NORTHERN CAIRNGORMS AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS FRI 28/1/00 The snow surface ranges from very wet to nearly dry. This transition occurs from 700 metres to 1000 metres. During the day the freezing level has risen. A dry layer does still exist below the rain soaked snow at 950 metres on an East aspect. Strong prevailing Westerly is loading Easterly aspects, local corrie and scarp slope loading is variable. The dry snow shears on the old melt-freeze layer. The hazard is Considerable (Category 3). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK SAT 29/1/00 The freezing level will push higher and the dry snow layer will become moist due to rain, wind and warming. Gully exits that have multiple aspects will be subject to localised loading. Above 1000 metres avalanches will be likely on East and South aspects. Some of the older shears will still persist at deeper levels in the snowpack. The avalanche hazard will be Considerable (Category 3). CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: A net loss in snow cover with rain over the top but above 1000 metres there is new slab. ICING: Ice going through a melt cycle. COMMENT: Only a couple of handfuls of climbers and hardy students out. It will get better but it may get worse first. LOCHABER AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS FRI 28/1/00 Fresh snow early this morning has turned to rain at all levels during the day. Localised areas of fresh unstable wet snow exist on steep N, NE and E aspects above 1000m. The avalanche hazard is Moderate (Category 2). Elsewhere the snowpack is wet and generally stable. AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK SAT 29/1/00 Warm temperatures will continue overnight before a return to colder conditions and snow on Saturday. The existing snowpack will freeze during Saturday morning and become stable. Strong Westerly winds will form localised areas of unstable windslab during the day. Significant accumulations will generally be restricted to the tops of NE, E and SE aspects above 800m. The avalanche hazard will be Considerable (Category 3). CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Main accumulations remain in N and E facing corries. ICING: All existing snow becoming hard frozen during Saturday. COMMENT: Gale force winds continuing. GLENCOE AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS FRI 28/1/00 Overnight heavy snow above 700 metres was followed by heavy rain at all levels. The snowpack is generally soft and moist. Above 700 metres wet slab overlies a layer of slush which is weakly bonded to the old snowpack. On NW through to E facing corrie headwalls and in summit gullies the avalanche hazard is Considerable (Category 3). Avalanche debris and collapsed cornices noted in several locations in Coire nan Lochan. AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK SAT 29/1/00 Rain turning to snow showers on Saturday will deposit new snow above 600 metres. Windslab will accumulate on NE to SE corrie headwalls and in sheltered summit gullies. Instabilities will remain within the wet slab particularly on steep slopes. As layers of new soft slab build up these in turn will be weakly bonded to the existing snowpack. The avalanche hazard will be Considerable (Category 3). Avalanches are likely where summit gullies fan out. CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Snow cover above 700 metres. ICING: Thawing ice above 700 metres. COMMENT: Severe gales over ridges, beware of falling cornices. SOUTHERN CAIRNGORMS AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS FRI 28/1/00 Snow showers have left new deposits in sheltered locations on N to E aspects. These showers were rapidly followed by light rain which is leaving new snow soft and wet at all levels. On steeper slopes stability was poor above the existing snow-ice layer. The avalanche hazard is Considerable (Category 3). Exposed slopes remain stable but cornices are suspect. AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK SAT 29/1/00 After poor stability overnight cooler temperatures will begin to refreeze the existing snow. Increasingly heavy snow showers during the day will leave further localised deposits in very sheltered locations on some N aspects but mainly on NE to SE aspects. Deeper deposits will show poor stability over the snow ice layer and avalanches are likely on steeper slopes. The avalanche hazard will be Considerable (Category 3). Cornices will remain a hazard. CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Good in N to E corries and higher plateau areas. ICING: A bit thinner after yesterdays temps but remains good in some gullies. COMMENT: Cornices will remain a hazard. CREAG MEAGAIDH AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS FRI 28/1/00 Moderate amounts of fresh snow lying above 850 metres have become wet and heavy as the overnight snowfall turned to rain today. Isolated areas of very unstable windslab have built at the tops of North through East to South-East facing slopes above 950 metres. In these localised areas the avalanche hazard is Considerable (Category 3). Fresh unstable cornices have formed above steep slopes of the same aspect. AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK SAT 29/1/00 Overnight rain will turn to snow on Saturday as temperatures fall. Drifting on severe gale force Westerly winds will build deposits of unstable windslab on North through East to South-East aspects above 750 metres. Unstable fresh cornices will continue to form. The avalanche hazard will be Considerable (Category 3) in these areas. Elsewhere as temperatures fall the snowpack will become well bonded and stable. CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Main cover above 800 metres, somewhat depleted below. ICING: Larger accumulations surviving the thaw but running with water today. COMMENT: Lashing rain at 900 metres - a lovely wee day!! -------------------------------------------------------------------------------