NORTHERN CAIRNGORMS AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS WED 1/3/00 Shooting cracks going out from the toe of the boots or skis are an indicator of very poor stability. All field tests gave very easy shears from low additional loads. Heavy snow showers have continued on North-West winds. Limited visibility reduced the opportunity to see avalanche debris. The avalanche hazard remains High (Category 4). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK THU 2/3/00 The storm loaded South and East aspects will receive additional load and warming in the next 24 hours. The freezing level will go to 1000 metres. Avalanches will occur on all aspects, including Northerly, during the forecast rain. The avalanche hazard will be High (Category 4). CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Above 700 metres there is foot penetration to 50 centimetres in many locations. ICING: Freeze today/thaw early tomorrow then another freeze - the ice rebuild cycle continues. COMMENT: Limited climbing options due to avalanche hazard and significant snow clearing on many routes. LOCHABER AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS WED 1/3/00 Large areas of unconsolidated soft snow are present on many aspects above 600m. This snow has formed as windslab, mainly on steeper slope inclinations with a N, NE and E aspect. The avalanche hazard is Considerable (Category 3). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK THU 2/3/00 A brief warm spell around mid-day on Thursday will produce a period of high instability. Wet snow avalanches will occur, mainly on steeper N, NE and E aspects. Later in the afternoon, colder temperatures will begin to stabilise the snowpack. The avalanche hazard will be High (Category 4). Cornices will become unstable and prone to collapse. CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Deep snow in many corrie floors. ICING: A brief thaw/freeze during Thursday should improve climbing conditions. COMMENT: Gales expected on Thursday. GLENCOE AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS WED 1/3/00 Variable winds but mainly with a northerly direction and snow showers have deposited further new layers of windslab onto sheltered slopes above 750 metres. Slopes exposed to the fresh winds above 850m have less accumulations of new snow and are icy in many places. The layered snowpack contains hail and is weakly bonded in most sheltered areas. Where deep accumulations of windslab exist on steeper slopes the avalanche hazard is Considerable (Category 3). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK THU 2/3/00 Cold conditions with heavy snow showers will affect the area during Wednesday night. Strong winds will continue to form areas of weakly bonded windslab the deepest accumulations can be expected on N through to S facing slopes and in all sheltered hollows and gullies above 700 metres. Milder air and rain above the summits during Thursday morning will give thaw conditions. Avalanches will occur where deep layered windslab exists on steep slopes especially on scarp slopes below cornices. The avalanche hazard will be High (Category 4). Returning to colder conditions later in afternoon. CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Snow cover above 300m. ICING: Ice above 750m. COMMENT: Buttresses and ridges are the safer option. Rain and strong winds will give thaw conditions for a period during Thursday then turning cold again. SOUTHERN CAIRNGORMS AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS WED 1/3/00 Snow showers, drifting and snow stripped from N aspects have left windslab in sheltered locations on NE to S aspects. Deeper areas are to be found on E and SE aspects where easy shears still exist within the snowpack. The avalanche hazard is High (Category 4). Cornices remain fragile. AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK THU 2/3/00 The wintry conditions will be interrupted by a period of rain during the day. With the additional heavy loading of rain on an unstable snowpack avalanches will occur mainly on N through to S aspects. Afternoon snowfall will lead to further unstable slab development on NE to SE aspects above 700 metres. The avalanche hazard will be High (Category 4). Cornices will be prone to collapse. CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Cover good from N through to S aspects. Deep drifts in places. ICING: Mainly buried, water still running under snow cover below 900m. COMMENT: Strong winds, rain then snow will make for an unpleasant day on the hill. CREAG MEAGAIDH AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS WED 1/3/00 Overnight snow showers on a strong North-West wind, combined with cold temperatures and heavy drifting has accumulated deep unstable windslab on North-East through South-East to South aspects above 700 metres. Fresh avalanche debris was noted on many Easterly aspects and the avalanche hazard is High (Category 4). Very large unstable cornices still continue to build on above-mentioned aspects. AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK THU 2/3/00 Overnight snow on a North wind will continue to build deep accumulations of windslab on North-East through South-East to South above 700 metres. A period of milder air, with the freezing level rising and rain on a South-West wind will Saturate the existing unstable windslab and a period of instability will follow. The avalanche hazard will remain High (Category 4) with avalanches occurring on the above mentioned aspects. Fresh unstable windslab will begin to build on North through East to South aspects later in the day. CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Deep cover at all levels. ICING: Still buried. COMMENT: Danger from cornice collapse tomorrow in milder conditions. Some of them are huge! -------------------------------------------------------------------------------