above 1150m, at the tops of E, SE and S aspects. Elsewhere the snowpack remains stable. The avalanche hazard is Considerable (Category 3). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK SUN 23/1/00 Cold and dry conditions are expected overnight and during Sunday. Little change is expected to the existing snowpack. Localised areas of windslab will remain in areas sheltered from the Northerly winds. Greatest accumulations will be above 1150m, at the tops of E, SE and S aspects. All wind scoured snow slopes will be stable. The avalanche hazard will be Considerable (Category 3). CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Main accumulations remain in N and E facing corries above 800m. ICING: Wide spread snow-ice has formed on all wind scoured snow slopes. COMMENT: Many climbing parties out this weekend enjoying the cold conditions. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- SOUTHERN CAIRNGORMS AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS SAT 22/1/00 Drifting has caused the light snowfall to accumulate as weakly bonded windslab on E to S aspects. Easy shears were achieved at a layer of graupel buried within the snowpack. In sheltered steeper locations of these aspects where any reasonable depth exists over older snow ice the avalanche hazard is Considerable (Category 3). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK SUN 23/1/00 Drifting of light overnight snow showers will lead to further localised accumulations of windslab on E through to SW aspects. In sheltered steeper locations above 800 metres where these fresh deposits overlie an already unstable snowpack the avalanche hazard will remain Considerable (Category 3). Elsewhere the snow is firm and stable. CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Mainly in N to E corries. Broken cover on high plateau areas. ICING: Most ice to be found in the deeper gully lines. COMMENT: Turf well frozen, buttresses a bit bare. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- NORTHERN CAIRNGORMS AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS SAT 22/1/00 There is new cool dry snow in slab formation on Southerly and Easterly aspects above 750 metres. Where tested at 950 metres the cornice broke easily but did not entrain mass below. The slab is up to 40 centimetres thick in the study plot. Even though visibility is limited there is dramatic evidence of wind transport. The snowpack below the new slab is stable in this cooler regime. The avalanche hazard is Considerable (Category 3). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK SUN 23/1/00 Continued showery and cool weather will add to and maintain the storm instability. The snowpack will be weakly bonded above 1100 metres on East and South aspects where the new slab will be over 1 metre thick. The avalanche hazard will be High (Category 4) CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Highly variable distribution of new snow and new cornice development on mainly South and East aspects. Foot penetration up to 20 centimetres in less exposed accumulation zones. ICING: Good ice, showing wear and tear in places. COMMENT: This new load needs some time to avalanche or settle out. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- CREAG MEAGAIDH AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS SAT 22/1/00 Light snowfall overnight, combined with drifting on a strong North-East airstream today has left isolated areas of fresh windslab on East through South to West aspects above 800 metres, sheltered gullies and hollows are particularly affected. In these areas the avalanche hazard is Considerable (Category 3). Elsewhere the snowpack remains windscoured and well bonded. AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK SUN 23/1/00 Remaining cold throughout the forecast period with continued drifting will continue to build windslab in isolated sheltered gullies and hollows of an East through South to West aspect above 800 metres. Where this isolated windslab is found the avalanche hazard is Considerable (Category 3). CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Main cover above 800 metres. ICING: Still some water running on the post face today but generally improving in colder conditions. COMMENT: Most easy gullies, post-face and inner Coire routes climbed today. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------