NORTHERN CAIRNGORMS AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS WED 26/1/00 Some cloud around the tops, light WSW winds and cooling have contributed to little change in overall stability. The bonding weakness and clean shears on some East and South aspect terrain is still evident. Stability on other aspects is good. Snow depth on a North aspect at 1100m is 170cm. The avalanche hazard is Moderate (Category 2). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK THU 27/1/00 Snow showers above 400 metres will not significantly change stability on North or West aspects. The South and East aspects will be closer to avalanche threshold due to new snow accumulations, particularly with wind transport. Above 1000m on any gully tops with sections that are South and East facing, the instability will persist. The avalanche hazard will be Moderate (Category 2). CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Good cover on all aspects outside the boulder fields. ICING: Ice surviving well. COMMENT: Micro-terrain features in starting zones are an issue in these conditions. . LOCHABER AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS WED 26/1/00 Little change in the existing snowpack has occurred overnight and during Wednesday. Localised areas of moderately bonded windslab remain at the tops of steep slopes and gullies with E through to S aspects above 1150 metres. The avalanche hazard is Moderate (Category 2). Elsewhere the snowpack is generally stable. AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK THU 27/1/00 W-NW winds with snow showers overnight and during Thursday will start to form areas of fresh unstable windslab. Deposits will generally be restricted to the tops of steep slopes, scarp slopes and gullies with NE, E and SE aspects above 1000 metres. Where significant deposits occur in these locations, the avalanche hazard will be Considerable (Category 3). CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Best above 800m in N and E facing corries. ICING: Many routes in condition. COMMENT: Large areas of snow-ice present on many slopes. Ice axe and crampons essential. GLENCOE AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS WED 26/1/00 There was a dusting of new snow overnight above 800 metres. Isolated pockets of very shallow soft slab exist in sheltered summit gullies. The snowpack above 700 metres in N to E facing corries is softening but remains generally stable. Rising temperatures this afternoon are weakening cornices. The avalanche hazard is Low (Category 1). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK THU 27/1/00 There will be new snow above 500 metres overnight and during Thursday. Areas of shallow windslab will accumulate in summit gullies and on sheltered NE to SE facing corrie headwalls. Soft slab overlying hard snow ice on steep slopes will be weakly bonded. The avalanche hazard will be Moderate (Category 2). CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Snow cover above 700m. ICING: Ice above 600m. COMMENT: ‹¤.]¬Z¶ise with colder conditions ÷ ˙vernight and during Thursday. SOUTHERN CAIRNGORMS AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS WED 26/1/00 On sun-exposed slopes the continuing melt freeze cycle has provided a strong crust with only a few recent deposits on other aspects providing any softer snow. These have also become well bonded but some unstable faceted crystals are beginning to develop within these areas. The avalanche hazard is Low (Category 1). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK THU 27/1/00 Colder temperatures will continue to maintain the present situation. Some localised areas on N to E aspects may have an easily breakable crust but will be generally well bonded. The avalanche hazard will be Low (Category 1). CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Generally hard and icy with best cover on plateau areas and in N to E corries. ICING: Good in classic gully lines. Buttresses have some hoar but are still a bit bare. COMMENT: Ski touring is good higher up but has some icy patches. CREAG MEAGAIDH AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS TUE 25/1/00 REPORT WILL BE LATE. AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK WED 26/1/00 CLIMBING CONDITIONS ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- NORTHERN CAIRNGORMS AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS WED 26/1/00 Some cloud around the tops, light WSW winds and cooling have contributed to little change in overall stability. The bonding weakness and clean shears on some East and South aspect terrain is still evident. Stability on other aspects is good. Snow depth on a North aspect at 1100m is 170cm. The avalanche hazard is Moderate (Category 2). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK THU 27/1/00 Snow showers above 400 metres will not significantly change stability on North or West aspects. The South and East aspects will be closer to avalanche threshold due to new snow accumulations, particularly with wind transport. Above 1000m on any gully tops with sections that are South and East facing, the instability will persist. The avalanche hazard will be Moderate (Category 2). CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Good cover on all aspects outside the boulder fields. ICING: Ice surviving well. COMMENT: Micro-terrain features in starting zones are an issue in these conditions. . LOCHABER AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS WED 26/1/00 Little change in the existing snowpack has occurred overnight and during Wednesday. Localised areas of moderately bonded windslab remain at the tops of steep slopes and gullies with E through to S aspects above 1150 metres. The avalanche hazard is Moderate (Category 2). Elsewhere the snowpack is generally stable. AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK THU 27/1/00 W-NW winds with snow showers overnight and during Thursday will start to form areas of fresh unstable windslab. Deposits will generally be restricted to the tops of steep slopes, scarp slopes and gullies with NE, E and SE aspects above 1000 metres. Where significant deposits occur in these locations, the avalanche hazard will be Considerable (Category 3). CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Best above 800m in N and E facing corries. ICING: Many routes in condition. COMMENT: Large areas of snow-ice present on many slopes. Ice axe and crampons essential. GLENCOE AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS WED 26/1/00 There was a dusting of new snow overnight above 800 metres. Isolated pockets of very shallow soft slab exist in sheltered summit gullies. The snowpack above 700 metres in N to E facing corries is softening but remains generally stable. Rising temperatures this afternoon are weakening cornices. The avalanche hazard is Low (Category 1). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK THU 27/1/00 There will be new snow above 500 metres overnight and during Thursday. Areas of shallow windslab will accumulate in summit gullies and on sheltered NE to SE facing corrie headwalls. Soft slab overlying hard snow ice on steep slopes will be weakly bonded. The avalanche hazard will be Moderate (Category 2). CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Snow cover above 700m. ICING: Ice above 600m. COMMENT: Cornices should stabilise with colder conditions overnight and during Thursday. SOUTHERN CAIRNGORMS AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS WED 26/1/00 On sun-exposed slopes the continuing melt freeze cycle has provided a strong crust with only a few recent deposits on other aspects providing any softer snow. These have also become well bonded but some unstable faceted crystals are beginning to develop within these areas. The avalanche hazard is Low (Category 1). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK THU 27/1/00 Colder temperatures will continue to maintain the present situation. Some localised areas on N to E aspects may have an easily breakable crust but will be generally well bonded. The avalanche hazard will be Low (Category 1). CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Generally hard and icy with best cover on plateau areas and in N to E corries. ICING: Good in classic gully lines. Buttresses have some hoar but are still a bit bare. COMMENT: Ski touring is good higher up but has some icy patches. CREAG MEAGAIDH AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS WED 26/1/00 With no further snow falling and only a change in the wind direction to the West, most aspects have remained well bonded and stable. However isolated areas of windslab have been redistributed onto North-East through East to South-East aspects over 900 metres. The avalanche hazard is Moderate (Category 2) in these isolated areas. AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK THU 27/1/00 Moderate snowfalls on a fresh North-West wind will cause new accumulations of unstable windslab to form on North-East through East to South-East aspects above 800 metres. Sheltered gullies and hollows will be most affected. The avalanche hazard will increase to Considerable (Category 3). CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Main cover above 800 metres. Patchy on exposed ridges. ICING: Post Face and Inner Coire offer the best climbing. Ice quality ranges from superb to absolute ***** but that's half the fun is it not! COMMENT: Large cornices are still evident above North through East to South-East aspects. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------