SOUTHERN CAIRNGORMS AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS SUN 23/1/00 Localised areas of moderately bonded snow exist in very sheltered locations on E to SW aspects. On steeper slopes where these recent deposits overlie harder snow ice the avalanche hazard is Moderate (Category 2). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK MON 24/1/00 Very light snow overnight will have little effect on the stability of the snowpack. Moderately bonded areas will persist in very sheltered steeper locations on E to SW aspects where the avalanche hazard will be Moderate (Category 2). Elsewhere the slopes will be well bonded. CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Extensive patches on high plateau areas. N to E corries holding most amounts. ICING: Good in gully lines; turf well frozen. COMMENT: Many ski tourers observed creatively linking patches to great effect. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- GLENCOE AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS SUN 23/1/00 The cold clear night has maintained the snowpack in firm and stable condition. Many slopes contain hard icy snow (neve). Occaisional isolated pockets of shallow soft slab exist in sheltered hollows. These are not significant and the avalanche hazard is Low (Category 1). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK MON 24/1/00 A trace of new snow overnight will accumulate in sheltered locations mainly on NE to SE slopes above 700m. This is not expected to be significant and the avalanche hazard will remain Low (Category 1). CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Hard frozen snow above 700m. ICING: Ice above 400m. COMMENT: Crampons and axe essential in hard snow ice conditions. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- LOCHABER AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS SUN 23/1/00 Localised areas of windslab exists, accumulations being generally restricted to the tops of E, SE and S facing slopes and gullies above 1150m. This windslab is still exhibits some instabilities but is gradually stabilising. Elsewhere the snowpack is generally stable. The avalanche hazard is Considerable (Category 3). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK MON 24/1/00 Light snow showers are expected overnight, but no significant accumulations are expected. The existing areas of windslab will gradually stabilise during the forecast period. Greatest accumulations of this windslab are generally restricted to the tops of E, SE and S facing slopes and gullies above 1150m. The existing old snow will remain stable. The avalanche hazard will be Moderate (Category 2). CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Main accumulations exist in N and E facing corries above 800m. ICING: Plenty of routes being climbed in the area. COMMENT: Large areas of snow-ice present on many slopes. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- NORTHERN CAIRNGORMS AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS SUN 23/1/00 Wind transport of the recent snow is the main feature adding to the existing slab. The prevailing wind is Northerly but local corrie and scarp loading is on East, South and West aspects. There is major cornice development on South aspects with erosion of the Northerly cornices. The cool temperatures are preserving the relatively isolated instability. The avalanche hazard is Considerable (Category 3). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK MON 24/1/00 The instability on steep recently loaded slopes above 950 metres will persist. This will be mainly the aspects from East through South and West. Northerly snow showers will add some load. Local wind effect will continue to redistribute and shift the slab from one place to another. The avalanche hazard will be Considerable (Category 3). CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Slab thickness varies from 30 to 75 centimetres. ICING: Well iced in all the usual places. COMMENT: Avalanche heads will be watching closely for the shifting patterns from snow redistribution. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- NORTHERN CAIRNGORMS AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS SUN 23/1/00 Wind transport of the recent snow is the main feature adding to the existing slab. The prevailing wind is Northerly but local corrie and scarp loading is on East, South and West aspects. There is major cornice development on South aspects with erosion of the Northerly cornices. The cool temperatures are preserving the relatively isolated instability. The avalanche hazard is Considerable (Category 3). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK MON 24/1/00 The instability on steep recently loaded slopes above 950 metres will persist. This will be mainly the aspects from East through South and West. Northerly snow showers will add some load. Local wind effect will continue to redistribute and shift the slab from one place to another. The avalanche hazard will be Considerable (Category 3). CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Slab thickness varies from 30 to 75 centimetres. ICING: Well iced in all the usual places. COMMENT: Avalanche heads will be watching closely for the shifting patterns from snow redistribution. LOCHABER AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS SUN 23/1/00 Localised areas of windslab exists, accumulations being generally restricted to the tops of E, SE and S facing slopes and gullies above 1150m. This windslab is still exhibits some instabilities but is gradually stabilising. Elsewhere the snowpack is generally stable. The avalanche hazard is Considerable (Category 3). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK MON 24/1/00 Light snow showers are expected overnight, but no significant accumulations are expected. The existing areas of windslab will gradually stabilise during the forecast period. Greatest accumulations of this windslab are generally restricted to the tops of E, SE and S facing slopes and gullies above 1150m. The existing old snow will remain stable. The avalanche hazard will be Moderate (Category 2). CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Main accumulations exist in N and E facing corries above 800m. ICING: Plenty of routes being climbed in the area. COMMENT: Large areas of snow-ice present on many slopes. GLENCOE AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS SUN 23/1/00 The cold clear night has maintained the snowpack in firm and stable condition. Many slopes contain hard icy snow (neve). Occaisional isolated pockets of shallow soft slab exist in sheltered hollows. These are not significant and the avalanche hazard is Low (Category 1). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK MON 24/1/00 A trace of new snow overnight will accumulate in sheltered locations mainly on NE to SE slopes above 700m. This is not expected to be significant and the avalanche hazard will remain Low (Category 1). CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Hard frozen snow above 700m. ICING: Ice above 400m. COMMENT: Crampons and axe essential in hard snow ice conditions. SOUTHERN CAIRNGORMS AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS SUN 23/1/00 Localised areas of moderately bonded snow exist in very sheltered locations on E to SW aspects. On steeper slopes where these recent deposits overlie harder snow ice the avalanche hazard is Moderate (Category 2). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK MON 24/1/00 Very light snow overnight will have little effect on the stability of the snowpack. Moderately bonded areas will persist in very sheltered steeper locations on E to SW aspects where the avalanche hazard will be Moderate (Category 2). Elsewhere the slopes will be well bonded. CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Extensive patches on high plateau areas. N to E corries holding most amounts. ICING: Good in gully lines; turf well frozen. COMMENT: Many ski tourers observed creatively linking patches to great effect. CREAG MEAGAIDH AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS SUN 23/1/00 Drifting of snow on a fresh North-West wind has continued to build localised deposits of windslab on North-East through East to South aspects above 800 metres. Where these accumulations are deepest, and particularly where they occur in areas that have remained in shadow, the avalanche hazard is Considerable (Category 3). Elsewhere the snowpack is well bonded and stable. AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK MON 24/1/00 A trace of snow overnight on a fresh Northerly wind will continue to deposit small amounts of fresh windslab on North- East through East to South aspects above 800 metres. Temperatures will rise - with the freezing level reaching the summits for a time tonight. This will help stabilise the windslab and the avalanche hazard will be Moderate (Category 2) in the above mentioned areas. CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Main cover above 800m. ICING: Improved with the colder temperatures, some routes still thin at the bottom; Inner Coire routes remain in the best condition. COMMENT: A slight blip tonight as temperatures rise - high pressure due to start building again on Monday! -------------------------------------------------------------------------------