NORTHERN CAIRNGORMS AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS SAT 29/1/00 Temperatures have dropped and the winds have been up to 130 miles per hour on Cairngorm summit. The snow falling in the showery periods has formed soft slab on East aspects giving up to 20 centimetres of foot penetration. The avalanche hazard is Considerable (Category 3). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK SUN 30/1/00 Strong winds shifting to North-Westerly will continue. Additional snow will contribute to easy shears of new slab. The crust formed after yesterdays rain will be the new sliding surface. The deeper snowpack will remain strong. Greatest accumulations will be on South and East aspects above 850 metres, where avalanches will occur. The avalanche hazard will be High (Category 4). CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: New snow with up to 20 centimetre foot penetration in protected areas above 900 metres. ICING: Yesterdays rain up to 1000 metres followed by todays freeze helping build-up. COMMENT: Very careful terrain choice for Sunday. LOCHABER AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS SAT 29/1/00 A return to colder temperatures overnight and during Saturday has left the existing snowpack frozen and generally stable. Isolated areas of fresh snow and hail are starting to form in sheltered locations, particularly on NE through to SE aspects. Due to the localised nature of these deposits, the avalanche hazard is Moderate (Category 2). Large areas of hard frozen snow-ice present on many slopes AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK SUN 30/1/00 NW winds with snow showers overnight and during Sunday morning will form fresh areas of unstable windslab. Greatest accumulations will be on steep slopes and gullies with NE through to SE aspects above 900m. Later on Sunday as the wind backs SW and snow showers turn to rain the existing snowpack will become increasingly wet and unstable. The avalanche hazard will be Considerable (Category 3). Cornices becoming prone to collapse. CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Main accumulations remain in N and E facing corries above 800m ICING: Best conditions in the deeper gully lines. COMMENT: Ice axe and crampons essential. Winds moderating. GLENCOE AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS SAT 29/1/00 Cold conditions overnight have given the snowpack a firm crust. On exposed slopes this crust is hard and icy. On sheltered N to E corrie headwalls and in summit gullies shallow pockets of hail are weakly bonded to the old snowpack. In these locations the avalanche hazard is Moderate (Category 2). Gusts up to 95mph recorded on Stob Coire nan Lochan today. AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK SUN 30/1/00 Overnight and during Sunday morning hail and windslab will accumulate on sheltered slopes facing N through to SE mainly above 700 metres. This soft slab will be very weakly bonded particularly where it overlies hail. The avalanche hazard will be Considerable (Category 3). By late afternoon rain will make snowpack moist and less stable. CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Snow cover above 700m. ICING: Ice above 650m. COMMENT: Easier gullies containing layered soft slab require caution. SOUTHERN CAIRNGORMS AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS SAT 29/1/00 A melt-freeze cycle overnight has consolidated yesterday's wet snow. Increasingly heavy snow showers during today are depositing fresh accumulations on sheltered NE to SE aspects. These new deposits of dry soft snow are poorly bonded to the firmer snow-ice. Where they attain any great depth on steeper slopes and in gullies the avalanche hazard is Considerable (Category 3). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK SUN 30/1/00 Shifting winds through the period will leave fresh deposits on N through to S aspects with greatest accumulations to be found on sheltered NE to SE slopes. Stability will be poor especially where new snow overlies firmer snow-ice. Where accumulations are at their deepest on steeper slopes and in gullies avalanches are likely. The avalanche hazard will be Considerable (Category 3). CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: High plateau areas and N to E corries holding most amounts. ICING: Refreezing today after a thaw yesterday. COMMENT: Snow becoming wetter during Sunday. CREAG MEAGAIDH AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS SAT 29/1/00 Persistent hail showers on hurricane force North-West winds have built isolated areas of deep, highly unstable soft windslab on North through East to South-East aspects above 800 metres. The tops of gullies and steep scarp slopes are particularly affected, but wherever this slab is encountered the avalanche hazard is Considerable (Category 3). Avalanche debris was noted at the top of the Post Face. AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK SUN 30/1/00 Overnight snow will continue to drift on severe gale force North-West becoming South-West winds. Areas of deep, highly unstable windslab will continue to build on North through East to South-East aspects above 800 metres. The tops of gullies and steep slopes below cornices will be most affected, and highly unstable cornices will continue to form. The avalanche hazard will be High (Category 4) and avalanches will occur. Wind- scoured slopes will remain well bonded and stable. CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: North and East facing corries are holding the most snow - patchy on other aspects. ICING: Much improved after recent freeze-thaw, Pinnacle Buttress remaining stripped and bare. COMMENT: Winds gusting over 100mph on the tops. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------