NORTHERN CAIRNGORMS AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS THU 27/1/00 Persistent very light snow on North-West winds has added little additional load to the snowpack. Deep slab layers showing clean shears still exist on East and South aspects above 1000 metres. However, the surface layer is consolidating well and avalanche hazard is limited to a few steep, convex slopes in these affected areas. Northerly aspects still have a thin, fragile surface crust. The avalanche hazard is Moderate (Category 2). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK FRI 28/1/00 Heavy snow on strong South-Westerly winds will deposit substantial layers of fresh windslab on all Northerly aspects. New snow instabilities will be present on all North-facing slopes above 850 metres as well as some Easterly aspects. Avalanches are likely in these areas. The avalanche hazard will be Considerable (Category 3). CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Accumulations becoming sparse below 800 metres, but new snowfall will alter this. ICING: Still excellent, but due to be buried by new slab. COMMENT: End of epic climbing conditions. LOCHABER AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS THU 27/1/00 Rain below 1200 metres has formed a moist and generally stable snowpack below this altitude. Above 1200 metres, some localised areas of windslab have formed in locations sheltered from the Westerly winds. Accumulations are generally restricted to the tops of NE, E and SE aspects. The avalanche hazard is Considerable (Category 3). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK FRI 28/1/00 Heavy snow above 700 metres accompanied by strong SW winds are expected overnight and during Friday. Large areas of unstable windslab will form, greatest accumulations being on sheltered N, NE and E aspects. Avalanches are likely in these locations. The avalanche hazard will be Considerable (Category 3). Unstable cornices will also form above these aspects. CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Fresh snow expected above 600 metres during Friday. ICING: Wind scoured snow slopes will re-freeze overnight. COMMENT: Strong winds expected on the summits. GLENCOE AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS THU 27/1/00 Rain at all levels has made the snowpack soft and moist. Cornices are unstable and prone to collapse. Areas of wet slab exist on N to E facing corrie headwalls above 700 metres. In these locations the avalanche hazard is Moderate (Category 2). Elsewhere the snowpack is generally stable. AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK FRI 28/1/00 Heavy snow will fall above 700 metres overnight and during Friday. Areas of deep layered windslab will accumulate on N to E facing corrie headwalls and in sheltered summit gullies. Avalanches are likely where summit gullies fan out. The avalanche hazard will be Considerable (Category 3). Cornices will rapidly form. CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Snow cover above 700m. ICING: Ice above 650m. COMMENT: Severe gales over ridges. SOUTHERN CAIRNGORMS AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS THU 27/1/00 Gradually rising temperatures and some light rain are softening the surface layers of the snowpack at altitudes below 950 metres. Above this level the snow is soft but stable. The avalanche hazard is Low (Category 1). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK FRI 28/1/00 Overnight snow showers will become heavy during Friday. Drifting will lead to accumulations of unstable windslab on N to E aspects. Bonding between layers will be poor especially where fresh snow overlies harder snow ice. In sheltered locations including steeper slopes and gullies avalanches are likely. The avalanche hazard will be Considerable (Category 3). Rapidly reforming cornices will be suspect. CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: High plateau areas and N to E facing corries holding most amounts. ICING: Best in classic gully lines, buttresses becoming black again. COMMENT: Expect difficult mountain conditions on Friday. CREAG MEAGAIDH AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS THU 27/1/00 A thaw at all levels accompanied by just a few light snow showers on the tops has had little effect on the snowpack. Isolated patches of moderately bonded damp windslab remain on North-East through East to South-East aspects over 900 metres. Other aspects are well bonded and stable. The avalanche hazard is Moderate (Category 2). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK FRI 28/1/00 Heavy snow during the period on severe gale force South- Westerly winds will build deep deposits of highly unstable windslab on North through East to South-East aspects above 800 metres. On these aspects the avalanche hazard will rise to High (Category 4) and avalanches will occur. Fresh cornices will build above these same aspects. CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Main cover above 800 metres, patchy on exposed ridges. ICING: The Post Face and Inner Coire offer the best conditions. COMMENT: Horrendous mountain conditions expected. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------